Bedroom Genius Actor - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 17

Kim Ji-hu’s acting literally shook the filming set.

If Kim Ji-hu’s acting until now had been a feeling of ‘Oh, that guy’s pretty good,’ today’s acting was more like ‘What the… who is that guy…’

Kim Ji-hu wore a satisfied expression.

‘Seems like analyzing the character really paid off…’

The day before.

Kim Ji-hu was monitoring at SBC Broadcasting Station when he thought to himself.

What exactly could I do?

‘Honestly, my current acting feels sufficient. There aren’t any particular weaknesses, and my character expression isn’t bad either.’

But that wasn’t enough.

From Kim Ji-hu’s perspective, having watched countless works, the acting of major actors had something more beyond this.

‘There were emotions that transcended the character’s nature.’

Rather than creating dialogue that fit the character, it felt like they were pouring out their own emotions.

‘I was also captivated by those emotions, feeling as if I was directly experiencing that character’s life.’

This was similar to how Kim Ji-hu came to love creative works.

With such thoughts, Kim Ji-hu analyzed the character.

What kind of emotions would the character ‘Park Chul-woo’ have had to act that way?

‘A person who wasn’t afraid of his own death, but would absolutely protect the work he was doing.’

Perhaps this was why he felt attractive even though he was a villain blocking the protagonist’s path.

That’s when Kim Ji-hu had a thought.

‘He’s similar to me right now…’

Honestly, when the system presented the condition of ‘death,’ it wasn’t particularly scary.

But when it mentioned deleting his blog, fear and anger welled up together.

‘Wasn’t Park Chul-woo in a similar position to me?’

The title of this drama is ‘Trauma.’

A work that begins and ends with the protagonist’s trauma.

But that wasn’t the only reason.

All the main episode characters appearing here had traumas, big or small.

‘Park Chul-woo was the same…’

He placed the value of his life entirely in the work he did.

Even if that work was murder and assault.

That’s why he was angrier about his work crumbling than about dying.

If he died, he wouldn’t see what happened after anyway, so it wouldn’t matter how his work turned out, but his work crumbling meant his entire life was crumbling.

‘What a twisted character.’

Thinking that way felt somewhat like spitting in his own face, but still, how could he compare writing creative work reviews to murder?

In any case, what he needed to do became clear.

‘I’ll try melting the character’s emotions based on the emotions I felt.’

And now.

Kim Ji-hu’s thinking was exactly right.

PD Seo Min-sik let out an exclamation and said to Kim Ji-hu.

“Your original skills were already impressive, but… I never imagined you could grow this much in just one day… Ji-hu, you’re really a treasure, a treasure. Haha!”

“Ahaha… Thank you…”

Assistant director Jo Gi-hyeok also said to Kim Ji-hu.

“Ji-hu, that was the best acting I’ve seen since I started working… Really…”

“Th-thank you…”

Receiving such blatant praise after so long felt somehow embarrassing.

However, amid this relay of compliments, there was someone showing a slightly different reaction.

“…”

It was Song Jae-hyeok. He didn’t hide his displeasure as all the attention that should have come to him went only to Kim Ji-hu.

Kim Ji-hu felt that gaze and broke out in a cold sweat.

‘We still have a lot of filming left, and if Song Jae-hyeok gets twisted again…!’

Song Jae-hyeok had also been practicing tremendously and showing good growth up until today. If that flow was interrupted, it would definitely affect the work.

Kim Ji-hu quickly dealt with this.

He slightly passed through the crowd that had gathered around him and went in front of Song Jae-hyeok. Then he said.

“Song Jae-hyeok, thank you.”

“…What?”

“If I didn’t have someone like you to receive my acting, my performance wouldn’t have come out properly.”

To some extent, this was sincere.

If it had been Song Jae-hyeok’s previous acting, Kim Ji-hu’s acting wouldn’t have shone this much either.

Of course, if Song Jae-hyeok’s acting skills hadn’t improved, he would have devised a completely different method.

Song Jae-hyeok’s lips gradually curved upward after receiving Kim Ji-hu’s greeting.

“Well, my acting was pretty good today. You were quite watchable too.”

He didn’t know where such confidence came from, but Kim Ji-hu smiled awkwardly for now.

‘Social life… is really difficult…’

***

After Kim Ji-hu’s explosive acting, filming flowed smoothly.

