The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest

Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 272

"Ha-ram."

As soon as Lee Yeon-jae spoke, Han Ha-ram answered immediately.

"Yes! I'll just sit here quietly!"

"If you need to go somewhere—"

"I'll tell Jin-bae hyung!"

Having heard these questions a few times already, it was easy to answer them.

Only after Han Ha-ram's cheerful reply did Lee Yeon-jae look reassured and stood up.

"Then, I'll be off to shoot."

"Do well, hyung!"

The place where Han Ha-ram was sitting was right next to the filming set, in the staff seating area.

Since a staff member was standing next to them, he even changed how he addressed him just in case.

Seeing his confident demeanor, Lee Yeon-jae chuckled.

—Woof!

As soon as Lee Yeon-jae entered the filming set, the dog that had been lying on the floor stood up.

"Happy, please take care of us today as well."

—Pant, pant.

Despite his calm voice, his hand stroking the dog was gentle.

Watching Lee Yeon-jae from the side, Han Ha-ram thought.

'How can he be like this?'

The movie set was not much different from a photo shoot location.

There were lots of unfamiliar people, and expensive equipment like cameras were everywhere.

So, he had to stay still and not disturb the adults, just like always.

'But it's different.'

The filming set he was on now was distinctly different from the places he had been to before.

Han Ha-ram felt a solid and intense sense of reassurance unlike ever before.

He was not anxious, not nervous, and was secretly excited about the upcoming shoot.

And he knew exactly what had caused this change.

'Yeon-jae is really amazing.'

Lee Yeon-jae.

A type of person Han Ha-ram had never encountered before.

He told Han Ha-ram that being unusual was not strange.

It was just being different from others, being unique.

'...Yeon-jae is unique.'

Could there be a better way to describe Lee Yeon-jae?

Lee Yeon-jae was so different from others.

'I want to be with Yeon-jae every day.'

How could everything change because of one person?

Han Ha-ram found himself thinking this without realizing it.

He wished this moment could last forever.

"Shooting will start soon~! Everyone to their places!"

Then, the director shouted loudly.

Amidst the bustling staff, Lee Yeon-jae quietly closed his eyes.

Han Ha-ram stared at Lee Yeon-jae without blinking.

"Ready, action!"

At the director's shout, Lee Yeon-jae opened his eyes.

Suddenly, a stranger stood in front of Han Ha-ram.

* * *

Trapped in Do Yoo-young's body, Shin sat on the bed with a complicated expression.

"Yoo-young, are you okay...?"

And the dog trapped in Do Yoo-young's body was fidgeting next to him.

"Didn't you eat too little earlier? Don't you want to eat more?"

Do Yoo-young shook his head.

Maybe because he was in a dog's body, the taste of the feed didn't feel particularly unpleasant.

It was just that, as he had always been a picky eater, he still wasn't interested in food.

His focus was solely on one thing.

'It's almost time for mom to call.'

Do Yoo-young's gaze turned to the phone next to the bed.

The dog also looked at the phone.

"...Ah!"

The dog, who was initially confused, exclaimed brightly.

"You were worried about your mom calling!"

The dog now had a face that showed understanding.

"Don't worry, Yoo-young! I'll handle it well!"

Watching the dog's innocent smile, Do Yoo-young closed his eyes tightly.

Damn, I'm really worried....

—Riiiing!

At that moment, the phone rang loudly.

Do Yoo-young jumped up from his seat, and the dog eagerly grabbed the phone.

And he shouted.

"Hello!"

In a very loud and spirited voice.

—...Hello?

A bewildered woman's voice came from the other end of the line.

—Isn't this Yoo-young's number? Did I call the wrong number...

Her confusion was evident in her voice.

Next to her, Do Yoo-young closed his eyes tightly.

'Damn it.'

And the dog, not noticing Do Yoo-young, answered brightly.

"It's Yoo-young! I'm Yoo-young!"

—Ah... I see.

"When are you coming? Yoo-young really misses you, mom!"

Oh, please.

Do Yoo-young groaned in distress.

'Stop it.'

Do Yoo-young kicked the dog's knee lightly.

'Hang up the phone.'

It was a desperate gesture.

Unfortunately, Shin was entirely focused on his very first phone call.

—What, what did you say?

"I said I miss you! When are you coming?"

—...Yoo-young, are you sick? Are you sick?

"No! I'm not sick! I just miss you, mom. Argh!"

In the end, Do Yoo-young couldn't hold back and tackled Shin.

Stop it. You fool.

"Ouch, it hurts. Don't bite!"

—Woof!

When a large dog weighing over 40kg pounced on him, the mere human could only be helplessly pinned down.

—Hello? Yoo-young?

Hearing the commotion over the phone, Do Yoo-young's mother became even more confused.

She had only called as usual.

But her son's reaction was completely different from the norm, and it was overwhelming her.

—What's going on? Is something happening?

Despite her questions, all she could hear were sounds that seemed like a fierce struggle.

'Is this really Yoo-young?'

The voice was definitely his.

But it lacked the usual irritable and sensitive tone.

Where was the always sharp and defensive demeanor he had towards her?

At the same time, she felt something strange.

'...When was the last time Yoo-young told me he missed me?'

No matter how hard she tried to recall, no memory came to mind.

Do Yoo-young expressing his longing so straightforwardly.

'Should I call 119?'

But what would I say?

That my son seems strange? That he talks as if he's someone else?

'Wouldn't they think I'm crazy?'

Her mind was on the verge of exploding.

Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Auntie, it's Hae-soo."

—Hae-soo?

