Chapter 90 – Reaction – Part 18

Chapter 90 – Reaction – Part 18

*

His eyes were half-closed.

His cloudy gaze was fixed on the TV, unable to move.

On the TV, a lion from Candle Garden was crouching low, eyeing its prey.

But to him, being blind, nothing was visible.

He just seemed to be staring at the TV without any expression.

No.

-Kieeeek!

At the sound of the animal’s assailant, the blind man’s cheek muscles reacted as if convulsing.

“Hmm…”

-Kieeeek!

As the beast, tripped by the lion’s front paw, cried out once more, the corners of his mouth gently rose, like someone appreciating music.

Just then, two young children, a boy and a girl, carefully entered through the open front door.

They tiptoed stealthily into the living room, as if trying not to be discovered.

The red evening sunset streaming in from outside cast long shadows of the two children.

The boy put a finger to his lips, as if telling the little girl to be quiet.

And he carefully moved his feet, watching the blind man closely.

Soon, the boy completely blocked the TV, but the blind man didn’t seem to notice their presence, only smiling faintly as if watching TV.

The boy carefully stole the 5,000 Won from the TV stand and slipped out of the house the same way he came in.

The blind man gets up from his seat.

Then, as if accustomed to it, he felt his way along the walls and furniture with his hands, entered the Master Bedroom, and came out again.

Arriving back in front of the TV, the blind man places the 5,000 Won he brought from the Master Bedroom onto the stand.

-Screech!

As he sits down, the corners of his mouth turn up once more.

What is he seeing in his imagination?

He couldn’t see, yet he truly looked as if he was watching TV.

“Is anyone home?”

At the sound from outside, the blind man slowly got up from his seat and approached the entrance.

The blind man cleared his phlegmy throat and spoke.

“Who is it?”

“I’m Detective Kang Woohyuk. Have you seen anyone like this person in the neighborhood recently?”

As the Detective held out a photo, the blind man smiled gently.

“I am a visually impaired person, so…”

“Ah, I apologize. That was very rude of me.”

The blind man even offered a benevolent smile, as if it was nothing.

“It happens. I understand.”

“Cut!”

At Jo Jeonghwan’s words, the smile that had melted onto the blind man’s, no, Woojin’s face, instantly vanished.

“Excellent! Excellent!”

Jo Jeonghwan unconsciously raised his voice.

The previous scene had such a strange atmosphere, as if something was about to happen in the very near future.

It was truly perfect itself,

Perhaps it was because the person who wrote the lines and stage directions also acted them out.

Woojin had paid a little more attention to the micro-expressions that appeared and disappeared in just 0.2 candles.

Woojin approached Jo Jeonghwan and asked in his original voice.

“Did it turn out well?”

“Well? Of course it did! Who do you think acted it? Look. Just look at this.”

Jo Jeonghwan started monitoring with Woojin, his voice excited.

Jo Jeonghwan pointed straight at the screen.

“Wow, this, the spasm on his face, it’s not artificial at all. Look at the atmosphere. I’d believe it if you told me it was a horror film. Hahaha!”

Woojin looked at the monitor and slowly nodded his head.

Jo Jeonghwan’s senior, Lee Hongmun, was watching him.

Lee Hongmun looked down at his arm, which was covered in goosebumps.

“Oh, come on…”

His vocalization was impeccable, and it wasn’t Mr. Cotton Swab, who was acting for the first time.

The Unknown Actor acted as if the character was the Unknown Actor and the Unknown Actor was the character, completely dominating the atmosphere.

It was as if the Criminal had torn through the script.

‘This isn’t his first time acting.’

Lee Hongmun couldn’t shake that thought.

It was a performance that evoked a top-tier actor, truly a Righteous Path.

If a very short part that signals the beginning of the movie gives this Righteous Path its impact…

The main character’s acting must also be unparalleled.

Lee Hongmun, lost in thought as he quietly watched Woojin, approached the two of them.

“It’s incredible. To be honest, I was a little skeptical. I apologize for my doubts.”

Woojin replied, delivering the Criminal’s last line.

“That’s understandable. I get it.”

“Now I understand why SH Future is pushing the Unknown Actor. Hahaha! But are you really not going to tell me your name?”

Woojin responded to his persistence with stubbornness.

“Just call me Unknown (Actor)Ira.”

“Then can you tell me your age?”

“I’m 21.”

Lee Hongmun’s eyes widened.

That acting, which created such a strange atmosphere, was from a 21-year-old?

He had been watching Woojin’s acting and thinking he was in his mid-40s at the oldest.

“21?”

“Yes. Director Lee Hongmun, you look like you’re forty-five, is that right?”

Lee Hongmun scratched his cheek.

“Yes. That’s right.”

“I think it would be better if we didn’t use informal speech with each other out of respect.”

“Well, I don’t care either way.”

“I heard there’s a company dinner today. Who’s paying? Director Jo Jeonghwan? Or Director Lee Hongmun?”

“That’s with the company card…”

Lee Hongmun felt like the situation was getting strange.

The conversation was going in a weird direction.

Jo Jeonghwan watched his senior and suppressed a laugh.

He had been like that too, at first.

Random remarks and questions came pouring in, and his mind went blank.

His senior must be experiencing that now.

“Company card…”

Woojin, who had been muttering and nodding, opened his mouth again.

“I heard the menu is Pork Belly (Samgyeopsal)Ira. If I tell them my name, can I change it to Beef?”

It was Woojin’s signature style of negotiation.

Lee Hongmun blinked.

What in the world is this now…

“Oh, beef is fine…”

“1++ No.9 (Beef), please.”