Song Jae-hyeok’s acting skills also gradually improved, and the actors around him seemed stimulated by Kim Ji-hu, as their skills improved by leaps and bounds.

And slowly, the end was approaching.

“Today is Kim Ji-hu’s last day of filming. There will be an after-party afterward, so those who want to participate, please join the group chat vote.”

Kim Ji-hu’s filming ended today. Although the drama was 12 episodes total, Kim Ji-hu would exit after episode 10.

“Everyone… thank you for your hard work.”

Kim Ji-hu spoke to everyone in his usual crawling voice.

The staff and actors approached with bright smiles.

“Ji-hu, you really worked hard.”

“I’ll look forward to your next work too!”

“Even when you become a great actor, you can’t forget us.”

Kim Ji-hu responded awkwardly to such words.

“Ah, yes… I’ll never forget. You all worked hard…”

The staff smiled at Kim Ji-hu’s timid response.

“Ji-hu, you’re really unique. When you’re acting, you’re so smooth and calm, but normally you’re incredibly timid.”

“Right. We didn’t talk about it because we were worried it might be burdensome, but since it’s the last day, it’s okay to mention it, right?”

“We should really shake Ji-hu up today~. How about going to karaoke for the second round?”

Kim Ji-hu flinched at those words.

‘Karaoke… one of the top 3 places in the world I least want to go…’

Regardless of whether he sang well or poorly, Kim Ji-hu didn’t like noisy places in general, so his compatibility with karaoke was the worst.

On top of that, he didn’t usually like singing either, so he’d be lucky if he didn’t embarrass himself.

Kim Ji-hu racked his brain as much as possible and said.

“I… was planning to go home early today… so karaoke might be difficult…”

“Huh? Why? Now that work is over, isn’t this your break period?”

“Right. You should drink your heart out today at least.”

Kim Ji-hu waved both hands frantically.

“I… don’t drink alcohol…”

“Well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped.”

“I was looking forward to it, but that’s disappointing.”

Fortunately, no one forced alcohol on him, so it seemed to pass smoothly.

‘Extroverted people are really scary… How do they think of such terrifying ideas…’

To think they planned to make him drink heavily and then go to karaoke.

Even ‘Park Chul-woo,’ whom Kim Ji-hu had acted, probably wouldn’t have thought of such cruel ideas.

While he was thinking such thoughts, PD Seo Min-sik approached and put his arm around Kim Ji-hu’s shoulders.

“I’ll buy you something delicious with the corporate card, so at least stay for the first round. Everyone’s disappointed, and it would be a bit much if the main character of this drama just left like that.”

Kim Ji-hu could only nod at those words.

“Yes… I’ll go to the first round.”

Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t feel like they were forcing alcohol on him, and if he ate dinner there, he’d save on meal costs, so he thought it wouldn’t be too bad.

He definitely thought that…

***

“Everyone, cheers!!!!!!!!”

“Cheers~~~~”

“…”

Kim Ji-hu trembled as he held up his glass filled with cola.

‘So this is the company dinner I’ve only heard rumors about…’

The kind where people shout loud enough to burst your eardrums and drink until you can’t tell if it’s alcohol or water.

Exactly the scene he had imagined was unfolding before him.

‘I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home.’

For Kim Ji-hu, who was already uncomfortable dealing with people, this atmosphere was the worst.

He felt like running away right now.

But.

“Today’s star! You should give a toast!”

“Wow~~ PD-nim knows what’s up~.”

“Kim Ji-hu! Kim Ji-hu! Kim Ji-hu!”

Far from letting him go, they were even making him give a toast.

Cold sweat poured down Kim Ji-hu’s back.

‘I wasn’t even this nervous when acting…’

He truly felt like crying. As soon as the dinner started, Seo Min-sik seemed to have gotten tipsy and was patting Kim Ji-hu’s back while laughing heartily.

“Come on, Ji-hu. Say something.”

Pushed by Seo Min-sik, Kim Ji-hu awkwardly stood up from his seat, holding a beer glass filled with cola, not knowing what to do.

‘What on earth am I supposed to say here…’

Kim Ji-hu racked his brain as much as possible. He recalled company dinner scenes from various creative works.

What did people giving toasts say in those situations?

‘Right, most of them were well-received when they kept it simple and sincere.’

Not too long, and simple with sincerity. In such cases, both the characters at the dinner and the viewers reacted well.

