I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 78

Jin Jae-joon’s unconscious tension stemmed from Kang Woo-jin’s intense gaze. It felt like it was draining his energy while simultaneously dissecting his very being.

It was just a rehearsal, after all.

Therefore, the knife Kang Woo-jin held was a prop, and there was no blood. The blade was about 3 centimeters from his eyeball, further than he expected. It should have been almost 1 centimeter away. Woo-jin’s clothes and face were also clean.

Yes, Kang Woo-jin was clearly holding back.

It was just a simple line rehearsal. The problem was that even though it was a rehearsal, the Kang Woo-jin that Jin Jae-joon was seeing—no, the Lee Sang-man—felt too real.

‘…I understand why the director was glued to the monitor.’

Of course, Jin Jae-joon had been amazed by yesterday’s Lee Sang-man as well. Even as a spectator, he couldn’t take his eyes off him. The clean execution, the precise movements, the detailed lines. But today, the feeling was different. As his scene partner, sitting across from Lee Sang-man, Jin Jae-joon felt like he was being crushed.

‘His gaze is captivating. Is it just natural?’

It was the difference between those who were aware of Lee Sang-man and those who weren’t. His eyes were deep. It wasn’t like this yesterday, but today, Lee Sang-man’s eyes were fixed on Jin Jae-joon. Or rather, ‘Jung Sung-hoon.’ Jin Jae-joon was unconsciously drawn into that gaze.

Was that why?

“……”

The scene in front of Jin Jae-joon, who was looking at Lee Sang-man, shifted. Things he had seen or would see as ‘Jung Sung-hoon’ overlapped like a panorama. The emotion that Lee Sang-man had projected was the starting point.

The brightness of the abandoned warehouse dimmed.

The crew disappeared, replaced by men in black suits. Among them was Lee Sang-man. With his shirt sleeves rolled up, he was torturing a subordinate tied up in a corner of the warehouse. The weapon was a sashimi knife [a long, thin Japanese knife used for slicing fish].

It was unclear where he was cutting, but Lee Sang-man was slowly slicing the subordinate’s flesh.

The subordinate’s screams, Lee Sang-man’s low laughter, the smell of blood.

Jung Sung-hoon’s throat went dry. That’s how it felt. All the hair on his body stood on end. Blood dripped from Lee Sang-man’s feet, who was facing away. Jung Sung-hoon kept watching it.

And now, Lee Sang-man, his face covered in blood, was right in front of him.

“You’ve got cop eyes. You’re a cop.”

He even had a sashimi knife pressed against his eyeball. Lee Sang-man was a man with a subtle madness. Someone who seemed careless but had a sharp edge.

However, Jung Sung-hoon had also risked his life.

After all, this abandoned warehouse, the act of cutting his subordinate with a knife, the appearance of being covered in blood, and this knife were all just a performance to expose him. Jung Sung-hoon desperately held back the urge to pee. Then, he adjusted his posture. He relaxed his shoulders, which had been hunched with tension, and crossed his legs.

That low posture was not ideal for a tense situation.

“Then stab me. Try tasting some ink [a metaphor for blood].”

Jung Sung-hoon instead pressed his eyeball closer to the nearby blade. That crazy gangster had a good sense. There was no other way but to push forward strongly. On the other hand, the smile completely disappeared from Lee Sang-man’s face.

Instead, his expression was filled with fatigue.

“You’re glaring with your eyes, just curse me out, you bastard.”

“You said I’m a cop. Yeah, I’m a cop, you fuck.”

“……”

“Let’s not do this ridiculous test. We need to do business, business. You probably already checked me out before you met me, right?”

Lee Sang-man moved the knife from Jung Sung-hoon’s eyeball to his nose.

“I even dug into your past. Your resume says you’re a junkie. You went to school for selling drugs, right? And your backer is Choi Jun-ho. But, Mr. Jung.”

Lee Sang-man tapped Jung Sung-hoon’s nose with the knife. His eyes turned snake-like.

