I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 10

When Kang Woo-jin first arrived at the CBlue Studio building, he was greeted by:

“Hello, Mr. Kang Woo-jin.”

It was the man he had seen in the meeting room, the production manager of ‘Profiler Han-ryang.’ His face had a sharp look. What was strange was the way he acted towards Woo-jin.

“Come this way.”

At first glance, he seemed ordinary, but Woo-jin felt a slight sense of unease.

‘Something’s a bit off. Does he dislike me?’

The production manager displayed a mix of politeness and discomfort. When they got into the elevator, he suddenly started saying strange things.

“Hoo- First of all, Mr. Kang Woo-jin, this situation is almost unprecedented. I’ve been in production for a while, and this is a first for me too. The process of your audition… or today’s appearance fee negotiation.”

Negotiation? Am I negotiating my appearance fee today? He didn’t understand immediately, but Kang Woo-jin remained silent. Then, the production manager began to explain.

“Actually, I’m a bit against it. But the PD [Production Director] and the writer are determined to go ahead, and that’s how much they like you. From my perspective, it’s right to stop it, but both of them are so dedicated to their work…”

The production manager trailed off and met Woo-jin’s eyes. His gaze was serious.

“If you have any appearance fee in mind… I don’t know how much it is, but the amount you’ll hear today is already above average. Even if you feel a bit disappointed, please understand that it takes into account the current market situation and everything about the production.”

Here, Kang Woo-jin sensed a faint hint of misunderstanding. But the production manager continued without concern.

“I know you’re unconventional in many ways. That value is definitely included. I heard you taught yourself acting. It includes your long career of walking a tough path alone. Of course, the PD and the writer acknowledged that.”

“Is that so?”

“However, if you’ve decided to show yourself, you need to be mindful of how you’re perceived. It’s not good to have trouble from the start.”

This guy is surprisingly nice. Listening carefully, he’s worried about me? Regardless, the production manager sighed softly and concluded.

“I just wanted to say something that might help you with your concerns before you meet the PD.”

“I understand.”

Kang Woo-jin maintained his poker face. In fact, he had given up on his expectations because of what Kim Dae-young had said at the meat restaurant yesterday.

‘Honestly, I should be grateful even if they give me 3,000 won per episode. Being cast in that situation is like a life-changing event.’

Still, he thought they would give him more than 3,000 won. But seeing the reaction of this production manager now.

‘Is it okay to have some expectations?’

It was unusual. And that unusualness became clear when Woo-jin met the bearded Song Man-woo PD.

“Woo-jin’s appearance fee is 2.5 million won per episode. How is it?”

2.5 million won? About 900 times more than 3,000 won. For a moment, Kang Woo-jin’s cool facade wavered. His poker face twitched slightly.

‘Wait a minute. I don’t know if it’s before or after tax, but 2.5 million is more than my monthly salary?’

He used to receive about 2.3 million at the design company.

Anyway, it was something that an ordinary person wouldn’t notice, but Song Man-woo PD, who had been directing for a long time and had top-tier observation skills, didn’t miss Woo-jin’s twitch.

‘Does he feel it’s not enough? Hmm… well, the difficulty of the role of Manager Park is quite high.’

On the other hand, Woo-jin was recalling the words the production manager had said earlier. Something about being unprecedented. Putting it all together, he concluded that this situation was very unusual.

In other words, the appearance fee of 2.5 million was quite abnormal.

At that moment.

“Mr. Woo-jin. The usual appearance fee for a rookie is between 200,000 and 400,000 won.”

Song Man-woo PD, on the opposite side of the expressionless Woo-jin, put his hands together and began to explain.

“There are slight differences depending on the size of the role, but that’s the limit. However, you are a special case in many ways, and we decided it would be a waste to treat you as a rookie.”

That decision is nice. But Woo-jin’s ‘nice’ didn’t end there.

“Just to explain in case you don’t know. The 2.5 million per episode we’re offering is separate from reruns, YouTube, and other additional revenue.”

