NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 126

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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 126. Housewarming (1)

 

Bzzzz─.

 

 

 

The day after finishing the commercial film shoot, I was working out at home when my smartphone rang.

 

 

 

– Director Hwang Min-kwon

 

 

 

Yeon-woo checked the screen and answered the phone.

 

 

 

“Yes, Director.”

 

– Ah, Actor Ryu. Next week is the audition for our drama.

 

 

 

Come to think of it, he had said they would hold auditions for the Jo-dan role soon.

 

 

 

“Time has passed that quickly already.”

 

– Yes. So I was wondering if you might want to come to the audition in person…

 

 

 

Hearing Director Hwang Min-kwon’s words through the receiver, Yeon-woo shook his head slightly.

 

 

 

“No. Please handle it entirely, Director, along with Director Jeong. Since you’ve been planning this story for so long, you’ll be able to select the perfect actors.”

 

– Yes! Understood.

 

 

 

Since this relationship was formed by Yeon-woo’s choice from the very beginning, the production team was reading the room around Yeon-woo in various ways.

 

 

 

‘If they can’t exercise their discretion as directors because they’re too busy reading my mood, the results could turn out badly.’

 

 

 

When there are too many captains, the ship goes to the mountains.

 

Similarly, when an actor has too much influence, works sometimes get ruined.

 

 

 

Since Director Hwang had Director Jung Yo-han and Writer Kim Jin-ju beside him, it seemed better not to interfere with future directions.

 

 

 

After ending the call with Director Hwang Min-kwon, I was about to start exercising again when the phone rang once more.

 

 

 

“Hm?”

 

 

 

Looking at the screen, this time it was Kim Jun-su.

 

 

 

“Oh, Jun-su.”

 

– Hey! I heard you moved. Why aren’t you inviting us over?

 

 

 

Hearing the complaining voice as soon as I answered, Yeon-woo scratched his head.

 

 

 

“…Ah, I’ve been so busy with filming that I forgot.”

 

 

 

I had thought about inviting friends over, even if not for a proper housewarming, but after consecutively handling the NeTube variety show filming at Plus Ten and the commercial film, I had completely forgotten.

 

 

 

– We decided to gather this evening, so can we come over to hang out?

 

 

 

At Kim Jun-su’s words, Yeon-woo nodded and answered.

 

 

 

“Sure. Come over. Since we’re gathering anyway, I’ll contact Jin-wook hyung too. He might not be able to come if he’s busy, but since he lives right next door, evenings should be fine.”

 

– Oh! Great. I’ll bring Seong-sik and Ju-hyeong!

 

 

 

After hanging up, Yeon-woo looked around the house.

 

Since I hadn’t brought much stuff to begin with, there wasn’t much to clean up.

 

 

 

If my family hadn’t come last weekend to fill up the refrigerator with side dishes, it would still be completely empty.

 

 

 

“My lifestyle doesn’t seem much different from my past life or now…”

 

 

 

The only difference in this life is living a life devoted to acting, perhaps.

 

 

 

Yeon-woo shook his head to clear his thoughts and tried calling Son Jin-wook, but he didn’t answer, probably because he was busy.

 

 

 

‘Hmm, did he have filming?’

 

 

 

Then the smartphone rang.

 

 

 

“What kind of day is today? Calls keep coming one after another.”

 

 

 

I thought it might be Son Jin-wook and looked at the screen, but it was Seo Ji-eun.

 

 

 

“Yeah. Sister Ji-eun.”

 

– Ah! Yeon-woo.

 

 

 

Seo Ji-eun’s voice came through the phone.

 

 

 

– Well, you see. That… um…

 

“Hm, what’s the matter that you’re hesitating? Did you cause some trouble?”

 

– I didn’t! What trouble could I possibly cause?

 

“Then what is it?”

 

 

 

After hesitating, Seo Ji-eun continued.

 

 

 

– I filmed a variety show last time. But somehow I ended up talking about you a lot there…

 

“Ah, you’re letting me know in advance? I’ll watch it too. When does it air?”

 

– Tonight at 9 PM! KBC Channel 2!

 

 

 

Yeon-woo chuckled softly and touched his cheek.

 

 

 

‘The same day. She’s really giving me quick notice.’

 

 

 

Since friends were coming over today anyway, we could all order something to eat and watch that variety show together.

 

 

 

“Got it. I’ll definitely watch the live broadcast. You didn’t badmouth me, did you?”

 

– What! Of course not. Thanks for saying you’ll watch! Hehe.

 

“Was filming the variety show fun?”

 

– I’m totally the variety show type!

 

 

 

Hearing Seo Ji-eun’s words, Yeon-woo naturally nodded his head.

 

I thought he would do well on variety shows because of his naturally cheerful personality and good social skills.

 

 

 

After asking about various things and ending the call, Yeon-woo looked around.

 

 

 

“Ah, here it is.”

 

 

 

He took out a scenario from the drawer.

 

 

 

「White Blood」

 

 

 

Yeon-woo went upstairs with the scenario.

 

 

 

‘Having an acting practice room at home is really nice.’

