I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 107

A female student’s shout quickly spread to those around her. The filming location was fascinating, but what they really wanted was to see a celebrity up close.

‘Kang Woo-jin?! Where, where?’

Thanks to that, the attention of a dozen or so students was focused on one spot: Kang Woo-jin, who was walking calmly. As he got closer, the students started to get excited.

‘It’s really him! Kang Woo-jin! This must be for the ‘Male Friend’ filming!’

‘No way, wow—what’s Kang Woo-jin like in real life??’

‘His visuals are insane… and is his physique secretly amazing too??’

The male students admired Woo-jin with a strange mix of jealousy, while the female students nudged each other and called out to Kang Woo-jin.

‘Wow, it’s my first time seeing a celebrity. For sure… there’s something different about him.’

‘I agree. I saw Han Ryang too, but Kang Woo-jin’s presence is so captivating!’

‘Is it too much to ask for an autograph??’

Even though there weren’t that many people gathered, the voices of the dozen or so students quickly filled the surroundings, including their excited screams.

Kang Woo-jin couldn’t have been unaware of this.

Woo-jin, with his team, approached the staff while glancing at the students held back by the guards. For a moment, Woo-jin almost smiled without realizing it.

‘I’m jealous, I’m jealous.’

He was reminded of his own youthful days. The energy that can only be seen at that age. Woo-jin composed himself, emphasizing a solemn expression on his face.

-Swish.

He waved his hand slightly towards the gathered students. He had already finished his fan signing event quite well. This level of fan service was a piece of cake. His gesture was full of ease and a touch of cynicism.

‘Kyaa!!’

Screams and ear-splitting shouts erupted. Behind Kang Woo-jin, who was slightly surprised, the burly Kim Dae-young from his team chuckled.

‘This guy has really become an actor. Is he the same Kang Woo-jin I knew?’

For the record, Choi Sung-gun was absent today. He was busy with his Kang Woo-jin related YouTube channel and company work. Therefore, Kim Dae-young was supporting Woo-jin’s team today. Of course, he had to return to Hong Hye-yeon’s team after this was over.

Because his training wasn’t finished yet.

Therefore, Kang Woo-jin’s team was quite imposing today. Jang Su-hwan and Kim Dae-young. These two huge guys formed a two-mountain range, like two bears guarding Kang Woo-jin.

Anyway.

-Tap tap.

Kim Dae-young lightly tapped Kang Woo-jin’s shoulder as he was greeting the students. The expressionless Woo-jin turned his head. But Kim Dae-young didn’t say anything. He just wore a deeply moved smile.

But he spoke with his eyes.

‘Kang Star, you’ve really become an actor??’

In response, Woo-jin also gave him a sharp look.

‘Don’t talk to me, you big oaf.’

They had already agreed to act indifferent to each other. Fortunately, no one noticed the silent exchange between the close friends.

‘······’

Woo-jin, who was silently cursing Kim Dae-young, turned his gaze to the noisy, now somewhat familiar filming preparation area. Dozens of ‘Male Friend’ staff were running around like crazy. Starting today, the 20th, Woo-jin was scheduled to begin the main filming of ‘Male Friend’ for about a month.

Well, if they finished filming quickly, the period could be shortened.

‘Time flies so fast.’

Was it because his schedule was so packed? It felt like yesterday that they were recording the OST [Original Soundtrack] and doing the script reading, but it was already time for the main filming. Perhaps that’s why a sense of tension was slowly building up inside Kang Woo-jin. No matter the project, the unique urgency of a filming set always gave Woo-jin a thrill.

He still wasn’t used to it.

But Woo-jin decided to use that tension and heartbeat as a trigger now. Since he couldn’t avoid it, he had to enjoy it.

It was at this moment.

‘Woo-jin!’

Among the dozens of staff members who were busy preparing the set, a few ran over. Director Shin Dong-chun with his square jaw, the assistant director, and the production team members. Director Shin Dong-chun, holding a script in one hand, reached Kang Woo-jin.

