The Face Genius Actor

Episode 084

The moment my brother grabbed Jo Sung-ho’s wrist,

Silence fell over the filming set.

At the same time, our eyes met.

My brother looked flustered, as if he didn’t know why he had done it himself.

It was clearly a reflexive action.

‘Brother, could it be that you wanted to protect me? After never doing so in your entire life… why now of all times?’

I didn’t know whether I should be touched or curse.

Then, like a saving grace, laughter was heard.

It was Yu Seok-jae’s laughter.

“Sung-ho! That’s why I told you not to touch them!”

Only then did Jo Sung-ho bow his head and apologize.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Ah! You two are too much!”

And with that, the set burst into laughter.

It was a moment when the atmosphere on set, which had almost become awkward due to my brother’s sudden action, came back to life.

“Now, let’s start with some questions.”

After finishing the initial filming that corresponded to the opening, the main filming of “New Quiz” began.

Yu Seok-jae asked questions to me and my brother in turn.

“Si-joon, you became an actor with the drama ‘Arrest’, but originally this might not have been your debut work?”

“If it weren’t for Teacher Seo Myung-hee, that might have been the case. At that time, while I was in a theater troupe, wanting to learn more about acting…”

“New Quiz” certainly had a different interview style from other shows.

It didn’t feel like they were just chasing sensational topics for interview questions.

Especially while talking about “Arrest”, it was impressive that they didn’t ask how my role changed to the high school student Shin Han-jae.

Although I hadn’t done many interviews until now, this question was always asked wherever I went.

Even places like News Economy tried to use this question to undermine my image.

It was a question that could attract a lot of viewer interest.

‘But “New Quiz” is different. I can feel their confidence in drawing out entertainment without chasing sensational topics.’

Along with this, there was a strong feeling of consideration for the guests.

I could understand why people who appeared on “New Quiz” consistently said they had a comfortable time.

‘As expected of Yu Seok-jae… The best MC in Korea is indeed different.’

So I answered various questions in a comfortable atmosphere.

How I met Seo Myung-hee.

How that led to my appearance in “Arrest”.

Memories of working with good actors in “I Will Cast Love”.

How my music video appearance led to casting in “Let’s Live Together, Princess”.

I was able to talk about many things that I couldn’t easily discuss in usual interviews.

After a few questions about actor Lee Si-joon, the questions turned to model Lee Si-hwan.

“Si-hwan, you started your modeling career after being coincidentally cast while waiting for a friend at a gopchang restaurant?”

“I usually dislike being late for appointments, so I tend to go out a bit early. So that day, I was sitting at the gopchang restaurant with a beer, looking out the window…”

My brother answered calmly.

He also seemed to be interviewing comfortably, just like me.

Being coincidentally cast as a model at a gopchang restaurant.

Being called a legend in the online shopping mall world as everything he wore sold out.

The opportunity to go global after dominating the domestic market in just a few months.

The process of his success at Paris Fashion Week and becoming Louis Vuitton’s ambassador.

It was a meaningful time where I could hear stories that even I didn’t know in detail.

Not only that.

I could hear stories I never even dreamed of.

“Si-hwan’s original dream was to be an actor?”

I opened my eyes wide in surprise at this unexpected story.

My brother also looked flustered, as if he didn’t expect this topic to come up.

“…How did you know that?”

“Look here. It’s written several times in your school records. That your dream is to be an actor.”

As Yu Seok-jae said, the photocopied school records showed my brother’s dream of being an actor written several times.

“Ah.”

“So, do you still have dreams of being an actor?”

My brother glanced at me briefly before answering.

“Being an actor was a childhood dream. Now I want to focus on my modeling work.”

It was an answer that seemed to be evading the question to anyone watching.

Yu Seok-jae, seeming to notice this, didn’t let go of the reins of the question.

“Well, of course your current modeling work is most important, but if the opportunity arises, you could try acting too, right? What do you think, Si-joon?”

I was confused.

I wondered why I hadn’t known until now that my brother’s childhood dream was to be an actor.

‘Even if my brother isn’t the type to talk about himself usually…’

It wasn’t to the extent that I wouldn’t know at all if he had an interest in acting.

There had been opportunities for him to open up about his inner thoughts anytime.

In fact, our brotherly affection wasn’t that bad either.

‘No, it’s rather good. We’ve always supported each other’s dreams… Could it be? Because of me?’

It was a plausible story.

In fact, our relationship dramatically improved after I joined the military.

It started when we first drank alone together during my first leave as a private and opened up to each other.

That’s when I first revealed that my dream was to be an actor.

‘And my brother said he would try more work in modeling.’

However, he never said during that process that modeling was his dream.

Come to think of it, that’s how it was.