“Hmm-”

After listening to the explanation, Kang Woo-jin let out a soft groan. Inside, he was cheering. Of course, it was an intentional act. At the same time, Song Man-woo PD did the math instead.

“It’s not yet confirmed how many episodes ‘Manager Park’ will appear in, but for now, it seems like he’ll be in at least 4 episodes. Even if he only appears in 4 episodes, it’ll be in the tens of millions of won, and even if he appears in flashbacks or dreams in later episodes, you’ll still be paid. It’ll be more than ten million.”

Kang Woo-jin replied with suppressed calmness.

“I was roughly aware of that.”

Suddenly, tens of millions of won came up. And the appearance fees for reruns and YouTube were separate.

Wow, even a guy like me is getting this much as a special case, how much does a super top actor like Hong Hye-yeon make? Or even those below her must be making a fortune?

At the right time, Song Man-woo PD answered this question.

“If it’s you, Woo-jin, you’ll soon be making several million per episode, not just ten million in total, as you well know.”

Kang Woo-jin stopped moving for a moment. Several million per episode? Is something I only saw in articles and news happening to me? Song Man-woo PD asked Woo-jin.

“So, 2.5 million per episode. How is it?”

“······”

But Kang Woo-jin didn’t answer right away. The situation was flowing strangely. 2.5 million per episode wasn’t insufficient. It was more than enough. Then, Woo-jin suddenly became curious.

No, he needed confirmation. About his current value.

Others didn’t know, but Woo-jin lacked information about the entertainment industry, and he thought it was better to know clearly than to vaguely perceive it. That way, he would have more confidence in his future act.

So, Kang Woo-jin asked, with a voice that masked his coolness.

“Is my value about 2.5 million per episode?”

To Song Man-woo PD across from him, it looked like.

‘…The expression he had a moment ago and his current reaction. Does he still feel it’s a bit lacking?’

It seemed negative and heavy. This was the result of the build-up of Kang Woo-jin’s act so far.

A short silence followed.

Around this time, the cool voice of writer Park Mi-hee flashed through Song Man-woo PD’s mind.

‘I’ll just say one thing. Don’t skimp on money.’

Soon, Song Man-woo PD slowly nodded.

Yes, a few bucks aren’t important. The key is to catch Kang Woo-jin. The role of ‘Manager Park’ was an important character who would dramatically open the beginning of the drama. And the arrogant monster in front of him would surely be worth dozens of times the money he was given. He wasn’t a common actor you could find anywhere, but a rare and precious real one. He had seen it with his own eyes.

So, Song Man-woo PD glanced at the production manager sitting next to him and then.

“Okay, Woo-jin.”

He suddenly called out to Kang Woo-jin.

“3.5 million per episode. This is my personal judgment, and it’s unprecedented even when I look back at my directing career.”

The appearance fee went up arbitrarily.

The production manager’s face, with his eyes closed as if in resignation, was a bonus. Soon, Song Man-woo PD recited definitively.

“Instead, we’ll add a confidentiality clause to the contract regarding your appearance fee and the casting process. Does that sound appealing?”

Kang Woo-jin, who had been still, met Song Man-woo PD’s eyes and then answered indifferently.

“I think it’s appropriate.”

After that.

Kang Woo-jin received a detailed explanation of the contract from Song Man-woo PD and the production manager. In addition, he also received an overview of the production schedule for the drama ‘Profiler Han-ryang.’

Most of the explanations were handled by the production manager.

“As you’ve heard, Mr. Woo-jin, our project is currently in pre-production. But the speed is fast. Well, it’s natural since it’s a project by PD Song and writer Park, and the entire staff team has already been formed…”

The long explanation was summarized as follows: the staff team was complete, construction of the sets was underway, and the full-scale casting of actors would begin tomorrow. The key here was ‘the speed is very fast.’

It was possible because the director and writer were such big names.

There were no obstacles in investment, production, promotion, etc. Whatever it was, a flood of information that Kang Woo-jin had never heard of in his life poured out. He couldn’t even understand half of it. Still, he memorized the key words. His memory wasn’t bad. Memory was essential for meticulous design work.

