I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 251

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 251
The weather was perfect.
While gazing blankly at the sunlight shimmering across the water’s surface, Kwon Seong-min beside him opened his mouth quietly.
“You said this was your first time fishing?”
“Yes. The extent of my experience is just mullet fishing once, back in winter.”
Seon-woo nodded and answered.
He was here now fulfilling a promise he’d made with Kwon Seong-min earlier to go fishing. The location was an open-air fishing ground in Namyangju.
The timing was perfect. He needed this kind of rest anyway, and besides, he wanted to grow closer to Kwon Seong-min.
“You’ve never taken an interest in fishing before?”
“Well… I was curious about it, actually. I spent my military service on the sea, so I’d often see people fishing.”
So often did they venture into the restricted area claiming they wanted to fish. Half the incidents the checkpoint caught were because of fishermen.
But that didn’t mean he held any resentment toward fishing. Their presence was annoying, sure, but it made him curious in equal measure.
What charm does fishing possess that people are willing to go to such lengths? That’s what he’d wondered.
Kwon Seong-min smiled.
“Fishing is a strange thing. The more you do it, the more you think to yourself, ‘Why am I doing this boring thing?’… but then that very boredom keeps crossing your mind.”
“I didn’t know you found it boring. I thought you just enjoyed it.”
“I do enjoy it. But boring is accurate too. How could it not be boring to just stand there doing nothing, staring at a fishing rod? But… this boredom itself is a sensation you can hardly feel in your everyday life.”
Kwon Seong-min turned to look at Seon-woo.
“You almost never have time when you’re not doing anything, do you?”
“Well… I suppose that’s somewhat true of me.”
He wanted to say otherwise, but that would have been a lie.
Seon-woo was the type who struggled to rest quietly. Kwon Seong-min nodded as if he’d known that all along.
“Running constantly isn’t the answer. You need to catch your breath sometimes if you want to run for longer.”
“Even knowing that, I end up unable to sit still.”
“Ha, life’s never easy, is it—for you either. Ah, finally, it’s here!”
Kwon Seong-min yanked on the fishing rod.
A moment later, a carp the size of his palm lay in his hands. Kwon Seong-min smacked his lips and released the carp back into the river.
“Too young.”
“I know it can’t be helped, but… every time you release one like that, I feel a bit of regret.”
“Of course it’s regrettable. But that’s something you learn to accept. The world doesn’t work according to your wishes. Fishing teaches you that even better. That’s why I love it. That little carp back there probably didn’t even realize it was about to die, did it? It just wanted to eat.”
“That’s a frightening metaphor… but it really hits home.”
Seon-woo nodded and casually tapped on Kwon Seong-min’s fishing rod.
His own rod hadn’t had a single bite since earlier. Kwon Seong-min had already caught five, not counting the one he’d just released.
“It looks like there’s no such thing as a beginner’s luck in fishing.”
“There’s no such thing anywhere. It just comes when the time is right, or it doesn’t.”
When the time is right…
Through fishing, Seon-woo came to understand one thing clearly.
‘I really do have an impatient personality.’
It wasn’t just about fishing.
Ever since discussing “The Method to Kill One’s Wife” with Seon-jun, Seon-woo couldn’t shake the thoughts about it.
In truth, there was no need to rush.
Seon-jun wasn’t going to confirm the casting immediately, and the production schedule hadn’t been solidified yet.
Yet still, Seon-woo wanted to get Seon-jun’s approval as quickly as possible.
Part of it was because “The Method to Kill One’s Wife” was such a compelling story…
‘I just need to keep doing something or I feel restless.’
In a way, he might feel anxious whenever he wasn’t occupied with something.
So the fishing appointment with Kwon Seong-min wasn’t unwelcome. It was like getting fresh air. Being here made him feel just how hurried and restless his life had been, how much he’d been running without pause.
Seon-woo thought to himself.
At least for this moment, let me focus on fishing. Or more precisely, stop strangling myself with acting.
If he was nothing without acting, then his acting itself would become nothing as well.
Meanwhile, Kwon Seong-min watched Seon-woo lost in thought, quietly observing him.
He hadn’t invited Seon-woo to fish simply because he needed a partner.
To Kwon Seong-min’s eyes, Seon-woo seemed overheated.
Passion is a good thing, but anything overheated will end badly. Kwon Seong-min hoped Seon-woo might have at least a moment to catch his breath.
‘Though spending time with an old senior like me might feel suffocating instead…’
Fortunately, from some point on, Seon-woo’s gaze didn’t leave the water’s surface.
He was concentrating properly now.
That’s when it happened.
“…Huh?”
“It’s here, reel it in!”
“Yes, yes…!”
The bobber trembled.
Even amid his confusion, Seon-woo reeled frantically—completely clumsy and amateurish, unlike when he was acting.
But by the end, a crucian carp the size of his palm lay in his hands…
Seon-woo gazed blankly at the living creature wriggling in his palm, and only after a long moment did he open his mouth.
“Senior, would it be all right if… I came fishing with you again next time?”
Kwon Seong-min laughed.
“Of course. I’d like that.”
* * *
The fishing outing with Kwon Seong-min certainly gave Seon-woo room to breathe.
By spending time doing nothing, staying still, even if forced to do so, he was able to face himself more directly.
And,
‘I think I was a bit worn out.’
He had to admit this much honestly.
Until now, Seon-woo had poured all his time into acting so relentlessly it bordered on compulsive.