“Seeing you in person, your eyes look intelligent. You’re a thug, but an intelligent thug, that’s what your eyes say.”

“Bullshit, you moron, get lost. I’d rather go and shove drugs up the asses of those Japanese monkeys.”

“Mr. Jung, you think you can just walk out of here as you please?”

“You son of a bitch. What are you gonna do?”

Lee Sang-man yawned and lightly scratched Jung Sung-hoon’s cheek with the knife that had been tapping his nose.

“I don’t trust people. I trust results. To do business, trust has to be the foundation, right?”

“……”

“Take the intensity out of your eyes. I might just cut them out. Tsk, I don’t do business with second-raters, so make an interesting case. A case that’ll be plastered all over the newspapers.”

“What kind of case?”

“If you tear apart your ‘backer’ and pull out all their organs, I’ll trust you.”

Jung Sung-hoon’s backer was the drug kingpin Choi Jun-ho, who was in prison. In other words, Lee Sang-man was proposing that Jung Sung-hoon kill Choi Jun-ho, whom he had worked hard to gain trust from. As Jung Sung-hoon, who was undercover, it was a difficult situation.

He was considering it, but he was still a police officer.

Even if he somehow killed Choi Jun-ho, the police would eventually suspect him. On the other hand, Lee Sang-man’s side was not easy either.

“But if that old drug kingpin is still alive? Then you’re dead. Without a trace. Because you’ll have fooled me. Look forward to it, I’ll fillet your family, even the dog you’re raising.”

Lee Sang-man was the boss of Busan’s largest organization, the ‘Sangman Faction.’

It was clear that many of his gang members would be following Jung Sung-hoon. Jung Sung-hoon had to decide. First, he had to get out of here alive. Only then could he come up with any kind of plan.

“Okay.”

“You’re intelligent after all.”

Lee Sang-man, smirking, tossed the sashimi knife he had been holding against Jung Sung-hoon’s cheek in front of him.

“Take it. Next time we meet, bring your factory too. You have a professor, right?”

“I do.”

Lee Sang-man, who had already put on his suit jacket, waved his hand while taking the diamonds Jung Sung-hoon had brought.

“See you again as a drug kingpin?”

For a moment, Jung Sung-hoon stared into Lee Sang-man’s eyes. Lee Sang-man was smiling faintly, but his eyes held a violent future. Jung Sung-hoon could no longer speak to him.

At that moment.

“…Jun-ssi. Jae-joon-ssi?”

Kim Do-hee’s voice reached the ears of top actor Jin Jae-joon, who had been glaring at Lee Sang-man.

“Jae-joon-ssi.”

Only then did Jin Jae-joon turn his head.

“Ah- yes, Director.”

Director Kim Do-hee, holding the script, gave a thumbs up.

“Haha, isn’t that too much concentration for a rehearsal? You put in more energy than usual.”

“…Kang Woo-jin’s acting was good.”

“Right? He did it with less energy, and it’s still that good.”

“Yes, even though it was a rehearsal, I was unconsciously drawn in… no, I put in too much energy.”

Jin Jae-joon, muttering softly, turned his gaze. Kang Woo-jin, who had been sitting across from him, was already calmly checking his costume with the staff. For a moment, Jin Jae-joon frowned and let out a hollow laugh.

‘What was that just now.’

It was the first time during the entire filming of ‘Drug Lord’.

‘It felt like I stepped out of the scene.’

It was the first time he had acted so immersed. Especially since it was just a rehearsal.

Of course, the beginning of it all was.

‘This is crazy, can that even be considered acting?’

It was something beyond Kang Woo-jin’s method acting.

On the same day, around lunchtime. Incheon Airport.

The airport was bustling with crowds. It was a chaotic place with people coming and going, whether for departure or arrival. For some reason, several reporters with cameras were stationed at the airport. As if they had made an appointment, they lined up along the arrival gate fence. Consequently, the people around them tilted their heads in confusion.

Regardless, the reporters grumbled while checking the time.

“What’s going on? It’s past the time. Why aren’t they here?”