 

 

 

He planned to go up to the practice room and study the supporting characters from his next work, 「White Blood」.

 

 

 

“Still, the kids won’t come until after seven, so I can get about four or five hours of practice in.”

 

 

 

It was still uncertain which actors would work together through the casting audition, but if he analyzed the characters in detail beforehand, he could create good synergy with whoever came.

 

 

 

“First, Ella.”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo immersed himself in the script.

 

 

 

The protagonist of 「White Blood」, Jeong Do-jin, travels with various allies on his journey to save his younger sibling, and the first character to appear among them is ‘Ella’.

 

 

 

‘Other roles are important too, but this role especially needs to be cast really well.’

 

 

 

Since the character is depicted as being around sixteen years old in the drama, they need to cast a child actor.

 

 

 

Yeon-woo memorized the script of the scene where he first encounters Ella and closed his eyes.

 

Yeon-woo reviewed the scenario content once more, concentrated, then opened his eyes.

 

 

 

Before he knew it, the acting practice room in his house had become a medieval village filled with red roofs and stones laid everywhere.

 

 

 

Since most of the acting for this work would be filmed on a chromakey set, he needed to practice overlaying imagination onto reality for immersion in advance.

 

 

 

He imagined there was a fountain installed in the center of the village square before his eyes.

 

 

 

“Mister! Over here! Your iron horse that you rode!”

 

 

 

When he turned around, he saw Ella urgently gesturing.

 

When Do-jin changed direction and headed toward Ella, she ran into an alley as if guiding him.

 

 

 

“It’s inside that stable!”

 

 

 

When he entered the building Ella pointed to with her finger, there was the magnetic levitation motorcycle he had seized from the ‘Level 3 White Blood Army’ that had been chasing Do-jin around the time he passed the fibula last year.

 

 

 

As he hurriedly got on and tried to start it, Ella quickly climbed on behind him.

 

 

 

“What? Why are you following me?”

 

“Take me with you too!”

 

 

 

Do-jin frowned at Ella’s sudden demand to be taken along.

 

 

 

“I’m in a hurry. No baggage allowed.”

 

“Ah! I gave you food! You should pay for the meal.”

 

 

 

Grumble.

 

 

 

The White Blood Army that had caught up collapsed the stable wall and entered, and there was no more time to delay.

 

 

 

Do-jin had no choice but to start the magnetic levitation motorcycle.

 

 

 

Whirrrr─.

 

 

 

Then his smartphone in his pants pocket vibrated, breaking him out of his immersion.

 

 

 

Yeon-woo was sitting on a stool chair in the practice room, not on a magnetic levitation motorcycle.

 

 

 

“Phew, this kind of acting seems twice as hard as regular acting because you have to draw out immersion.”

 

 

 

He shook his head and took out his ringing smartphone.

 

 

 

“Yes, Jin-wook hyung.”

 

– Yeah. You called earlier?

 

 

 

Since he didn’t answer the phone earlier, he thought he might be busy so he didn’t leave a separate message.

 

 

 

“Are you busy? Seong-sik and Jun-su are coming to my house for dinner tonight, so I was wondering if you could come.”

 

– No, I was taking a nap. So it’s a housewarming?

 

“It’s not as grand as a housewarming.”

 

– Okay. I’ll come over later. It’ll be nice to see the kids’ faces after a long time.

 

 

 

Yeon-woo hung up the phone and got up from his chair.

 

 

 

“Hmm, still, since guests are coming to my house, it would be better to serve food rather than ordering delivery.”

 

 

 

He went downstairs and opened the refrigerator to see pork and aged kimchi that his mother had prepared for him.

 

 

 

‘Should I make aged kimchi stew? The kids have probably been living in Seoul for a while without home-cooked meals.’

 

 

 

Friends who eat every meal with cafeteria food or delivery would probably miss home cooking.

 

 

 

‘That was also the reason I started cooking in my previous life.’

 

 

 

Foods like aged kimchi stew or braised mackerel are often eaten when living with family, but they’re not really foods you order for delivery.

 

 

 

Yeon-woo took out ingredients from the refrigerator and rolled up his sleeves.

 

 

 

‘First, let me prep the ingredients. Come to think of it, I’ve never checked what spices were stocked here.’

 

 

 

When I opened the cupboard, fortunately all the basics were there.

 

 

 

There was still quite a bit of time before my friends arrived, so I was leisurely cooking when the doorbell rang.

 

 

 

“Are they here already?”

 

 

 

Tilting my head in confusion, I checked the security camera and saw Jin-wook standing there waving his hand.

 

 

 

I opened the front door and went to greet him as Jin-wook entered while yawning.

 

 

 

“Yawn. Why am I so sleepy even during the day lately?”

 

“Hyung. Why did you come so early?”

 

“I’m bored.”

 

 

 

As Jin-wook entered the living room, he started sniffing around.

 

It was probably because of the fresh kimchi I had taken out.

 

 

 

“What’s that smell? It’s mercilessly stimulating my taste buds.”

 

“Ah, well since guests are coming, I was preparing to make pork and aged kimchi stew.”

