The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest

Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 276

It had been four days since I brought Han Ha-ram to the film set.

There were quite a few satisfying aspects to having him by my side all day.

First, I could personally ensure nothing happened to him.

Second, there was someone who ran straight into my arms during breaks.

And the third was this:

"Yeon, hyung... no, Yeon-jae!"

"Haha."

I could see Han Ha-ram getting all flustered because of the titles.

Depending on whether there were strangers around, he changed the way he addressed me, getting busy every time he talked to me.

‘It's rather cute.’

But it was also a bit puzzling.

"Ha-ram, wouldn't it be easier if you just stick to one title?"

I suggested he just call me 'hyung' while stroking his forehead.

Ha-ram pouted.

"No... I like calling you Yeon-jae."

"Then just call me by my name."

Anyway, there was no one around who would complain.

However, there was someone who quickly opposed my suggestion.

"Yeon-jae, that's not quite right."

It was Seo Ji-oh.

He looked down at Ha-ram, who was in my arms, with a loose smile.

"It's not common for a seven-year-old to call a sixteen-year-old by name. Later, when Ha-ram grows up, it could become an issue of manners."

Really?

As I tilted my head, Ha-ram shouted.

"I'm not seven! I'm nine!"

"Ah, sorry. I didn't know."

What good was an apology with a face that didn't look sorry at all?

Ignoring Ha-ram's fuming, Seo Ji-oh continued.

"You never know what Ha-ram will do in the future, as you said. If he continues working in the entertainment industry, his reputation will be important. It's better to unify the title now."

"Hmm."

That made sense.

As I nodded, Ha-ram looked up at me with a face full of betrayal.

"Yeon-jae?"

"......Hmm."

But if he really wanted it that way.

As I hesitated, Seo Ji-oh shook his head.

"You're too soft."

"Don't say that to Yeon-jae!"

Ha-ram growled immediately.

I slowly patted his head to calm him down.

‘He's behaving like a dog.’

Maybe it was because he spent the whole day on the set.

It was amusing to see him act like Do Yu-young's character.

Despite my touch, Ha-ram couldn't calm down and grumbled at Seo Ji-oh.

"Why are you like this, hyung? I even defended you yesterday, saying I didn't think you were a bad person!"

"Wow. That was you defending me? I'm touched."

"......Yeon-jae, can't we just not hang out with him?"

Ha-ram lowered his head, looking dejected.

At that moment, Seo Ji-oh whispered to me as if tattling.

"Wow. He definitely has an actor's talent. Seeing him act right away."

Even though he whispered, Ha-ram, who was in my arms, couldn't miss it.

"Ah, seriously!"

Ha-ram lifted his head abruptly.

His face was full of irritation, as if he had never been sad.

The sight gave me a subtle shock.

‘...He really was acting.’

Seo Ji-oh might have been annoying, but he wasn’t wrong.

As I was momentarily lost in shock, Ha-ram shouted.

"He's really weird! Don't stay with him, Yeon-jae! And why are you here instead of your own place?!"

"Yeon-jae invited me. Did I need your permission? I didn't know."

"Stop lying!"

"Ha-ram, I did invite him."

I calmed Ha-ram, who was growling.

"I thought it would be nice to get to know each other."

"I don't want to get to know him! He's weird!"

"I know that too. But you shouldn't say that in front of him, Ha-ram."

I scolded him for his lack of manners.

I heard a voice of disbelief beside me.

"Yeon-jae, I can hear you."

I lightly ignored it.

"Apologize to hyung. He's my age. There's an age difference between you two, so you shouldn't be rude to him."

Ha-ram pouted his lips.

In a barely audible voice, he apologized to Seo Ji-oh.

"Sorry..."

"It's okay."

Seo Ji-oh laughed leisurely.

"If you're jealous, I understand. After all, I can call Yeon-jae by his name without any problem since we're the same age."

"..."

Ha-ram trembled.

Seeing him glare at someone so fiercely was unusual, so I quickly handed him over to Jin-bae hyung, who was in the kitchen.

When I returned to the sofa, Seo Ji-oh was sitting there nonchalantly.

"Seo Ji-oh, what's with you?"

"What?"

"Why are you acting like this? Why are you annoying the kid?"

It was this afternoon when I had a deep conversation with Seo Ji-oh.

Despite my harsh words due to a misunderstanding, he reassured me that he didn't get hurt easily and I could speak freely.

His generous response made my previous thoughts about him seem unfounded.

Wanting to apologize properly, I asked if he had time in the evening.

‘I thought having dinner together would create a good atmosphere.’

I also thought it would be great if Han Ha-ram and Seo Ji-oh could become friends.

I wanted to show Ha-ram that Seo Ji-oh was a good guy.

But….

‘Doesn’t it seem like it’s ruined?’

I swallowed a sigh at the unpleasant atmosphere.

"You usually smile so easily. You were nice when you greeted Ha-ram yesterday."

"Haha, do I smile easily?"

"Don't change the subject."

Just a moment ago, Seo Ji-oh had teased more than necessary.

‘After all, he's only nine.’

How much could a nine-year-old endure teasing?

Despite my concerned words, Seo Ji-oh shrugged.