Even so, Kang Woo-jin maintained his bluff and cool facade.

“I see.”

Or he would answer with things like ‘I understand.’ He would just go with the flow. Soon, the meeting was coming to an end. Song Man-woo PD started it.

“Mr. Woo-jin. We’ll give you the official script when it’s out, and I’ll contact you separately when the third episode is out. Usually, it goes through an agency, but you don’t have one yet, right? An agency.”

“Yes. Not yet.”

“It’s okay, you don’t really need an agency right now. For costumes and such, we can prepare after seeing the storyboard before filming. You and I can pay more attention to it. There’s no need to look for an agency yet.”

“······”

“Anyway, once ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ airs, the entertainment industry will come flocking to you. Maybe even before that.”

“Then what do I need to prepare?”

“Well, for now, it seems like you just need to practice your acting. I’ll give you the first draft of the script today.”

After that, the production manager followed up.

“At the current speed, we’ll probably have the script reading by the end of this month or early March.”

And so.

“Then, Mr. Kang Woo-jin. Please take good care of the role of ‘Manager Park.’”

“I’ll do my best.”

Kang Woo-jin finalized the contract.

“Haha, I’d be so grateful if you do your best, Mr. Woo-jin. Writer Park will be dancing with joy when she hears the news.”

In other words, it was the moment he joined a crazy lineup project as an actor.

Several tens of minutes later.

Kang Woo-jin walked out of the CBlue Studio building with a calm expression. The cold wind immediately made Woo-jin tighten his padding [a type of winter jacket].

-Ziiip.

Then he stopped. Kang Woo-jin looked down at the contract in his hand. After glancing behind him, he muttered to himself without realizing it.

“This is crazy. I actually signed a contract.”

Today, unlike yesterday, Kang Woo-jin had a modifier in front of his name. Actor. The actor Kang Woo-jin. Can life change so drastically in an instant?

At that moment.

-Swish.

People passed by Kang Woo-jin, and Woo-jin, who was staring intently at the dozens of pedestrians on the sidewalk, murmured.

“Now… are those people going to see me on TV?”

He felt a strange emotion, but it wasn’t something he could immediately grasp. However, a tingling sensation began to rise. Is this what they call exhilaration?

Anyway, Kang Woo-jin’s life had changed 180 degrees.

From this moment on, he was an actor. Thanks to that, Woo-jin’s shoulders rose endlessly as he walked. Then, suddenly.

‘Agency—my agency will be created soon, right? Then that means I’ll have a manager too? Wow, my manager? That sounds so cool.’

His thoughts extended to agencies. Of course, he had heard it from Song Man-woo PD earlier, but what Kim Dae-young had said yesterday felt more realistic.

‘Agency? Well, whether it’s big or small, there are clear advantages and disadvantages. A large agency has strong backing but a lot of interference, and if the agency is small, the backing is a bit weak but the focus is greater. There’s also more freedom. But why are you asking about agencies?’

Woo-jin was slightly worried. However, this was a happy worry. When would the day come when he would choose an agency? It was when Kang Woo-jin smiled slightly.

-Bzzzz, bzzzz.

The phone in his padding pocket vibrated loudly. It was a call, and the caller was.

-Mom.

It was Kang Woo-jin’s mother. At this moment, reality suddenly hit Woo-jin.

“Ah—right. I have to tell Mom and Dad.”

Kang Woo-jin’s parents lived in Jinju, Gyeongnam [a province in South Korea]. Even if he ignored his younger sister, he had to tell his parents about this matter.

Thanks to that.

-Swish.

Woo-jin, who let out a soft breath, put the phone to his ear.

“Hey, Mom.”

His mother’s slightly rough voice was immediately heard.

“Where are you?”

“I’m out for a bit right now. Why?”

“Why? Did you change jobs?”

“Ah—yeah. Well, you could say I did?”

“What?”

His mother’s absurd question. In response, Kang Woo-jin threw a fastball without beating around the bush.