“I know. Is this information wrong?”

“That can’t be.”

It was then.

“They’re here!”

One of the reporters shouted, pointing towards the arrival gate. Indeed, a middle-aged woman in her 60s appeared at the arrival gate. She had glasses perched on the tip of her nose. It was Takikawa Akari, Japan’s super-popular novelist.

At her appearance, a dozen reporters were busy clicking their shutters.

-Flash! Flash! Flash!

They shouted, using all the Japanese they knew.

“Over here! Please look this way!”

“Writer-nim! What’s the reason for your visit to Korea?!”

“Please say hello to your fans!”

On the other hand, Akari, mixed in with several teams, simply waved her hand as she passed by the reporters. There were no particular comments.

Whatever the case, one thing was certain.

The world-renowned, super-popular writer Takikawa Akari had come to Korea.

Several tens of minutes later.

Akari, who had quickly left the airport, got into a large van prepared in the parking lot. What was interesting was.

“Writer-nim.”

A familiar man was already in the van. It was the Japanese master director, Kyotaro, with his graying hair.

“You arrived earlier than I expected.”

It seemed that Director Kyotaro had gotten into the van earlier than Akari. Soon, as the van started, Akari smiled and replied.

“I’m not good at press conferences. Reporters make me uncomfortable.”

“Haha, a world-renowned writer shouldn’t say that.”

“You’re the one who used me as a shield and secretly entered the country, aren’t you?”

“That’s not true. I was just making your appearance more prominent.”

“You’re being mean.”

Akari, muttering softly, received a schedule from an agency employee, and then asked Director Kyotaro, who was sitting across from her, again.

“But, Director, you didn’t have to match my schedule from the beginning, did you? It’s only been a few days since you delivered the script to that Korean actor. Isn’t that a bit fast? I have a two-week schedule, so there’s plenty of time.”

Director Kyotaro smiled as if it didn’t matter.

“I’ll spend today with you, and from tomorrow, I’ll move separately with my team. I also need to meet with the Korean distributors and do some location scouting. And also check the Korean situation regarding actor Kang Woo-jin.”

“You seem excited.”

“I do want to meet him soon. But I have to wait. I won’t meet him right away. Of course, you’ll also like actor Kang Woo-jin, Writer-nim.”

Kyotaro was the overall director, but Akari also had enough power to replace one or two actors. No, she had the influence to overturn the entire project. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

“I should. It would be a problem if I didn’t like him.”

“You’ll definitely be drawn to him.”

Director Kyotaro had a very excited expression. It was a new side of the renowned director from Japan. At least, that’s how it seemed in Akari’s eyes. To be so purely drawn to someone. Soon, Akari, with her arms crossed, pushed up her glasses on the tip of her nose.

“Director, will I be able to see the acting of that actor named Kang Woo-jin?”

“Yes? Ah, of course. On the hotel TV.”

“No.”

She requested to Director Kyotaro.

“Not on TV, but with my own two eyes.”

In the afternoon, back in Suncheon.

A medium-sized hotel near the large set of ‘Drug Lord.’ This hotel was being used as accommodation for the actors and staff of ‘Drug Lord.’ Due to the nature of the project, there were many local shoots, and they almost always used this hotel when filming at the Suncheon set, so it was a long-term reservation.

Therefore, actors frequently appeared in the hotel lobby and nearby. Into that hotel lobby.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin, with a blank expression, entered, accompanied by the burly Jang Soo-hwan. Soon, some people who passed by Woo-jin turned their heads sharply.

“Oh my, who is that man? That actor! The carefree Park Dae-ri!”

“Huh? Ah! Kang Woo-jin?”

“Yeah! Wasn’t that Kang Woo-jin? I just glanced, but I think it was him!”

“Really? Should we go take a look?”

It wasn’t just the guests. The hotel staff at the front desk and in various places also glanced at Woo-jin. Among them, the filming of ‘Drug Lord’ was already a hot topic, and the fact that Kang Woo-jin had recently joined had already spread as a rumor.