"Seeing how he clings to you, he won't let go easily. He's wary of me. Treating him like any other kid might make him more suspicious. This is better."

"I don't think a nine-year-old would think that deeply."

"You're being too lenient with him. He's quite cunning. It's strange how all the kids around you are like that."

I wanted to refute, but I couldn't.

I had just witnessed Han Ha-ram acting right before my eyes.

When I kept silent, Seo Ji-oh smiled with satisfaction.

"Ah, it feels good to speak my mind after a while."

"You say that as if teasing a kid makes you happy."

"So what? When Noh Bi-hyuk and I were in school, it was our only relief during lunch. I miss that since he debuted."

"......"

I failed to find words.

‘He's really a strange guy.’

I had known Seo Ji-oh was strange for a long time.

The problem was with me.

‘I'm in trouble too.’

In the past, I wouldn’t have associated with him.

But after just a short conversation today, his behavior didn't seem as annoying.

‘I really should change my name to Igaldra.’

I was thinking that to myself.

"Yeon-jae, Jin-bae hyung peeled these for us."

Han Ha-ram came over, holding a plate.

It was impressive how he approached me, ignoring Seo Ji-oh as if he didn’t exist.

"Thanks for bringing it. Where's Jin-bae hyung?"

"He said he had to call the office and told us to eat first."

I see.

Just in case, I set aside some for Jin-bae hyung and fed a piece of apple to Ha-ram.

He smiled broadly as if he had never been angry.

"Hehe. Yeon-jae, you eat too."

"Okay."

"Yeon-jae, what about me?"

But as soon as Seo Ji-oh spoke, Ha-ram's smile vanished.

I had to soothe him as he glared coldly at Seo Ji-oh.

It was a truly chaotic dinner.

*    *    *

"Seo Ji-oh. It's almost 10 PM. Shouldn't you go back to your place?"

At my question, Seo Ji-oh gave a gentle smile.

"I’ll leave soon. I want to stay with you until he falls asleep."

"……."

And the ‘he’ in question glared at Seo Ji-oh.

I sighed at Ha-ram’s silent but intense stare.

‘I'm so tired I could die.’

Even when Noh Bi-hyuk and Seo Ji-oh fought, it wasn't this exhausting.

Unlike them, who I could just leave alone, Ha-ram’s constantly changing expressions kept bothering me.

As a result, I was more tired from constantly getting involved in the fight.

‘I need to put him to bed soon.’

I decided to put Ha-ram to sleep first, then send Seo Ji-oh away.

"Yeon-jae, Yeon-jae. I have a question."

But contrary to my expectations, Ha-ram's eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

"You're not sleepy?"

"Huh? Not really."

I swallowed and answered.

"What are you curious about?"

"About the scene you filmed today."

Today, I shot a scene where Shin, who was possessed by Do Yu-young, had a conversation with the homeroom teacher.

After a brief lecture from Ji Hae-soo on how to vaguely answer whatever the teacher says, Shin trembles as he enters the teacher's office.

Though he tried to maintain a neutral expression, it was nothing like Do Yu-young's usual blank face.

The teacher, noticing the difference, looked puzzled but fortunately got to the point without further comment.

The reason Shin was called to the teacher's office was for a parent-teacher conference.

‘I told you to make a decision by today. What have you decided?’

‘Pardon?’

‘Why do you look so surprised? As if it's the first time you're hearing this.’

‘Ah, yes. That….’

‘Regardless of your situation, do you think it's appropriate for me to discuss your case with the village head instead of your parents during the parent-teacher conference? If you're going to insist on that today, just leave.’

Through the teacher's words, Shin realized that Do Yu-young had been desperately preventing his mother from coming to school.

The teacher, saying it couldn't be delayed any longer, told him to bring his mother before the end of the term and sent him out.

As soon as Shin came out of the office, Ji Hae-soo rushed to him, asking what happened. With a blank expression, Shin muttered, ‘I think we're in big trouble, Hae-soo….’

That was the scene we filmed today.

Han Ha-ram asked,

"Why does Yoo-young hate it so much when his mom comes to school?"

"Huh?"

"Even Shin said Yoo-young wants to see his mom. So wouldn't it be better if his mom came to school?"

Ha-ram said he had been curious about it since morning but held back because he didn't want to interrupt the filming.

I patted his head, telling him he did well.

"Yoo-young wants to see his mom, but not the mom who comes to school just because of the parent-teacher conference."

"What do you mean by that?"

Ha-ram looked completely confused.

I was contemplating how to explain it when someone who had been quiet all along chimed in.

"Do Yoo-young's mom abandoned him a long time ago."

It was Seo Ji-oh.

"Yoo-young wants to see his mom, but not the mom who abandoned him."

Ha-ram looked even more puzzled at his calm explanation.

"But they're the same person, aren't they? Is there another mom? A hidden mom?"

Hmm, that's not it.

‘It's too difficult for a nine-year-old to understand.’

I was about to add something, feeling awkward.

But Seo Ji-oh spoke faster.

"It would be better if there was a hidden mom. The problem is there isn't. Do Yoo-young will live miserably because of that."

"......"

His voice was so starkly dry that it felt bleak.