As a result, he’d had precious little time to reflect on Kim Seon-woo as a human being.
‘Calling myself a “human” Kim Seon-woo sounds a bit like celebrity disease, honestly.’
More precisely, he’d failed to separate work from daily life.
So Seon-woo decided to actually live out his daily life for once. And the first thing he chose to indulge in was…
“My, my, look at this. Isn’t this absolutely beautiful?”
A date with Lee Jeong-hee.
A department store. Seon-woo raised his voice with feigned confidence as he watched Jeong-hee admire elegant, high-end bowls and dishes.
“Should I buy you one? As a gift, Mom.”
“…No, that’s all right. I can’t have you spending your hard-earned money on things like this.”
“You said you liked it, didn’t you?”
“I do like it, but I wasn’t planning to buy anything!”
The same pattern repeated after that.
This is pretty, that’s pretty, but she wouldn’t actually buy anything. Not that window shopping alone was a problem…
“Mom, are you really not going to buy anything?”
Looking like they’d head home empty-handed, Seon-woo finally spoke up.
“Why? Is there something you think you should get?”
“Well, we came all this way, so it’d be strange not to buy anything…”
“…True, my second son has always been like that. Draw the sword and you always cut the radish.”
Jeong-hee laughed wryly and ruffled Seon-woo’s hair.
In the past, she’d found that trait reassuring. Yes, you need that kind of character to navigate this harsh world. That’s what she’d thought.
But lately, her feelings had shifted slightly.
From what she saw through his work and such… she was only now beginning to notice. Her son, who had always seemed so capable, was living without nearly as much ease as she’d imagined.
“Even if you don’t cut the radish.”
“…Sorry?”
“You don’t have to buy anything. You don’t have to do something just because you’re somewhere. Just… enjoy yourself.”
“It’s not that I’m not enjoying myself…”
Seon-woo trailed off.
For some reason, it felt better not to make excuses right now. Jeong-hee glanced at the mask he’d pulled tight and spoke.
“Still, it’s a shame. My son with that handsome face—he should be showing it off everywhere. But now he has to keep it all wrapped up. Though I suppose that’s because he uses his looks so well.”
“…Ahem, I didn’t become an actor just because of my looks. It’s just… I’ve been lucky in many ways…”
“What are you saying? You’re dismissing your mother’s contribution? I went to all the trouble of giving you those good looks, and here you are, being modest about it. …Right, it just occurred to me—these days, does our son have any young ladies interested in him? You’re handsome, smart, talented. And you have a good personality on top of it all. Women should be lining up for you, even without me saying so…”
“…That’s really not the case, so please don’t worry.”
Seon-woo laughed wryly and shook his head.
In reality, there hadn’t been any woman he was interested in yet. Well, there were plenty online, but that meant nothing.
Sensing that Seon-woo wasn’t lying, Jeong-hee frowned.
“Why? Why isn’t any girl falling for our son?”
“…Well, I don’t really have time to meet anyone in the first place.”
“What about the other actors?”
“Getting involved with coworkers invites scandal. I need to focus on my work.”
“You think so? But love always blooms in the workplace. Don’t you remember how your mother and father met at the company?”
“…”
Well, that was true.
But this is different, Seon-woo thought, shaking his head.
“In any case, when the time comes, I’ll find someone naturally. Please don’t push me on this. I’m only twenty-eight, after all.”
“Before you know it, you’ll be forty. Looking at actors these days, they all say being alone is more comfortable, so they don’t even marry. I worry about it. If you keep going like this, Seon-woo…”
In the end, Seon-woo found himself subjected to unexpected nagging about marriage for quite some time.
He’d never expected to hear this sort of thing at his age…
“Your older brother, he should get married first. Whether I do or not should come after that.”
“…Your brother finds people fine on his own. Honestly, I don’t worry about Seon-jun like that. What I worry about is whether he might suddenly drive recklessly into marriage.”
“Well… that’s understandable.”
“Anyway… my son. Mom understands that your job makes it impossible for you to date casually. I’m not saying you should throw open the doors and be reckless. Your work as an actor is glamorous, impressive, wonderful—I know all that. But… I don’t want you to live a lonely life.”
“…”
Seon-woo lost his words for a moment.
He’d thought she was just making ordinary complaints, but it wasn’t like that. He could feel that Jeong-hee had genuinely been worrying about this all along.
“I’m not lonely.”
“Maybe not now. But what happens when your mother and father are gone?”
“Gone where? We’re not going anywhere.”
“Everyone goes eventually. That’s why Mom worries even more. As for you as an actor… well, I hope you succeed, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you didn’t. That’s not everything. But our son, Seon-woo… you need to live well, don’t you?”
“I will live well. Whose son do you think I am? Of course I’ll live well.”
…As much as he felt sorry toward Jeong-hee, Seon-woo could only think one thing in this moment.
That people’s experience truly matters.
The moment she said those words, the atmosphere emanating from Jeong-hee was… heavier, more serious than even some seasoned professional actors he knew.
It was only natural.
Being an actor didn’t make you a bigger person than Jeong-hee; it just meant you could act better than her. But because of that, he now felt anew that he needed to grow as a human being.
Without growing as a person, focusing only on acting… he might end up becoming nothing more than an empty shell of an actor.
“So Mom, are you really not going to buy that bowl? Last chance I’m asking.”
Jeong-hee smiled.
“…Let me look around a bit more.”

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