‘You came early?’

Kang Woo-jin greeted him in a low voice.

‘Hello, Director.’

‘Haha. But where’s CEO Choi?’

‘Ah, he’s busy today.’

‘Well—CEO Choi is amazing too. While handling company work, he’s also sticking with Woo-jin as much as possible.’

After a brief conversation, Director Shin Dong-chun laughed awkwardly at the students’ screams.

‘It’s vacation, but it seems like there are some kids still around. I’ve contacted the school, so they’ll take them away soon.’

‘I don’t mind.’

‘It’s hard to manage when the kids gather.’

Director Shin Dong-chun muttered and entered among the staff with Woo-jin. At the same time, he explained about today’s filming.

‘Today and tomorrow, we’ll focus on insert shots and cuts of Hwa-rin and Woo-jin. So, there are many extras and supporting actors.’

‘Yes, Director.’

Director Shin Dong-chun’s smile deepened as he stared at Woo-jin, who answered calmly.

‘It’s nice to be working with you again on set so quickly after ‘Detective Agency’. Isn’t it amazing?’

‘Is it amazing?’

‘Of course. Back then, both you and I were just nobodies, but in just a few months, our situation has changed 180 degrees. You really can’t predict what will happen in the world.’

I wholeheartedly agree. Woo-jin nodded internally, his life completely changed thanks to the subspace [a fictional space or dimension]. At that moment, Director Shin Dong-chun, with a script tucked under his arm, scanned the surroundings.

‘How’s it going? You see some familiar faces, right?’

‘Ah.’

‘That’s right, some of the staff from ‘Detective Agency’ are here.’

Indeed, there were staff members from ‘Detective Agency’ in the lighting and filming teams. Woo-jin silently bowed to them. The staff waved back, looking pleased. However, that wasn’t all.

‘And among the supporting actors coming today, there are some who were also in ‘Detective Agency’.’

At that moment, Kang Woo-jin felt a surge of emotion. It felt like everyone was working hard for Woo-jin’s ‘guy friend’ [a reference to the title of the show].

‘I should greet them separately later.’

‘That would be great for morale. Haha, well, everyone is already full of energy. They’re doing better thanks to ‘Detective Agency’, and they’re happy that you’re doing well, Woo-jin.’

Director Shin Dong-chun, who had been smiling contentedly, suddenly changed the subject.

‘Oh, as you know, due to location sponsorships, we’ll probably shoot in a somewhat sequential order rather than a jumbled one as in the script. We won’t go perfectly in order, but we need to wrap up the high school story and move on to the university one within this week.’

It was then.

‘Hwa-rin!! It’s Hwa-rin over there!!’

‘Woooaaaah!! Hwa-rin!!’

The students’ screams rose in volume again. The reason was simple.

Following Kang Woo-jin, Hwa-rin had also appeared.

Tying her long hair in a single braid, she waved to the students with a very relaxed demeanor, and then.

‘Hello, Director. Woo-jin.’

She quickly approached Woo-jin. Soon, Hwa-rin, who had subtly scanned Kang Woo-jin, was jumping for joy inside.

‘I can’t look, seeing Woo-jin-nim [a respectful title] on set is like a hundred times more handsome? He’s like glowing. Are my eyes playing tricks?’

Similarly, Kang Woo-jin was muttering internally. ‘Is it because of the makeup? She looks so pure today.’

‘Why does she look pretty in a different way every time I see her? Is this what it takes to be in a girl group?’

She was different from Hong Hye-yeon. If Hye-yeon was a finished product, Hwa-rin was still growing. Director Shin Dong-chun, who was looking back and forth between the two, stroked his chin.

‘They seem closer than during the reading… I wish they were a bit closer. I’m worried because neither of them is very outgoing. Especially Woo-jin.’

Around this time, Hwa-rin’s gaze met the burly man behind Kang Woo-jin.

