The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest

Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 264

"Oh no, what do I do?!"

Shin shouted loudly after taking a bite of the salty spinach side dish.

"Why, why? Is there a problem?"

Ji Hae-soo, who was making side dishes in the kitchen, hurried back to the table.

Shin's eyes were wide open as he exclaimed.

"This is too delicious!!"

"…That's good. Eat a lot."

Ji Hae-soo replied with a wry face.

As soon as Shin saw the meal Ji Hae-soo had prepared, he rushed over and made a fuss with every bite he took.

"Wow, people eat such a variety of food! Everything tastes different! This is amazing! What is this? Yoo-young, have you tried this?"

"Hey, hey. Eat first. Calm down."

It was up to Ji Hae-soo to calm the excited Shin.

―... .

Doh Yoo-young, trapped in a dog's body, sat quietly on the chair next to him.

With a slightly bored expression and drowsy eyes, he still exuded the same aura as the usual Doh Yoo-young.

'What is going on?'

Ji Hae-soo was still in a daze.

He had prepared food because the kid said he was hungry, but he still didn't understand the situation.

After sitting blankly on the chair for a while, Ji Hae-soo snapped out of it when someone tapped him.

"Huh?"

The one who tapped him was the dog, no, Do Yoo-young.

Do Yoo-young tapped Ji Hae-soo with his paw and then nodded as if to look ahead.

When she naturally turned her gaze, Ji Hae-soo was startled by the scene before her.

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

"Huh?"

Shin, who had just put a spoonful in his mouth, tilted his head.

His cheeks were puffed up as if they were about to burst.

'He's like a hamster storing food for winter...'

Seeing Shin's cheeks puffed up like a hamster's, Ji Hae-soo clicked her tongue.

"Why are you eating so hastily? No one's chasing you. Eat slowly."

"Okay!"

"Finish eating before you speak."

At Ji Hae-soo's scolding, Shin chewed his food.

After diligently chewing and swallowing the last bite, Shin finally replied.

"Sorry! It's just so delicious!"

Shin grinned.

"Hae-soo, you're really good at cooking! Yoo-young would love this too! When Yoo-young gets his body back, can you make this for him?"

It was such a bright voice.

Hearing such a strange tone and speech from her friend after years, Ji Hae-soo got goosebumps all over.

Ji Hae-soo quickly relaxed her stiffening expression.

"Alright, just finish your meal. Don't eat too fast. You, no... Yoo-young usually doesn't eat much. Eating a lot all of a sudden might upset his stomach."

"Oh, right! Yoo-young shouldn't get sick!"

Shin, realizing it, slowed down his pace a bit.

Though it didn't change the amount of food going into his mouth.

Ji Hae-soo watched as Shin continued to stuff his cheeks, then muttered blankly to the dog next to her.

"Do Yoo-young, is this real? Or have I gone crazy? No, right? This is just a dream, right?"

―... Sigh.

Doh Yoo-young let out a long breath, almost like a sigh.

It was as if he was saying he wished more than anyone else that this situation was just a dream.

* * *

After preparing Doh Yoo-young's meal as well, the three of them gathered in the living room.

"Alright, let's sort this out."

Feeling a strange sense of responsibility, Ji Hae-soo began to speak first.

"You woke up suddenly and found that your bodies had been switched, right? Nothing special happened yesterday?"

Doh Yoo-young shook his head to signify no.

"And Shin?"

"Well…"

At Ji Hae-soo's question, Shin hesitated like a child caught in mischief.

"I did do something yesterday, but it's something I usually do…"

"What is it? Just tell me."

"Yesterday, I made a wish. While looking at the moon with Yoo-young…!"

A wish?

Ji Hae-soo's eyes sparkled.

"That's it! That's the cause!"

"R-really?"

"Yes. In other movies, the protagonist making a wish often leads to complications and problems. Not that I'm saying it's your fault!"

As Shin quickly became despondent, Ji Hae-soo hurriedly waved her hands.

But Shin's eyes were already wet with tears.

Ji Hae-soo was bewildered.

"Hey, why are you about to cry?"

"Sniff, what if it really happened because of me?"

The almighty Doh Yoo-young, well, not the real Doh Yoo-young, but still.

Seeing 'that' Doh Yoo-young almost crying was distressing.

"It can't be. Right? Don't cry, please."

Ji Hae-soo clumsily patted Shin's back.

The problem was that Shin clung to Ji Hae-soo while sniffling.

"Hae-soo!"

"Ugh, what are you doing? Let go!"

Forgetting that he was now human, Shin clung to Ji Hae-soo tightly.

"What if it really happened because of me? Help me!"

"Let go, ugh, hey! Crazy, where are you putting your hands―!"

Shin clung to Ji Hae-soo with a look of utter sorrow, while Ji Hae-soo frantically tried to detach herself from him.

Doh Yoo-young, quietly observing this, felt even more troubled.

'What are they doing...?'

Seeing Shin clinging to Ji Hae-soo with his body was a powerful mental blow to Doh Yoo-young as well.

Seeing Ji Hae-soo avoiding with a face full of disgust only made it worse.

Doh Yoo-young had no choice but to speak up.

―Woof!!

Both of you, cut it out.

The barking sound carried that meaning, and fortunately, the commotion settled down.

"Whew."

Ji Hae-soo quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead and moved away.

Sitting as far away from Shin as possible, Ji Hae-soo asked again.

"So. What exactly did you wish for?"

"I just wished the same thing I always do, for Yoo-young to be happy…."

"That's it?"

Just that?

Ji Hae-soo's eyes were filled with doubt.

He pondered for a while and then cautiously asked the dog sitting quietly.

"Do Yoo-young. Are you… happy right now?"

―…….

Doh Yoo-young gave Ji Hae-soo a cold stare.