But I had assumed that my brother’s dream was naturally to become a world-class model.

It was natural since my brother had focused only on modeling work without turning his eyes elsewhere until the point of my regression.

Moreover, when I first started having difficulties in acting, my brother even suggested that I try modeling.

‘So I never doubted for a moment that becoming a world-class model was my brother’s dream.’

But if my brother’s dream was to be an actor.

If he had been holding onto this dream in a corner of his heart all along.

Why didn’t he tell me?

I could easily realize the reason.

‘Seeing me struggle, he probably couldn’t bring himself to tell me.’

After becoming a world-famous model,

My brother could have had plenty of opportunities in acting as well.

In fact, as far as I knew, he had been cast several times.

But my brother rejected all offers and silently devoted himself to modeling.

Even when I suggested he try acting, he shook his head and replied,

“Why would I do that? You’re already doing it well and working hard.”

At that time, I thought he must really love modeling,

But now I think I understand my brother’s heart.

My brother wanted me not to suffer because of him.

If he had succeeded in acting, my sense of self-defeat would have grown even more.

‘In the end, my brother gave up his dream to support mine.’

It was the same even now.

It seemed my brother intended to hide his dream until I had somewhat achieved mine.

Realizing my brother’s true feelings, I felt sorry.

At the same time, I felt I should support my brother’s dream, even now.

It wasn’t too late yet.

I could change the future once again now.

I looked at my brother, who somehow seemed nervous, for a moment and then nodded.

“Of course. Above all, if it was your childhood dream, I’d like to see you try it at least once.”

“That’s right. But it would be really interesting, wouldn’t it? If Si-hwan and Si-joon appeared in the same work and acted together.”

At the same time, a scene of acting together with my brother flashed in my mind.

“You’re right. It would be really interesting, wouldn’t it?”

I asked this while looking at my brother.

Then my brother nodded a beat late.

It seemed he had thought for a moment about whether my words were sincere.

Of course, they were completely sincere.

The corners of my brother’s mouth lifted slightly.

“You’re right. That wouldn’t be bad.”

It seemed my brother had imagined a similar scene to mine.

* * *

The filming of “New Quiz” was nearing its end.

Nothing special happened except for the set being turned upside down when childhood photos of me and my brother, and a photo of our father were revealed.

Serious conversations were exchanged in a comfortable atmosphere.

However, the atmosphere of “New Quiz” didn’t just flow calmly throughout.

The last question was the most provocative of all the questions.

“At the Baeksang Arts Awards, Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun caused a stir by making love confessions, or something like love confessions, to Si-joon, right?”

However, this was already within my expected range of questions.

It was also the most topical issue recently.

Because of that, I was able to answer without tension.

“They even made a meme capturing my surprised expression at that moment.”

“We use it sometimes on our show too. It’s good to insert when guests are flustered.”

“Ah. I think I’ve seen it. Thank you for using it well.”

I answered like this and prepared for the next question.

Given the current flow, it was obvious that a question about who I liked more between Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun would come next.

But Yu Seok-jae’s head was turned towards my brother, not me.

“Si-hwan, you watched the Baeksang Arts Awards too, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

Then he threw an unexpected question at my brother.

“As his older brother, how did you feel? Listening to Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun’s love confessions?”

My brother’s expression immediately turned serious.

Seeing that expression, I thought this question was likely to be edited out.

Given my brother’s personality, it was obvious that an answer showing little interest would come.

“It was interesting. I was glad because it seemed Si-joon became famous thanks to it.”

As expected, an answer close to textbook.

In fact, it was like that.

It was difficult to draw interesting answers from these kinds of questions.

Rather, because the question was provocative, a defensive type of answer was inevitable.

This was a point where you could understand why “New Quiz” had asked questions that could elicit comfortable answers until now.

“Ah. Of course, right?”

Yu Seok-jae quickly wrapped up my brother’s answer and looked at me.

This time, it seemed certain that a question about who I liked more between Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun would come.

‘What should I do about this? I can only give a textbook-like answer to this too…’

As I was thinking this and being certain about the editing of this part, suddenly my brother added the next words.

“However, if there’s one thing I really want to say to Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun…”

“Oh, what is it?! Something you really want to say.”

Yu Seok-jae asked back in a slightly excited tone, as if interested in what my brother would say.

Instead of looking at Yu Seok-jae, my brother stared directly at the camera with the red light on.

I could feel the camera director in charge of my brother flinching.

Yet, like a professional, he zoomed in close on my brother’s face.

‘What on earth is he going to say…’

I just looked at my brother curiously.

It probably wouldn’t be anything special.

However, my brother was somehow exuding a solemn atmosphere.

“Si-joon is my little brother.”