How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor – Chapter 103

Author: Cireng

Chapter 103

“Hello. I’m Yoo Seulho.”

As soon as the livestream started, this was my first impression.

‘Whoa, it’s way too fast.’

Did everyone just eat meals and attend computer academies all day?

The comments were flying by so quickly that I couldn’t keep up.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

On top of that, the endless stream of heart emojis made it impossible to tell what kind of expression I should be making.

Honestly, I almost felt like it would be easier if they cursed at me to my face or threw rocks.

Then I’d at least be confident I could smile naturally.

‘Am I smiling properly right now?’

I’d only just greeted them, but it already felt like my soul was leaving my body.

“Um, I…”

After swallowing hard, I slowly opened my mouth.

“I’m not really used to things like this, so I might be a little awkward, but I’ll do my best. P-please look kindly upon me.”

Trying to read the script the company had prepared just in case made me stumble over my words.

Please look kindly upon me.

I’d never used a line like that in my life.

It felt so awkward that I unconsciously squeezed my eyes shut.

I’d never been in a situation like this before, and it only left me bewildered.

‘I’d rather do some shameless acting.’

But even just looking at the comments, they all felt so sincere.

They really seemed like people who genuinely liked Yoo Seulho, and I just couldn’t bring myself to put on a mask and speak to people like that.

‘No, this won’t do.’

At this rate, forget changing the fandom name… I’d just get awkward and misspeak.

I should just speak honestly and naturally.

“I’m a little… no, very nervous. I’m much more tense than you probably think.”

I added that I was so nervous, I wasn’t even sure what I was saying.

‘If they’re really Yoo Seulho’s fans, they’ll forgive this level of awkwardness.’

Taking a calm breath, I continued.

“As for what I’ve been up to, I’m currently filming a movie. I’m shooting two projects simultaneously right now, so things are a bit hectic. And…”

The comments were coming so fast that I had no idea what to read.

When I leaned forward to look, one of the staff members beside me read one aloud.

“They’re asking if you’ve been eating your meals properly.”

“Ah, meals.”

For a second, Choo Seomok’s nagging overlapped in my mind, and I almost frowned, but I clenched my teeth and endured it.

“I never really skipped meals before, but lately I’ve been paying even more attention to eating properly. Turns out, my stamina isn’t as good as I thought.”

I said it without much thought and immediately regretted it.

‘I shouldn’t have said that last part.’

Yoo Seulho’s fanbase was mostly women.

Wouldn’t admitting that I lacked stamina as a man be a turn-off?

“B-but I still exercise regularly, so there’s no need to worry. There’s a bit of exposure in this movie, so I’ve been paying extra attention.”

The moment I finished speaking, question marks flooded the chat like crazy.

Then one particular comment caught my eye, and I read it aloud before I could stop myself.

“‘Dogs are fine because they have fur, but what are you going to do…?’ What does that mean?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

I had no intention of pretending to be airheaded in some cringe-worthy way.

I genuinely didn’t understand.

So… they were comparing me to a dog?

‘Seriously? Seriously?’

No matter how young Yoo Seulho was, he was still an adult.

I’d never imagined hearing something like this in my life.

‘How am I supposed to answer that?’

As I stumbled over my words, the chat scrolled excitedly.

➝ That’s right, we absolutely protect our puppy from exposure.

➝ As his guardian, I never consented to this, Director.

➝ LOL so true.

➝ Sorry, but how much is “a little”? Can you tell us in centimeters? ㅠ

Maybe I’d gotten used to the speed of the chat, because I could read things much more easily than before.

But I chose to avoid comments I simply couldn’t process with a clear mind.

“Right. Um… understood. Thank you.”

I quietly shifted my gaze downward.

What do I do?

I already want this to end.

Since I clearly couldn’t lead the stream myself, one of the staff members stepped in.

“They’re saying, ‘Filming two projects at once sounds really exhausting. Are you sleeping properly?’”

“Ah, yes. I’ve always had a bit of insomnia, you know. I was so used to it that I never really thought it was difficult.”

I hadn’t slept well when I was a loan shark, and I hadn’t slept well when I first entered Yoo Seulho’s body either.

But I’d become so accustomed to being tired that I just accepted it.

Then, at some point recently, I started falling asleep naturally.

The change had happened so gradually that I only realized much later.

‘Huh? I’ve actually been sleeping well lately.’

“Lately, I’ve been sleeping surprisingly well, and I wondered why. I guess that it’s because I’ve increased my carb intake.”

Choo Seomok nagged me so much that I’d been forcing myself to eat dinner.

That bastard even hid all my protein powder containers while I was at the gym, so I had no choice.

“My manager and I have been eating dinner together lately, and he’s very serious about proper meals. Being around him naturally changed me.”

At first, I only did it to avoid his nagging.

