The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 216

The evening after the fan meeting.

“You really need to do something about that sense of responsibility.”

This was the first thing Noh Bi-hyuk said when I told him about what happened today.

“You’re too hard on yourself. Yet, you’re unnecessarily lenient with others.”

Didn’t I tell you to toughen up?

I grabbed his finger, which was poking my cheek.

“If you’re going to talk about hedgehogs again, get out.”

“I’m not bringing it up for nothing. You need to get rid of the thought that you have to handle everything yourself. It’s not your business; it’s someone else’s.”

“Fans aren’t just ‘someone else.’ How can you say that?”

Isn’t that something someone who’s about to debut shouldn’t be saying?

“Hey. I’m ‘someone else’ to you, too. Jin-bae hyung is ‘someone else.’ Everyone is ‘someone else’ except you. You need to take care of yourself first before you can take care of others.”

“I know that too.”

“What’s the point of saying you know if you don’t act on it?”

Noh Bi-hyuk clicked his tongue.

“I know how precious fans are. Your fans will only keep increasing, but do you really think you can prevent all the bad things that might happen to them? Do you think that’s realistically possible?”

He was right.

Unable to refute, I shut my mouth, and Noh Bi-hyuk grew even more triumphant.

“Noh Bi-hyuk. Just leave him alone.”

It was then that a nonchalant voice interrupted.

It was Lee Eun-taek, who was doing push-ups in the corner of my room.

“He’s not the type to listen just because you say something. You’re just wasting your breath.”

“That’s true.”

They’re badmouthing me right in front of me.

Whether I glared at him or not, Lee Eun-taek continued his push-ups.

“He’s just scared. If we keep being there for him, he’ll get better. Love is the best remedy for a scared kid.”

“I told you not to call me a kid.”

Lee Eun-taek just shrugged, saying he calls me a kid because I am one.

The funny thing was that Noh Bi-hyuk was convinced by Lee Eun-taek’s absurd statement.

“Hyung’s right. He’s not going to listen just because I say something.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

These guys, seriously.

When I frowned, Noh Bi-hyuk pressed my brows, saying it would cause wrinkles.

For a moment, I wanted to frown harder out of spite, but it seemed too childish, so I stopped.

Being with them, I found myself constantly letting my guard down.

‘I should act mature, at least.’

That resolve lasted only five seconds after what Noh Bi-hyuk said.

“Still, when I think about how you were when we first met, you’ve come a long way.”

“Who are you to say that? What’s so commendable?”

This kid’s birthday is later than mine. What’s he talking about?

When I raised my voice, Lee Eun-taek intervened, telling us to be quiet, making the room even noisier.

‘I just wish both of them would leave my room.’

As I closed my eyes and tried to cultivate patience, Lee Eun-taek asked Noh Bi-hyuk.

“So, what exactly is commendable?”

“When I first met him, I couldn’t believe there was a kid like this. He’d respond to everything with a nonchalant ‘It can’t be helped,’ which was so disheartening to watch.”

“I can imagine.”

“Seeing a kid who used to be so downcast becoming more proactive these days is nice. It’s better than having no reaction at all, even if he’s upset now. The problem is that it’s all about other people.”

Though Noh Bi-hyuk spoke with an exasperated expression, I was the one truly exasperated.

‘If you put it that way, I’m ‘someone else’ to him too.’

He’s interested in other people’s affairs, but he only criticizes me.

I felt indignant but held back, knowing no one here would take my side.

‘They gathered for my birthday, but I’m the only one getting scolded.’

I missed Mist. Or even Han Ha-ram.

As the tall kids fussed around, the spacious room felt cramped, and I was getting annoyed.

“By the way, don’t you think he could’ve been an idol too? How does an actor suit pink hair this well?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Isn’t the world too unfair? Hyung, he even dances well.”

The topic of their conversation had shifted to my hair color.

I decided to ignore them and kept my eyes closed.

*Click, click.*

I heard the sound of a camera shutter near my ears.

‘He’s taking pictures again.’

Even with my eyes closed, I knew it was Lee Eun-taek taking my photos.

Ever since the Christmas party, he’d been snapping my pictures whenever he got the chance. I once got angry and asked why he kept taking photos.

Lee Eun-taek had responded with a nonchalant expression.

‘Do you know how frustrating it was not to have your photos? Just bear with it.’

‘What?’

‘I told you. My parents didn’t tell me where you were. They even threw away all the photos I had with you, so I had a huge fight with them.’

He also mentioned that until I appeared on TV as an extra in ‘Yellow Hat,’ he couldn’t clearly remember my face, which annoyed him.

He said he wanted to take as many photos as he could now.

His face looked so serious that I couldn’t tell him to stop.

Since he promised not to upload them anywhere and keep them for himself, I let him do as he wished.

After hearing the shutter sound for days, I got used to it.

*Click, click, click, click.*

“…”

But isn’t this too much?

Annoyed by the endless shutter sound, I opened my eyes.

“You finally opened your eyes.”

“Did you take all those pictures just to see me open my eyes?”

You could’ve just told me to open them.

When I asked why he didn’t just say so, Lee Eun-taek chuckled.

“I was taking some photos in the meantime too. Geez, you’re so photogenic.”

“…You sound like an old man.”

“What did you say, punk?”