It was Ji Hae-soo, Do Yoo-young's school friend.

"Yes. Yoo-young is a bit out of it right now."

—Is Yoo-young sick? He seems different from usual.

"Ah, it's just... he's not sick. I think he's just not fully awake yet."

Ji Hae-soo answered awkwardly, turning his gaze sideways.

In his view, he saw the dog and the person fighting each other.

"I told you not to bite there!"

—Woof! Woof!

"Yoo-young! Stop! I said it hurts!"

What a mess.

Ji Hae-soo almost clicked his tongue, forgetting he was on a call.

—Is it really okay? Do I need to come over?

"No. Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll call you."

Although still confused, Do Yoo-young's mother finally agreed and hung up the phone after hearing Ji Hae-soo's reassuring words.

Click.

Ji Hae-soo exhaled the breath he had been holding in.

"Phew, if I had come a little later, it would've been a disaster."

Ji Hae-soo scratched the back of his head.

Then he intervened in the ongoing fight between the two.

"Hey, hey! Knock it off! Do Yoo-young, you should at least get it together. What are you doing?"

When Ji Hae-soo yelled at the dog, it barked as if feeling wronged.

—Woof!

At the same time, the person pinned down shouted.

"Don't scold Yoo-young!"

Two pairs of resentful eyes glared at him.

Ji Hae-soo sighed deeply.

"...What the hell is all this nonsense."

Why am I going through this trial?

With a pained expression, Ji Hae-soo rubbed his face dry.

"Anyway, both of you stop it. We need to get ready for school. Shin, change into your uniform quickly. I'll make breakfast."

"What's for breakfast today?!"

"Kimchi fried rice."

"Wow!"

As if he hadn't been glaring, Shin laughed brightly.

"Thanks, Hae-soo! That sounds delicious!"

Ji Hae-soo muttered with a sour face to Shin, who immediately hugged him.

"Please don't do this in Do Yoo-young's body..."

—Woof!

Do Yoo-young barked irritably, as if agreeing.

*    *    *

‘Can I really send him?’

Do Yoo-young watched Shin with a complicated expression.

Shin, dressed in a school uniform, was gobbling up kimchi fried rice.

"Hey, don't eat so fast. Do Yoo-young might get indigestion?"

At Ji Hae-soo's words, Shin flinched and slightly slowed down his eating pace.

‘...Sigh.’

Seeing that, Do Yoo-young's heart grew heavier.

'Maybe it's better to just skip school.'

No matter how he thought about it, that seemed more reasonable. But he couldn't completely ignore what Ji Hae-soo had said last night.

‘Hey, Do Yoo-young. Think about it. It's Wednesday. We only have three more days of school before vacation.’

—...Woof.

‘I know. I'm anxious too. But skipping school and getting called in by the village chief would be worse. No matter how I think about it, this is better.’

The two conversed more seriously than anyone else.

So seriously that they momentarily forgot Do Yoo-young was in a dog's body.

Ji Hae-soo said, “I'll stick close to you. If any other kids try to talk to you, I'll guard you, so don't worry.”

It was a quite reassuring and reliable tone.

However, since he was talking to a golden retriever, the scene was undeniably comical.

‘I have no idea.’

Recalling their conversation from the previous night, Do Yoo-young shook his head.

He was worried about getting found out, but he couldn't go to school with them either.

‘Hae-soo will manage somehow.’

After the vacation, he could stay home and do nothing.

Hae-soo’s plan was to endure until the vacation and then find a way to revert things back to normal.

Having agreed to Hae-soo’s suggestion, there wasn’t much Do Yoo-young could do for now.

‘I’m sleepy.’

Being a dog, he found himself dozing off whenever he had the chance.

For some reason, he felt more relaxed than before.

“Hey, hey. You need to wear your shoes properly.”

“How do I wear shoes?”

“…I’ll do it for you.”

With a slightly irritated face, Ji Hae-soo knelt down.

While he tied Shin’s shoelaces, Shin waved to Do Yoo-young.

“Yoo-young, I’m off now!”

Do Yoo-young, sprawled on the floor, lazily moved his paw.

“We'll definitely find a way to turn back! Hae-soo and I will figure it out! Don’t worry too much!”

Shin clenched his fist and shouted energetically.

It was an adorable action reminiscent of an animation character.

“Oh, my eyes.”

Do Yoo-young ignored Ji Hae-soo’s muttering and wiggled his paw even more enthusiastically.

“Look at Yoo-young waving his paw. It’s too cute!”

“Hey, we’ll be late. Let’s go.”

“Okay. Let me say goodbye to Yoo-young one more time!”

“You’ve already said it ten times. Stop and let's go.”

Ji Hae-soo grabbed Shin by the back of the neck and dragged him away.

As he was being pulled, Shin waved to Do Yoo-young.

“Yoo-young, see you later!!”

“Stop it, you crazy idiot.”

It was a chaotic exit to the end.

Watching the two disappear beyond the alley, Do Yoo-young looked around.

It was eerily quiet, as if the commotion had never happened.

On this unusually calm and windless day, all he could feel was silence.

‘Was my house always this quiet?’

Curious, but without much thought, Do Yoo-young went back inside.

The bed was a mess from the morning's chaos.

Do Yoo-young grabbed the edge of the blanket with his mouth and tidied it up.

Feeling a bit hungry, he picked up a few more pieces of kibble.

The TV Ji Hae-soo had left on for him to watch was too noisy, so he turned it off.

Wandering around the house, Do Yoo-young eventually went back to the floor.

‘…There’s nothing to do.’

Realizing just how boring a day in the life of a dog could be.