“Number Nine? I know 1++.”

“It tastes better.”

Lee Hongmun chuckled and said,

“For learning such a valuable name, that’s nothing.”

Lee Hongmun, who didn’t know the price of Number Nine, told the people,

“Today’s company dinner is changed to a beef restaurant!”

“Oh! Beef!”

“Can we eat a lot!”

“The brisket will be sweet!”

As their cheers erupted, Woojin spoke up.

“I’m Shin Woojin.”

“Mr. Shin Woojin?”

Woojin nodded lightly.

Considering the probabilities throughout the filming period, his name and face were bound to be exposed to Lee Hongmun anyway.

If that was going to happen, it was better to move in a way that gained him an advantage.

That advantage was, of course, beef.

“Shall I make a reservation for the beef restaurant?”

“Ah, you know good restaurants?”

“Yes. How many people should I reserve for?”

“Is it 28?”

“I’ll make a reservation for a generous 30 people.”

Woojin immediately called the store and made a reservation.

It was quick and accurate.

“Then I’ll see you there at 9 o’clock.”

Woojin’s part for the day ended there.

The scene shifts to Kang Woohyuk presenting a photo to the blind man.

Jo Jeonghwan asked,

“Where are you going? I’ll have someone take you there. Here!”

“No. It’s nearby.”

“Ah… Since it’s complicated to remove makeup here, I’ll have them remove it for you in the car.”

“Okay.”

Woojin immediately turned and exited.

And after cleanly removing his makeup, he got out of the car.

Immediately, Lee Hongmun’s voice was heard.

He had followed, curious about Woojin’s face.

“Oh my… He was quite a handsome man!”

“I’ll see you later.”

Woojin, who gave him a slight bow, turned away without hesitation.

Lee Hongmun clicked his tongue at Woojin’s retreating figure.

No matter how much he searched his mind, this was a completely new person.

Woojin walked for about 5 minutes and then stopped.

He was looking at a house, and flags attached to tall bamboo poles were fluttering in the wind.

It was what people commonly called a Shaman’s House.

[Child Spirit]

Woojin, looking at the black letters on the white signboard, pressed the doorbell.

He had always wanted to experience it, and now the opportunity had arrived.

Who are you?

“I’m here for a fortune reading.”

Do you have an appointment?

“No. Should I come back later?”

No. Come in.

The door opened and Woojin entered the yard.

Woojin’s eyes moved with the Omniscient Observer’s Perspective at the unfamiliar experience, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Then the door opened and a Middle-aged Woman in White Mourning Clothes appeared.

“You can come in.”

Inside, too, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

It looked like an ordinary house, but talismans were affixed everywhere.

“Please sit and wait for a moment. Would you like some coffee?”

“I’m fine.”

Sitting on the sofa, Woojin stared at a firmly closed room door.

With the barking sounds, it seemed the Child Spirit was in there.

Then the door opened and two Middle-aged Women came out.

Both had heavy makeup, and various accessories adorning their bodies sparkled.

“Didn’t you say it was really effective?”

“Should I really do the exorcism ritual?”

“Hey! You have to. I’m telling you, you absolutely have to do it.”

After they disappeared, the woman in the white mourning dress approached with paper and a pen.

“What is your name and date of birth?”

“I’m just getting my fortune read, do you really need personal information?”

“As expected, young people are sensitive about such matters. You don’t have to worry. The child spirit will just look at it for a moment, and then it will be burned.”

Woojin, who had given his name and date of birth, asked again.

The divination fee is…

100,000 won. 110,000 won for cards.

Woojin’s pupils trembled at the unexpected amount.

All the foods he could eat with 100,000 won quickly flashed through his mind.

Can I do a bank transfer?

Of course.

Is it prepaid?

She gave a calm smile.

Yes.

Woojin, who had made the bank transfer, immediately went into the room where the Child Spirit was.

Various foods were placed in front of the Buddha statue, and the scent of incense tickled his nose.

Toys that children might play with were also scattered around.

Woojin approached him with an intrigued look.

He was a man who appeared to be in his late 30s, and he was observing Woojin.

He was dressed in a colorful hanbok, had mascara on his eyes, and his face was pale as if he had applied sunscreen.

Can I sit down?

He answered Woojin’s question coolly.

Yes.

He, who had been staring at the paper with Woojin’s birth date written on it, burned the paper with a candle.

What problem brought you here?

Woojin replied to the direct question.

I’m curious about what my future holds.

He nodded as if he understood.

That’s just the age for it.

Woojin quietly watched him.

It certainly felt different from the atmosphere of ‘Do you know the Way’.

“But I see someone behind you.”

Woojin turned his head and looked behind him.

“What do you see?”

“Let’s ask our young spirit about that.”

He scattered rice on the table and picked up the bell.

Then he closed his eyes and began to shake it.

As the bell rang louder, his upper body also swayed.

He shook his head as if trying to hold onto his fading consciousness, and repeatedly made a rattling sound as if something was caught in his throat.

Then.

The bell stopped ringing, and his movements stopped with it.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Woojin.

And soon, a lisping voice emerged.

“The well-pulled big brother has come.”

Woojin tilted his head.

“Big brother, you have to listen to me carefully, okay?”

He put a piece of candy in his mouth and tucked a toy car into his arms.

Woojin’s ears were listening to his words.

Woojin’s eyes observed his actions.

“There’s one thing big brother is doing wrong. You know that, right?”

At his question, Woojin’s mouth, which seemed like it wouldn’t open, finally did.

“Continuing to speak informally to Candle… I don’t think that’s right.”