“Mom, I think I’m going to become an actor.”

“······”

After a moment of silence, his mother vehemently threw out a question mark.

“…Do you need to go to the hospital????”

Two days later, on Sunday the 16th.

The weekend had arrived. What was interesting was that rumors about Kang Woo-jin had been spreading since Saturday.

“Hey, you know that writer Park’s project? I heard they’ve already cast someone for the role of ‘Manager Park’?”

Rumors were spreading about a hidden actor. It was perhaps a natural phenomenon.

‘Profiler Han-ryang’ was such a hot topic in various production companies and entertainment agencies in the country. Moreover, information about the audition for the role of ‘Manager Park’ had already reached various places.

So, it was inevitable that rumors would spread when a hidden actor suddenly took the role.

“Hey, ‘Profiler Han-ryang,’ you know? I heard they’ve confirmed the second actor besides Hong Hye-yeon, is that true?”

“Really? I’m hearing this for the first time??”

The starting point of the rumors was the production company, CBlue Studio. At first, there weren’t many people who knew, but as rumors always do, they gradually grew in size.

“What’s the name of the actor who got the role of Manager Park?”

“Well, I don’t know either? Judging by how they’re hiding it, is it some top actor we can’t even imagine??”

And around Sunday afternoon, the news was delivered to the hundred or so staff members of ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ who were on standby. The filming team, lighting team, costume team, set team, etc. It was that the actor for the role of Manager Park after Hong Hye-yeon had been confirmed.

It wasn’t strange that the news of the actor’s confirmation was delivered to all the staff.

“Lighting director! Did you hear the news?? They say the actor for the role of Manager Park has been confirmed?”

“I know, I know, sss- just a few weeks ago, they were saying they were going to change the character… but who’s the actor? Who pleased that picky writer Park?”

“I don’t know. Don’t you know, director? I called you because I thought you might know?”

It was strange that the actor’s name wasn’t confirmed.

From here, the speed of the rumors about ‘the actor who secretly got the role of Manager Park’ increased. Some appropriate lies were mixed in.

“It’s Kim Hu-yeon.”

“Kim Hu-yeon? Isn’t he filming a movie right now? And does Kim Hu-yeon have the acting skills to pull off the role of Manager Park? I think he’s a bit lacking.”

“I don’t know, I heard it from the lighting team.”

There were also some facts with clear sources.

“There’s also a rumor that he’s an actor who was acting overseas.”

“Huh?? Overseas?”

“Yeah, I heard the rumor is going around the production company.”

The more it was like that, the more the curiosity about the secret actor generally amplified. It was natural since there was no substance and only rumors were rampant. However, all the staff members put forward one guess as fact.

“Anyway, if PD Song or writer Park were charmed, then his acting skills must be solid. He joined right after Hong Hye-yeon, so he must be a top-tier actor, right? Even if he’s not top-tier, he’s at least A-list.”

That he was an actor of a pretty high level.

After that, the rumors that were circulating among the staff spread to various directions at an increased speed. The media, entertainment agencies, various production companies, broadcasting stations. The entertainment industry was so fast with rumors, and it was a hot topic, so it gained momentum.

Among them, various entertainment agencies were the most sensitive to these rumors.

“Ah! Damn it, someone already took the role of Manager Park?? Aish—I was waiting because they said they were rebuilding the character!”

They had been eagerly waiting for the opportunity to join ‘Profiler Han-ryang,’ the biggest catch of the first half of the year. But suddenly, someone had taken a spot without an audition, so they couldn’t help but be annoyed.

“Wasn’t pre-casting only for Hong Hye-yeon??! So who is it?”

“Th, that hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

Whatever it was, Kang Woo-jin was slowly gaining fame in the industry, except for his name. Of course, Kang Woo-jin, who was preparing to enter the subspace [a fictional space for training] at home, was unaware of this situation.

“Should I try out other roles in the first episode of ‘Profiler Han-ryang’? Ah, before that, let’s eat some chicken. To celebrate.”

He was very relaxed.

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