Chapter 91

91

"Hey, come out here."

But there was no response.

From this, I formed a hypothesis.

"Great job, everyone!"

"Great job~. Wow, Min Jihun, your acting was amazing."

"It's even better on set."

"Really? Better on set??"

Everyone finished the first episode's script reading, and with a good feeling, the actors and staff all had bright faces. People started to get up from their seats, some heading towards the director, some towards Yoo Jiya, and most towards Min Jihun, forming a wall of people around him.

I quietly organized my script and stood up, but the manager who had been waiting behind me approached and grabbed my shoulder. When I turned my head, he was crying.

"Oo, Ho Yun… snif."

"…What?"

"If I had known you liked acting so much, I would have let you try it earlier…."

"You mean I like acting?"

What is this….

I was flabbergasted, and when I asked, the manager nodded. Tears dripped from the tip of his chin. His sensitivity was off the charts.

"There's no way you could do so well if you didn't! You must have practiced alone every time, without any acting lessons."

"Sometimes, I just admire you, Manager."

How can he have such a misunderstanding?

Even as I sighed in exasperation, the manager was already convinced, nodding and wiping his tears with his sleeve.

'Was it because of Min Jihun's acting just now??'

The director, who was passing by, heard this nonsense and was startled.

"What? Seo Ho Yun is crazy about acting?"

"Yes, Director… Look at Ho Yun's script. It's all worn out. This part is almost torn."

That's because Jung Daejun spilled coffee on the corner. The director looked at the worn-out script and sighed deeply.

"I didn't know! I thought you weren't interested at all. Oh, I had too many prejudices."

"Seo Ho Yun is amazing, isn't he~."

Even Yoo Jiya, who had come closer, joined in, creating a warm atmosphere in no time.

I didn't want to end up with a title like 'Idol Crazy About Acting,' so I quickly spoke up.

"No, no! Compared to everyone else's passion, I'm really lacking."

But hearing this, the eyes looking at me became even more brightly suspicious.

"Unbelievable, he's even humble…!"

"I'm really sorry, Ho Yun…."

Director Yoo suddenly said, "It reminds me of my first debut…," and wiped away tears the size of peas with his sleeve.

'Stop it. I came here to beat up Min Jihun.'

Everyone surrounded me, forming a wall, and no matter what I said, they just went "uh-huh, that's right," making me wonder how to deal with the situation. Then I saw Min Jihun trying to slip away through the crowd.

Fortunately, the topic shifted to Yoo Jiya's debut.

"I'll be back in a minute."

"Ah, sure, sure!"

No matter what I said now, they looked at me with satisfaction.

Feeling uncomfortable, I quickly slipped away and caught up with Min Jihun, who was walking far away.

"Min Jihun. Wait a moment."

"Oh."

Min Jihun, who had just delivered a divine performance, turned around and smiled warmly.

"Hello?"

"I'm not in the mood to be friendly."

I didn't feel like exchanging pleasantries with someone who had made me want to vomit. With many people around, I lowered my voice.

"Do you have time now?"

"Of course not, naturally."

"Without the manager, can we talk alone for a moment?"

Instead of answering, Min Jihun stared at me. I couldn't read what he was thinking, but he seemed a bit puzzled.

"…Did we decide to use formal speech again?"

"…"

"I don't remember…."

"Use formal speech."

"…Okay."

'…'

For some reason, whenever I dealt with Min Jihun, my patience always dried up, so I dragged him by force into a cafe on the first floor of the building.

There was no one except the staff, probably because of the odd time. It was perfect for talking to a suspicious person.

I ordered a drink and tried to clear my mind, but Min Jihun looked completely relaxed. Or rather, he seemed to have no particular thoughts.

"Why did you call me?"

"Why? Is that not a question?"

"Hmm."

Min Jihun chuckled. The drinks arrived in the meantime.

The staff placed the drinks in front of Min Jihun and me, smiled at him, and left. But Min Jihun's attention was entirely on the drink.

"…Huh."

He tilted his head at the Americano in front of him.

"…Did I order an Americano?"

"You ordered a latte."

"Did I? Just drink it, whatever."

Anyway, that wasn't important. I glared at Min Jihun with narrowed eyes and asked.

"Who are you?"

"Min Jihun."

Sometimes I… I'm proud that I haven't killed Min Jihun yet.

"Besides your name. What do you do?"

"An actor… Oh, that's not the answer you're looking for."

Min Jihun finally smiled awkwardly.

"What exactly did you do back then? How did you know I was in a car accident? How did you know I'm stuck in this hellish world…."

"Hey, hold on, hold on."

Min Jihun raised his hand to stop me and took a long sip of the Americano. He sighed and scratched his head, then looked at me and smiled.

"Bro. …Don't get mad, okay?"