But after unexpectedly seeing improvements in my insomnia, I’d started eating properly even without being told.

So I advised everyone that if they had trouble sleeping, they should try eating properly first.

Then the staff member laughed and read another comment.

“Someone says, ‘If he eats well and sleeps well, I guess he really is a puppy.’”

“…I’m not really familiar with this, but does Yoo Seul–I mean, do I… look like a dog?”

Even as I asked, I had no idea what answer I was expecting.

Was telling someone they resembled a dog really a compliment?

“No, never mind. You don’t have to answer that. Next question.”

I quickly retracted my words, and the staff member moved on.

As the Q&A continued, I gradually relaxed.

Of course, I still froze whenever some unexpectedly cheesy comment appeared, but overall, I thought I was handling things fairly well.

‘But everyone worries way too much.’

Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned filming two projects at once.

Even after I’d already said I was eating and sleeping well, comments worrying about Yoo Seulho’s health continued endlessly.

The affection contained in those words felt strange and fascinating.

‘Can people really worry this sincerely about celebrities?’

I was honestly curious.

Why worry so much?

Was there a job easier than being a celebrity?

‘Of course, acting isn’t easy.’

But every profession had difficult periods, and everyone who worked for money had someone above them.

Even freelancers had clients to serve.

Business owners had customers.

‘For celebrities, the bosses are the public and the fans.’

And when those bosses were telling you not to overwork, worrying about your health, and encouraging you to take things easy…

How much better of a work environment could there be?

I had a lot I wanted to say, but I wasn’t sure if I should.

‘Would I sound like some old man?’

After some thought, I swallowed my words.

“I’m even seeing comments saying they’re already worried about next year’s class assignments. Ah, class assignments…”

I picked a random comment to change the topic, but that unfamiliar phrase suddenly stopped me.

‘I really have gotten old.’

Even though I grew up on the streets, I attended school normally until middle school.

Which meant the last time I’d used the words class assignments was twenty years ago.

‘Then the person who wrote this comment…’

…was twenty years younger than me?

After chatting for nearly an hour and finally feeling like the distance between us had narrowed, it suddenly widened again.

‘Just how young are they all?’

The people behind those texts suddenly felt like little chicks to me.

Then the staff read another comment.

“Yoo Seulho is so handsome I want to freeze-dry him.”

And once again, I had no idea what that meant.

The process of me seriously asking what that was supposed to mean took quite a while.

And instead of finding me pathetic, everyone in the comments thought it was cute.

‘This is embarrassing.’

At first, all this goodwill had felt awkward.

But gradually, the positive energy from people who liked me started feeling pleasant.

I was only human.

How could I dislike being loved by others…

‘Right.’

These people didn’t like me.

They liked Yoo Seulho.

The realization hit me like cold water.

‘…Get a grip.’

I had no intention of becoming greedy over something that wasn’t mine.

Ignoring the strange feeling in my chest, I finally brought up the real reason for the stream.

“The truth is, the reason I went live today was that I wanted to talk about the fandom name.”

I told them that while I liked the nickname everyone currently used, perhaps we could find something with a nicer sound.

“The company suggested a few options. Just a second. I’ll read them one by one.”

I listed the candidates the staff had painstakingly prepared.

But the response was… lukewarm.

“Uh… none of these are appealing?”

Everyone’s half-hearted reactions made it obvious they disliked every single suggestion.

What do I do?

I really hated Straws…

But I couldn’t force people to stop liking something.

As I rolled my eyes around helplessly, one comment asked:

➝ What do you want to call us, Seulho?

The moment I read it, the answer slipped out before I could stop it.

“Chicks?”

“Huh?”

The staff member looked surprised by the random answer.

Belatedly, I explained,

“Ah, someone asked for my opinion…”

Suppressing a smile, the staff member said,

“You seemed awkward when fans called you a puppy earlier, but now your fans are chicks?”

“……”

No, when you put it like that, I really have nothing to say.

I moved my lips and gave an embarrassed excuse.

“It’s just… somehow they feel like chicks. Anyway, the company will upload the poll. I think the stream has gone on too long. Sorry if I kept anyone from eating. I’ll be going now.”

I hurriedly delivered my closing remarks.

People immediately started crying in the comments, telling me not to leave.

But my embarrassment was stronger.

‘Chicks? Seriously? Why did I say that all of a sudden? Ha…’

My mouth really doesn’t listen to me.

After giving one final proper greeting, I quietly waited until the staff confirmed that the stream had truly ended.

“It’s completely over now. Good work, Seulho.”

“Haaa…”

After only an hour and a half, I felt like I’d aged ten years.

I was so exhausted that I collapsed face-down on the desk.

“Good job.”

Team Leader Ahn patted my back, his voice obviously full of amusement.