Ignoring Lee Eun-taek’s frown, I touched my ears.

The word “younger brother” felt awkward.

“Let’s take a selfie, the three of us.”

“Hyung, you’re addicted to taking pictures.”

“You need to take as many as you can while you can. Once we debut, it’ll be hard to gather like this. Even the kid is starting to film a drama now.”

“I told you not to call me a kid!”

I had reached my limit.

As I lunged at Lee Eun-taek, he deftly grabbed my arm.

While I wrestled with Lee Eun-taek, Noh Bi-hyuk leisurely stepped aside and took a selfie.

The photo captured Noh Bi-hyuk posing coolly, me gritting my teeth as I charged at him, and Lee Eun-taek holding me back with a smile.

It was a chaotic birthday, to say the least.

* * *

The incident at the fan meeting turned into a bigger deal than expected.

It seemed the agency wanted to avoid it making the news, but from the moment I reported it to the police myself, it was nearly impossible to keep it from becoming public.

[Fan Meeting Staff Molested by Part-timer, “Celebrity Reported It Personally.”]

[Celebrity A’s Birthday Fan Meeting Turns into Chaos Due to Staff Molestation.]

[Ongoing Staff Molestation, Can We Continue to Ignore It?]

Reporters swarmed in, and articles kept popping up.

Byeon seemed upset that my birthday got ruined, but I thought it was a relief.

Sexual harassment was often treated as a minor issue compared to its severity.

If it was going to make the news, it was better for it to become as big as possible.

The next day, the perpetrator’s identity spread online.

As soon as his identity was revealed, numerous victims who had also been harassed by him started posting their stories.

The incident, which might have been dismissed as an attempted sexual assault, had grown too significant to ignore.

Because the media was so focused on it, the police seemed to be investigating carefully.

“Actor, the CEO wants to see you.”

As the situation escalated, I was called to the agency.

I didn’t regret reporting it, but I understood it was a headache for the agency, so I was ready for a scolding.

CEO Jang sighed once upon seeing me and said:

“Yeon-jae, if something like this happens again, at least let us know first.”

He explained that while he understood my position, it would be easier to respond to the media if they were in the loop.

I apologized for going straight to the police without informing the agency.

It was true that I had called the police to avoid the agency possibly trying to cover it up.

CEO Jang seemed to understand what I was thinking, looking a bit embarrassed.

“Well, to be honest… if you hadn’t reported it, we would have wanted to handle it quietly too. I’m sorry, but there’s no benefit in making it a big deal.”

“Yes.”

“Just next time, let us know first… or at least right after you report it so we can be prepared.”

His half-muttered words sounded almost resigned.

After leaving the CEO’s office, I apologized to Jin-bae hyung.

Even though I didn’t regret reporting it, I felt bad because he might get into trouble for not stopping me.

Jin-bae hyung laughed at my words.

“Don’t apologize for something like that. If you hadn’t reported it, I would have.”

“What if the company penalizes you?”

“Then I’ll quit.”

Jin-bae hyung’s large hand patted my back.

“But you’ll have to hire me separately because I want to keep being your manager.”

“Even if you don’t want to, you can’t escape now. I won’t let you go.”

“Haha, well, that’s good.”

Jin-bae hyung laughed heartily.

‘I wasn’t joking.’

I hesitated, wondering if I should tell him I was serious, but his gentle eyes met mine straight on.

“You did the right thing.”

“….”

“Don’t worry, we’ll make sure to deal with the perpetrator properly. And there’s no way he’ll come after the chairman or you.”

I wondered what they had done to be so confident.

I thought about asking Mist, but even this time, Mist didn’t provide any answers.

The way Mist said, “Just be glad it turned out well!” like with Oh Seung-hyun, made me even more suspicious.

Anyway, Wuyeon Entertainment issued an official statement, and the incident was settled for the time being.

Although the part-timer was hired through Wuyeon Entertainment, they couldn’t avoid responsibility.

Apart from apologizing to the victim, the chairman, they announced they would actively ensure staff safety in the future.

They detailed how they would improve, not just with a few perfunctory lines, which helped quiet some of the criticism toward the agency.

After those chaotic days passed, it was finally time for the first shoot of the Korean Sign Language drama.

“Yeon-jae, hello.”

Seo Ji-oh approached me as I arrived at the filming location.

He already looked like a celebrity, having finished his makeup.

“You dyed your hair black.”

“Yeah.”

“Pink looks good too, but I think black suits you best. Maybe it’s because of your eyes.”

I see. But could you please take your hand off my hair?

Every time we met to rehearse our lines, Seo Ji-oh would touch my hair, which was quite annoying.

“Seo Ji-oh. How’s your condition?”

“I think I’m alright.”

Seo Ji-oh smiled loosely.

He seemed much more relaxed than during the ‘Killing Horn’ shoot.

‘That’s a relief.’

I thought he’d be extremely nervous since it’s his first lead role, but it seemed like he was a natural.

“Let’s do well today.”

“Yeah.”

“Shall we go in? And let go of my hair now.”

“Yeah.”

Despite answering obediently, Seo Ji-oh’s hand was still on my hair.

I wondered if he was joking, but looking into his eyes, I felt something was off.

“…You’re not listening to me, are you?”

“Yeah.”

Damn it. He wasn’t in his right mind.