"Let me hear it."

Min Jihun slightly turned his head and mumbled something before saying bluntly.

"I don't really know either!!"

I suppressed the urge to slam the table and clenched my fists. I gritted my teeth and called out to Min Jihun quietly.

"Asshole."

"…So you were listening to me back then?"

"Speak quickly. Before I run out of patience."

My patience was already gone.

Min Jihun definitely knows something. He must have seen something I didn't.

But Min Jihun stirred the ice with a straw, looking indifferent.

"I want to tell you, but there's nothing to tell. I really don't know."

The bracelet on Min Jihun's hand jingled as he held the drink. I judged that the ability came from the bracelet. As my gaze lingered, Min Jihun followed my eyes and looked at the bracelet.

…After rubbing my tired eyes, I blurted out.

"Min Jihun, you're right. I'm actually thirty-three, and I wasn't an idol. As you know, I'm not from here… I don't even know if I'm a ghost or a human."

"Hmm…?"

Min Jihun tilted his head slightly. His reaction was strangely unsettling, but I let it pass.

"Listen carefully. To return to my original world, I need to complete this scenario, this quest."

It had been fine so far, but it was strange from the beginning. Why did I have to come here? What is this?

"So, if you can explain what this system is…."

"What do you mean by 'original'?"

Min Jihun interrupted me with a question I hadn't considered. I paused and frowned.

"The world I was in, obviously."

"…Oh."

Min Jihun let out a belated exclamation. Then he closed his mouth and scanned me from head to toe.

What is it?

"…Anyway, if you can explain…."

"Bro."

Just as I was about to continue, Min Jihun interrupted again. I was a bit annoyed but kept my mouth shut, and Min Jihun smiled cautiously.

"…Well, I do want to help."

"…"

"But it's a bit… awkward for me to help…."

This guy…?

I stared blankly for a moment, then closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

'Calms down, Seo Ho Yun.'

I felt like I had finally met a top-tier, complete being after a long time. Or maybe it was because Joo Sung and Im Hyunsoo were too easy.

Min Jihun is not easy to handle, and I keep getting thrown off balance…

I am Seo Ho Yun. I am Seo Ho Yun.

Just do what I've been doing so far.

After a moment, I opened my eyes and stared at Min Jihun.

"Phew, Min Jihun. Do you want to continue your entertainment career?"

I played the threat card.

Of course, I know nothing about Min Jihun, but…

'Just throw it out there.'

"Can you live like this without worrying…."

It was a risky move, but I thought it was worth a try.

"Can you hide it forever?"

"…!"

Right.

When I threw it out, there was a reaction.

Of course. There's no one in this world who doesn't have a single flaw.

Min Jihun looked troubled and stroked his chin.

"…Oh…."

"If you can keep your mouth shut, I'll only need the answer I want."

Min Jihun stared at me and sighed.

"Well, I can't hide it forever, can I."

The reaction was coming. Min Jihun stirred the straw with a solemn expression.

"Actually…."

"…"

"I eat a lot. Ten servings is the minimum."

Ah….

I crossed my trembling hands and glared at Min Jihun, who put on a wistful look and started spouting TMI (completely harmless, even fan-pleasing information).

"My mom took me to every hospital, thinking I had a parasite in my stomach. But there was nothing. I'm just fine."

"Hey."

"I was just a pig…."

He smiled, resting his chin on his hand, which he had shaped into a flower.

"But bro… um, are you threatening me?"

"Are you going to counter-threaten?"

I looked at him with a 'Try it, you bastard, what can you do?' expression, but Min Jihun shook his head.

"What? No. I actually like you, bro. I really hope you do well. I enjoyed watching 'Shining Star' reruns… and I support 'Dun Dun' too. I even like your subtly soft personality."

'…Soft?'

If the system window could pop up now, it would be filled with question marks. This made me forget about my plan to spread rumors or manipulate data.

"…That's why…."

Min Jihun's muttering, accompanied by the sound of ice being stirred with a straw, reached my ears.

"If you want an answer, isn't it more normal to ask for a favor rather than threaten…?"

"…"

"That's what I think…."

It was a common-sense statement from a crazy person.

…After some thought, I realized he was right. If there's nothing to threaten with, the best option is to offer something.

But it was shocking to be pointed out by someone who seemed to lack common sense.

'Should I give up on Min Jihun and find another, more interesting person?'

No, no. There's no guarantee that I'll find out anything that way.

'Min Jihun really has the power.'

That damn bracelet, and the way he sometimes looks at me strangely.

An item? A system window that he can even make malfunction. It wouldn't work. Moreover, with his perceptiveness, the chances of being blocked are higher now.

This is someone who can resist all my tricks.

I glared at him and asked.

"What do you want?"

Then it's a matter of persuasion.