 

 

 

Jin-wook’s eyes sparkled at Yeon-woo’s words.

 

 

 

“Ooh. That’s my favorite dish?”

 

“Really?”

 

“Make a lot. I don’t have any upcoming projects yet, so I’m binge eating these days.”

 

“Haha. Got it.”

 

 

 

I was already preparing generous portions since today’s meal would be for five guys.

 

 

 

I returned to the kitchen and was adding bone broth with corporate-level flavor to the pot, putting in aged kimchi and pork neck when Jin-wook came in.

 

 

 

“Is there anything I can help with?”

 

“Just rest.”

 

“Use me as an assistant.”

 

 

 

Seeing Jin-wook asking for something to do out of boredom, Yeon-woo reluctantly gave him instructions.

 

 

 

“Then could you make the seasoning sauce?”

 

“Seasoning sauce?”

 

“Minced garlic, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, gochujang, cooking wine, and the ratio is…”

 

“…Hmm, I think I’ll just look around the house!”

 

 

 

After easily shooing Jin-wook out of the kitchen, I continued cooking, and just as I was finishing up, the doorbell rang with perfect timing.

 

 

 

“Yeon-woo. Your friends came so I opened the entrance security door. Should I open the front door too?”

 

“Yes. I’ll be finishing up the cooking.”

 

 

 

While Yeon-woo was setting dinner on the dining table, Jin-wook went to the entrance hall.

 

 

 

When Jin-wook opened the front door, Kim Ju-hyeong, who was about to enter thinking Yeon-woo had opened the door, froze in place.

 

 

 

“Gasp. Son, Son Jin-wook…?”

 

 

 

With Kim Ju-hyeong frozen in the middle, Woo Seong-sik and Kim Jun-su bowed politely.

 

 

 

“Hyung-nim! It’s been a while!”

 

“Jin-wook hyung, hello! I forgot to tell Ju-hyeong about this.”

 

“You rascals. You’re really starting to look like college students now? This isn’t my house, but come on in.”

 

 

 

The friends dragged the still bewildered Kim Ju-hyeong into the house with their arms around his shoulders.

 

 

 

“Wow, what’s that smell?”

 

 

 

After setting all the dinner on the dining table, Yeon-woo walked toward the entrance hall.

 

 

 

“You’re here?”

 

 

 

Seeing Yeon-woo, the friends looked around the house.

 

 

 

“Yeon-woo. This house is killer.”

 

“It’s the same place as Jin-wook hyung-nim’s house but the structure is completely different?”

 

 

 

At his friends’ reactions, Yeon-woo smiled and asked.

 

 

 

“You haven’t eaten yet, right?”

 

“No. But what’s this smell? It’s making me drool.”

 

“I made pork and aged kimchi stew. The restroom is over there. Go wash your hands before eating.”

 

 

 

Hearing Yeon-woo’s words, the friends headed toward the restroom then scurried into the kitchen.

 

 

 

“Wow, the visual is killer.”

 

 

 

The pork was beautifully soaked in red seasoning, and green onions and sesame seeds were sprinkled over the well-cooked aged kimchi.

 

Finally, sesame oil drizzled in a circle on top maximized the aroma, making it seem like the saliva pooling in their mouths would drip any moment.

 

 

 

“Let’s eat quickly. Jin-wook hyung, please join us.”

 

 

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, everyone sat down and started eating.

 

 

 

“Wow, the meat just melts in your mouth.”

 

“Hey. Try the aged kimchi. It’s like going back to the family home.”

 

 

 

Watching his friends frantically competing with their chopsticks, Yeon-woo chuckled and started taking spoonfuls.

 

 

 

‘I made this on a whim based on what was in the refrigerator, but I think I chose the dish well.’

 

 

 

During the meal, Kim Ju-hyeong hesitated for a while before opening his mouth.

 

 

 

“I’m a huge fan of actor Son Jin-wook!”

 

“Oh really? What’s with the ‘actor’ title. Just call me hyung.”

 

 

 

Kim Ju-hyeong’s eyes sparkled brightly at Son Jin-wook’s response.

 

 

 

Being such a movie enthusiast, he couldn’t believe he was sitting at the same table as Son Jin-wook, eating together.

 

 

 

It made sense though – while he was certainly surprised when he saw Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han, those two were young actors who were just starting to rise.

 

 

 

But Son Jin-wook was a famous actor that Kim Ju-hyeong had been seeing on TV and in movie theaters since he was a little kid, so the impact was on a completely different level.

 

 

 

“Wow, when the front door opened, I thought my heart was going to jump out.”

 

 

 

Son Jin-wook chuckled at Kim Ju-hyeong’s words.

 

 

 

“If you saw female actresses like Han So-hyeon or Seo Ji-eun instead of me, you’d probably faint, wouldn’t you?”

 

 

 

When Seo Ji-eun was mentioned, Yeon-woo clapped his hands as if something had come to mind.

 

 

 

“Ah, come to think of it, Sister Ji-eun called earlier saying she’s appearing on a variety show tonight, so I promised to watch it.”

 

 

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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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