‘Oh? That person—wasn’t he on Hye-yeon unnie’s [a term for older sister or female friend] team?’

Woo-jin, who turned his head to confirm it was Kim Dae-young, gave a reply mixed with annoyance.

‘He’s here as support, you don’t need to worry about him.’

‘Ah—is that so?’

‘Yes.’

‘Oh, Woo-jin. Just a moment. About today’s filming.’

‘Yes, please go ahead.’

Soon, Woo-jin naturally started talking about work with Hwa-rin. Kim Dae-young, who was watching the scene, was amazed. He had only heard about it, but this was his first time seeing Woo-jin on set. Kang Woo-jin looked very impressive.

‘He’s cool, that bastard.’

At that moment.

‘The costumes have arrived!!’

The costumes were delivered to Kang Woo-jin. Of course, to Hwa-rin as well. Very familiar and reminiscent of the past.

‘I never thought the day would come when I’d wear this again.’

It was a school uniform.

After Kang Woo-jin went to change into his uniform, Kim Dae-young, now seeing his close friend as an actor, was filled with envy and pride.

‘I should let the guys know.’

He took out his phone and accessed the group chat. It was, of course, the chat room where his close friends gathered. He shared the news with his waiting friends.

-Dae-young: Our Kang star’s guy friend filming has started

-Hyung-gu: Oooooooooooooooh!! Did you see Hwa-rin?

-Kyung-sung: Is Hwa-rin in real life amazing too?

-Dae-young: Yeah, she’s awesome

-Hyung-gu: Ah, f

-Kyung-sung: Kang Woo-jin must have saved the country at least three times in his past life… Acting with that Hwa-rin… a rom-com… I’m feeling so down, I need to eat ramen

-Dae-young: Kang Woo-jin is not the guy we knew anymore, his presence on set is crazy, he’s just an actor

-Hyung-gu: Should I start acting too?

-Kyung-sung: You should start with plastic surgery first

-Hyung-gu: Shut up, anyway, I don’t think I can watch that guy friend thing, I’m too jealous

Around the same time, Han Ye-jung from Kang Woo-jin’s team took photos of the ‘guy friend’ set and uploaded them to Woo-jin’s social media. Of course, it was for promotion, and the photos included Kang Woo-jin and Hwa-rin.

On Woo-jin’s social media, which recently surpassed 1.1 million followers, naturally.

-OMG, is filming for this started?!!

-Woo-jin oppa [a term for older brother or male friend] and Hwa-rin look so good together… a gathering of the beautiful and the handsome… I want to see it soon

Comments flooded in almost instantly. There were quite a few Japanese comments as well. Among the many who saw the social media post, Kang Woo-jin’s younger sister, Kang Hyun-ah, who was at a cafe in Seoul, exclaimed loudly.

‘Oh! It looks like filming for ‘Guy Friend’ has started!’

Following that, Hyun-ah’s friends, who were also at the cafe—the core members of ‘Strong Heart’—jumped up and down excitedly.

‘What? What?! Did it pop up on social media? Let me see!’

‘Ugh—the school looks so nice, I want to go there too.’

‘Share this on the fan cafe right away! Share, share!’

Around this time, Hyun-ah, who was looking at the ‘Guy Friend’ set in the photo, tilted her head slightly.

‘But the muscular guy next to my brother… I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.’

‘Why? Do you know him? Isn’t that Woo-jin *oppa’s* [a term for older brother or male friend] road manager?’

‘No, not that person. This muscular guy. I’m sure he’s a real friend of Woo-jin *oppa*. I think I’ve seen him before, when we were younger.’

The muscular guy. She was talking about Kim Dae-young.

Around lunchtime.

The entire ‘Guy Friend’ team, having finished their filming preparations, gathered at the high school’s auditorium. Inside, various cameras and lighting equipment were already set up, and at least 80 extras were lining up. All of them were wearing school uniforms.