“Wow- Kang Woo-jin, Kang Woo-jin is here.”

“Amazing, what’s he like in real life? He’s so handsome!”

“Is it too much to take a picture?”

“Shhh, shhh, the team leader will scold you.”

The lobby quickly became noisy. Noticing this, Jang Soo-hwan cleared his throat softly and muttered to Kang Woo-jin.

“Hyung-nim [a Korean term used by males to address an older male], I think you should wear a mask.”

“Why?”

“People are starting to recognize you.”

“Ah-”

Only then did Kang Woo-jin, who had been looking at his phone, look around. There weren’t many, but certainly a dozen or so guests and staff were staring at Woo-jin. He had already experienced it, but it was still awkward for Kang Woo-jin.

‘It feels good, but also a bit embarrassing.’

Whatever the case, Woo-jin, wearing a mask, arrived at his room, and Jang Soo-hwan, saying he would contact him when the time came, walked away. Then, Kang Woo-jin, entering his room, briefly dropped his persona. His room, with a bed and a simple table, was not very large.

“Well, it’s good enough that they gave me a room to myself-”

Woo-jin muttered lowly and threw himself onto the bed. After lying face down for about 3 minutes, he turned over and picked up his phone. He checked the time first.

“5 o’clock.”

It was currently 5 PM. However, the filming for ‘Drug Lord’ today was not over yet. They had filmed a few cuts from the morning until just before, and there were still scenes left, but there was a gap in time due to Jin Jae-joon’s filming.

Roughly 2 hours, if it was long?

Usually, actors would wait in the car or somewhere on set, but since there was separate accommodation for the filming of ‘Drug Lord,’ Woo-jin could rest in his room and then go back when the time came. Therefore, his costume was still the same as ‘Lee Sang-man’s.’ A shirt and suit pants.

Woo-jin, who was searching his name on a search engine, also muttered.

“2 hours- hmmm, should I sleep a bit?”

But Kang Woo-jin shook his head. Honestly, he wasn’t that tired.

He had relieved his fatigue by entering the subspace during filming, and he had also slept well yesterday. Then, he might as well watch some works. He had to watch anything he could when he had the chance. Then, Woo-jin turned his gaze to the scripts and scenarios on the small table.

“‘Drug Lord’ is already filming, so it’s better to look at ‘Male Friend’ after all.”

Kang Woo-jin had already finished reading the first episode script of the one-act ‘Male Friend,’ and now Woo-jin was holding the second episode script he had recently received.

-Flip.

After reading the script for about 30 minutes, Woo-jin opened his mouth after discovering something.

“Ah, so this is the scene. That surprise song scene.”

Certainly, even just looking at the script, it was a scene where the male lead would be portrayed quite coolly. At this moment, suddenly.

“Hmm-”

Kang Woo-jin thought about something and suddenly raised his index finger, and poked the black square attached to the side of the ‘Male Friend’ episode 2 script. Soon, Woo-jin’s world turned into a completely dark subspace. Familiar with it, Woo-jin turned and moved in front of the seven white squares.

His gaze was fixed on the white square of ‘Male Friend’.

-[6/Script(Title: Male Friend), Grade A]

-(Episode 2)/(Episode 3)/(Episode 4)

-[*This is a very high-quality drama script. 100% reading is possible.]

The grade had recently been upgraded to A, and it was already listed up to episode 4. Among them, Kang Woo-jin chose episode 2.

-[You have selected 6/Script(Title: Male Friend Episode 2).]

-[Lists the characters that can be read (experienced).]

-[A:Han In-ho, B:Ahn Beom-cheol······]

The male lead of ‘Male Friend’ was ‘Han In-ho.’ For Woo-jin, it was the first time he was choosing the role that was at the very front. Anyway, with a somewhat strange expression, Kang Woo-jin chose ‘Han In-ho.’

Soon, a robotic female voice echoed throughout the subspace.

[“Abilities beyond the basic specs have been detected. ‘Singing ability’ will be enhanced first.”]

End