His eyes seemed to say, 'Are you seriously asking that?'

"I just asked to be sure."

Ji Hae-soo, who had never received such a cold look from a dog before, scratched his forehead awkwardly.

"Then the wish has nothing to do with it. Damn it, what is going on?"

"How about we go to the hospital?"

"Do you think a regular hospital can solve this? They'd just call us crazy and kick us out."

The meaningless conversation went on for hours.

Eventually, the three of them, completely exhausted, lay sprawled out on the living room floor.

"For now… let's just sleep. Maybe when we wake up tomorrow, everything will be back to normal."

At Ji Hae-soo's words, Doh Yoo-young and Shin nodded simultaneously.

So, the three of them—or rather, two people and a dog—quietly waited for tomorrow.

Hoping that everything would return to normal.

And the next day.

"……."

"……."

―…….

The three of them gathered in the living room, keeping a longer silence than ever.

Ji Hae-soo closed his eyes quietly.

'Shit….'

In front of her were still the sniffling human and the dog that now seemed resigned to its fate.

* * *

"Cut!"

The director's shout made the spooning stop.

Jin-bae hyung quickly ran over with a water bottle.

"Actor, here's some water."

I wanted to say thanks, but I couldn't.

With my cheeks stuffed to the brink with food, all I could do was chew diligently.

After a while, I heard mumbling beside me.

"It's really amazing…."

"...?"

It was Sung Lee-jun.

With food still in my mouth, I looked at him with my eyes, asking what was amazing.

"How do your eyes change as soon as you hear 'cut'?"

Sung Lee-jun was staring at me intently.

"Just a moment ago, you looked like you wanted to give me your portion, but now…."

Sung Lee-jun trailed off.

I had an idea of what he wanted to say and just laughed.

At this moment, I truly felt.

'I don't want to eat anymore.'

I was tired of eating.

I had heard from Jung-hyun hyung that it would be tough.

Eating scenes were no joke.

'I'm not even a picky eater like Sung Lee-jun.'

Thanks to Jin-bae hyung, I managed to eat three meals a day.

I was still growing, so I didn't eat too little either.

But I wasn't someone who found great joy in eating, so the constant flow of food was overwhelming.

'Sigh.'

Finally, my mouth was empty.

I rinsed it out with water.

"Actor, are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'm just full."

"You know you can spit it out if it's too much, right?"

"It's wasteful."

Food doesn't just come out of the ground.

Just because I'm tired of eating doesn't mean I want to waste perfectly good food.

"But it's better than getting a stomachache. Don't push yourself."

"It's not that bad. The director is managing it well too."

Right on cue, the director's voice rang out.

"Okay, cut! We got all the close-ups. Great job, everyone!"

The crew quickly started packing up the equipment, excited that today's shoot was over.

The director, looking thrilled, came running over.

"Yeon-jae, Lee-jun! How can both of you act so well? You're my lucky charms!"

He continued, saying the scenes turned out even better than expected and that it wouldn't be crazy to aim for a ten-million-viewer movie.

I thought, 'Who cares about a ten-million-viewer movie?' but since it was the director talking, I just smiled.

Still, I couldn't leave out this guy.

"Happy did such a great job that there's nothing to worry about."

"Oh, of course! Happy is the best!"

At my words, the director gave a thumbs-up to Happy.

"You worked hard today, Happy. You're amazing! Take a good rest tomorrow and the day after, and have lots of treats!"

―Woof!

Happy's tail wagged rapidly at the mention of treats.

Some staff members burst into laughter at Happy spinning in place and showing off tricks.

I chuckled and patted Happy's forehead.

"See you in two days. Don't get sick."

―Pant, pant.

Happy licked my hand enthusiastically, making it damp.

"Happy, let go of Yeon-jae's hand now. Let's go home."

The owner lifted Happy with a grunt.

"See you in two days then!"

"Yes, have a safe trip home."

―Woof!

Even as Happy was carried away, he struggled to turn back toward me.

As I watched him go, Sung Lee-jun whispered softly.

"What's wrong?"

"Just... I feel a bit sad."

The village, which was the main filming location for the movie 'Shin Yoo-young,' was quiet and peaceful.

Although it was only two days, I couldn't help feeling a bit wistful about returning to bustling Seoul.

"I feel sad too... Maybe we can meet up in between if you're free?"

At Sung Lee-jun's shy question, I shrugged.

"I think I need to check my schedule first. I have to attend the awards ceremony."

"Oh, right. There's the awards ceremony."

One of Korea's major awards ceremonies was happening tomorrow night.

It was an event covering dramas, movies, and variety shows aired in the past year.

I heard that I was nominated in several categories for 'February 3rd' and 'Killing Horn.'

"Have you prepared your acceptance speech?"

"Don't tease me."

I gave Sung Lee-jun a light glare.

"...? I'm not teasing."

"…Okay."

I flicked his cheek lightly as he blinked innocently.

'Hmm.'

Maybe I should prepare something, just in case.

Though it felt presumptuous, it was better to be prepared.

"Good luck at the awards ceremony. Contact me if you have time…!"

"Yeah."

We were going to meet again in two days anyway.

I found it odd that Sung Lee-jun acted as if we were parting for a week, but I simply answered calmly and parted ways.

"Actor, did you buckle your seatbelt?"

"Yes."

It had been a while since I headed home.

The highway to Seoul was clear on this dark night.

'I should contact Bi-hyuk to see if we can meet. I should also invite Han Ha-ram over. Or is he already at home?'

These were the thoughts running through my mind as the car sped along smoothly.

―Ring.

Jin-bae hyung's phone rang.

At the same time, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

"……."

I met Jin-bae hyung's eyes through the rearview mirror.

A sense of foreboding ran down my spine.