‘Alright, if I have to do this anyway!’

Kim Ji-hu recalled those scenes and spoke.

“Everyoneworkedsohardduring filmingandIthinkit wasreallyvaluablefilmingformylifepleasetak ecareoftherestofthefilmingandpleasetakecareofmewhenwe meetagain…”

Of course, it couldn’t be easy. There was no way Kim Ji-hu, who had struggled to avoid even giving presentations since childhood, could speak well in front of so many people.

Especially his voice trailing off at the end seemed utterly pitiful even to Kim Ji-hu himself.

Kim Ji-hu spoke with a face that looked like he was about to cry.

“Thank you…”

“Haha… applause~.”

“Yes… that was a good toast…”

Kim Ji-hu cried out inwardly.

‘So why do you make me do this kind of thing… What am I supposed to do about this ruined atmosphere…’

He really felt like crying.

***

The dinner was gradually coming to an end. Kim Ji-hu sat alone in a corner and checked the time.

’11 o’clock… I should be able to go home now.’

After the terrible toast, Kim Ji-hu had been sitting there half-dazed. Now he was thinking about going home.

Then someone approached.

“Heh! Must be an outcast? Sitting in a corner like this.”

It was Song Jae-hyeok.

Kim Ji-hu looked at Song Jae-hyeok and grumbled inwardly.

‘You were alone the whole time too…’

These days, Song Jae-hyeok was making efforts and his skills were improving, but most of the staff still had stronger memories of the beginning and avoided Song Jae-hyeok.

‘If I were staff, I wouldn’t approach him either.’

Who would want to get close to someone who used their father’s influence to make threats? You could lose your job if you weren’t careful.

‘Though he seems to have grown now.’

Compared to the beginning, you could say he had transformed completely.

Now Kim Ji-hu thought Song Jae-hyeok was decent enough.

“Oh, and that toast earlier was really funny. Do you have talent as a comedian too?”

Cancel that. Cancel it. That guy is definitely a devil.

Kim Ji-hu suppressed his irritation and said.

“I’m going to head home now. Song Jae-hyeok, you have fun.”

“Alright, since I won’t be coming to the film set anymore, let me tell you clearly.”

Song Jae-hyeok smirked.

“Next time we meet, I’ll surpass you. If you slack off, I’ll catch up to you right away, so you’d better work hard, okay?”

Kim Ji-hu tilted his head upon hearing that.

‘Was this person always like this?’

He used to be arrogant, but his personality definitely seemed to have changed. That aside, there was something that caught his attention in those words.

“So you’re saying you won’t block my path?”

Song Jae-hyeok said confidently.

“I never said anything like that, did I?”

“There’s something called nuance.”

“Do you think I’d do something so cowardly? I’m someone who competes fair and square with skill!”

Of course, even while saying that, Song Jae-hyeok avoided eye contact as if something was bothering him.

Kim Ji-hu nodded as if he understood.

And with a small smile, he said.

“Then I’ll see you next time. In better form.”

“Yeah, see you next time.”

Kim Ji-hu greeted Song Jae-hyeok and stood up from his seat, then approached Seo Min-sik and said.

“PD Seo, the last train is coming soon, so I’ll head out first.”

He seemed quite drunk from drinking a lot, but Seo Min-sik stood up and extended his hand to Kim Ji-hu.

“Alright, Ji-hu. Thank you so much for this filming… Really, thank you. After all the filming is done, I’ll buy you a drink… no, since you don’t drink, I’ll treat you to a good meal.”

“Thank you, PD-nim.”

Kim Ji-hu grasped Seo Min-sik’s hand, and Seo Min-sik held Kim Ji-hu’s hand tightly with both hands and said.

“Thank you. Thank you.”

Every time he heard such words, he usually felt embarrassed or awkward, but today was a little different.

A feeling of warmth in his chest.

And a feeling of pride.

Kim Ji-hu smiled slightly and said.

“Thank you too, PD-nim. You worked hard.”

***

A few days later.

Kim Ji-hu stared at his phone with his heart pounding.

“Please please please please.”

Then a message flew into the group chat. Kim Ji-hu squinted and tapped on the chat room.

The content was.

-Episode 8 ratings are 9.2%!!! We broke through the high point!!!

It was the news Kim Ji-hu had been waiting for most.

“We did iiiiit…”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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