The murmuring grew louder.

On the front stage, a large banner was hung.

-[Entrance Ceremony]

Because the ‘Guy Friend’ script called for filming the high school entrance ceremony scene for Han In-ho and Lee Bo-min.

Therefore, among the numerous extras, Kang Woo-jin and Hwa-rin, wearing school uniforms, were also present. Staff members were attending to them, checking their final makeup. Woo-jin had natural hair and light makeup. Hwa-rin also simply tied up her long hair.

However, the staff members who saw the two in their uniforms were filled with admiration.

‘Wow—don’t they both look like high school students?’

‘Yeah, the uniforms suit them perfectly. They don’t look out of place at all with the real high schoolers. I guess it’s because they both look so young.’

‘If they look like that, the viewers’ engagement will definitely increase, and even we who are filming feel all warm and fuzzy.’

It was at this moment that Director Shin Dong-chun shouted into the megaphone.

‘Standby!’

It was a signal that they were about to start filming. Soon, the staff members who were checking Woo-jin and Hwa-rin’s makeup quickly moved away, and the various extras, who had been curiously watching the celebrities nearby, turned their gazes to the front.

And.

‘Hoo-‘

Kang Woo-jin let out a small breath. As he did, he gradually began to embody ‘Han In-ho’.

‘Action!!’

Because ‘Guy Friend’ had just started filming.

Unlike the warm outdoors, the inside of the auditorium was a bit chilly.

The unfamiliar yet familiar smell of the auditorium. The floor was clean, as if it was frequently cleaned. Every time shoes touched the floor, a squeaking sound spread.

All the students were faces he had never seen before.

They were all slightly nervous, but the root of that feeling was also anticipation. Everything was new, fresh, and interesting. All 80-plus students were standing at attention, but they were also glancing here and there. At the person next to them, at the bald principal on the stage in front, at the teachers standing around him, at the noticeable male or female students.

The point where middle school ends and high school begins.

That beginning started from the principal’s mouth on the stage.

‘Uh—first of all, welcome to all of you who have attended the entrance ceremony.’

It immediately became boring. All principals’ speeches are like sleeping pills. Around this time, a camera on a gimbal moved to the front of a female student. It was Lee Bo-min, standing by the wall of the auditorium. Her long hair was roughly tied in a single bunch, and a mole under her eyes stood out thanks to her clear skin, and her uniform seemed a bit large.

Since earlier, Lee Bo-min had been secretly recording something on her phone. She was writing down a melody that had come to mind.

Because Lee Bo-min’s dream was to be a composer.

Here, the camera’s movement moved even closer to Lee Bo-min. A close-up. According to the script, her narration was supposed to go under this cut. A simple introduction, perhaps?

Behind, the camera that had been capturing Lee Bo-min from the front moved.

-Swish.

Slightly to the left. It passed the male student standing to Lee Bo-min’s right and then passed a female student. After several faces flashed by, the camera stopped at.

‘······’

A male student yawning widely, as if bored. His name was Han In-ho. His tall height and visuals were quite noticeable for a first-year student. Of course, Lee Bo-min’s narration was also inserted under this cut. Introducing Han In-ho from her perspective. Around this time, after the camera captured a few female students glancing at Han In-ho.

‘When is this going to end?’

Han In-ho grumbled quietly.

‘Sleepy.’

Although he looked lively and neat, Han In-ho’s eyes were filled with laziness. It wasn’t a swaggering kind of laziness. It was closer to a languid feeling.

At that moment.

‘······Cut!!’

Director Shin Dong-chun’s shout echoed throughout the auditorium.

‘Okay!! Great! Let’s go for a group shot!’

After the individual shots, they prepared to film the overall scene. Although it was the same scene, the view on the monitor that Director Shin Dong-chun was watching was quite different, and the script staff member sitting next to him whispered softly.

‘Wow, it’s the first cut, but I’m already excited? Is it just me?’