I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 148

Han Ye-jeong and the staff, including Jang Su-hwan, exclaimed in delight. They were completely captivated by the jeyuk [spicy stir-fried pork] that Kang Woo-jin had made so quickly.

“Impressive! Oppa, this isn’t just jeyuk, it’s incredibly delicious!”

“Wow! Wow!! This is so good! Absolutely amazing!”

“Oppa! What is this?! The taste is insane!”

“Wow—this is the best jeyuk I’ve ever had! Oppa, seriously, it’s the best!”

“Hyung-nim [term for older brother or respected male], this is something you’d pay good money for!”

“Then pay me.”

“…I mean, it’s that good.”

It wasn’t just polite flattery. Their eyes were full of genuine appreciation, and their chopsticks moved non-stop as they devoured the jeyuk.

“Wait! Wow, really! Oppa, can I have some more rice?!”

They were so busy stuffing their mouths with jeyuk that they could barely contain their excitement. Kang Woo-jin watched them with a satisfied, though still indifferent, expression, murmuring to himself.

‘Heh, is this what a mother feels? It’s kind of rewarding.’

He lowered his voice.

“Eat slowly. There’s more, so just let me know if you need more.”

This jeyuk was the first dish Kang Woo-jin had ever made for others. And it seemed to be a resounding success. At this rate, it would be perfect not only for ‘Our Table’ but also as YouTube content. There was no need to worry about the menu. Woo-jin’s ‘recipe book’ contained countless dishes.

At that moment.

“Wow—Woo-jin, this is seriously delicious? When did you even learn to cook…”

Choi Seong-geon, who had been mindlessly shoveling jeyuk into his mouth, trailed off. He was ready to accept anything about Woo-jin, but he couldn’t help but be shocked. Acting, vocals, various foreign languages, even sign language. But when did he learn to cook?

‘The moment he thought of the menu, his hands moved immediately. His wok and knife skills were on par with a professional. The finished product was good enough to sell, and the taste was amazing. This is way beyond basic cooking!’

However, Kang Woo-jin’s answer as he took off his apron was extremely simple.

“My mother is a good cook. And my father too.”

“…You can make other dishes too, right?”

“Yes.”

Choi Seong-geon immediately switched to workaholic mode.

“This is more than enough for content. It’s not ambiguous, it’s a sure thing. The concept is great as it is. What do you think, Ye-jeong, and everyone else?”

“I think so too. He cooks so casually, but there’s a twist. He cooks so casually, but the taste is insane.”

“Yeah, yeah, it would be good to cast someone to eat the food too, right? Since Woo-jin cooks so nonchalantly, the person eating should be a bit dramatic.”

Choi Seong-geon, who was muttering to himself, suddenly asked Kang Woo-jin.

“Can you also make food requests on the spot?”

Of course, he could. Woo-jin nodded calmly.

“I can.”

“Then we can cast a guest. The guest requests a dish, and Woo-jin makes it. He’s a 5 million subscriber YouTuber, so there will be a line of celebrities wanting to appear.”

Ideas poured out instantly. Kang Woo-jin, who was listening silently, was also looking forward to the project. Around this time, Choi Seong-geon, while eating jeyuk, suddenly thought of Yoon Byung-sun PD [Production Director], whom they would meet for filming in a few days.

“The ‘Our Table’ team will be shocked, 100 percent.”

The next morning, the 22nd.

Two familiar women got out of a white foreign car that had just parked in the parking lot. They were star writer Park Eun-mi and writer Choi Na-na. The two immediately got on the elevator and pressed the 7th floor. On the 7th floor, the name of a newly established production company was displayed.

-DM Production.

While looking at the floor numbers, writer Choi Na-na pushed up her round glasses and murmured timidly.

“I’m nervous… I’m so nervous, writer.”

Then, Park Eun-mi, who had her long permed hair tied up, chuckled, full of composure.

“What’s with you? We’re just unemployed PDs right now, so don’t be nervous.”

“N-no way. You two are like gods to me, even if you’re partners with the writer.”

“Really? It’s okay. That unemployed PD doesn’t care about status or anything if the work is good.”

“Ugh, I’m nervous.”

“Why are you like this? You’re the writer who hit number one on Netflix right after launching.”

“T-that’s because the actors were amazing!”

With that, the two opened the glass door of the new production company, DM Production. For a new company, there were quite a few employees. The office, divided into several teams, was also quite spacious. However, it was still a bit chaotic, perhaps because it wasn’t fully organized. Park Eun-mi smiled at the sight.

“Yeah, there’s a certain charm to new companies.”

At that moment, the employees of DM Production rushed to Park Eun-mi, who had appeared. It seemed they already knew she was coming. Soon, Park Eun-mi and Choi Na-na were guided to a private room inside the office.

-Click.

As soon as Park Eun-mi opened the door, a man who had been sitting at his desk looking at something, immediately stood up. It was Song Man-woo PD, with a thick beard.

“Hahaha, you’re here, you’re here.”

That is, DM Production was a production company with Song Man-woo PD as its representative. Although he was just a figurehead. Anyway, as soon as she saw him, Choi Na-na bowed 90 degrees.

“Hello! PD-nim! It’s been a while!”

“Yes, yes, it has. You’re doing well these days? ‘My Guy Friend’ is a huge hit. It’s still number one today, right?”

“Ah, no, it’s not!”

On the other hand, Park Eun-mi, frowning, looked at the inside of the room, which was a mess, and nagged.

“Ugh—what is this? You should clean up before working! Is this an office or a flea market? How long has it been since you became independent, and it’s still like this?”

“You’re nagging as soon as you arrive. I didn’t have time, I didn’t have time.”

“No time. You just put it off.”

“I put it off because I didn’t have time.”

Park Eun-mi, shaking her head as if she was fed up, sat at the central 5-person desk in the office. Choi Na-na followed. The desk was also messy. Thanks to that, Song Man-woo PD quickly cleared away the piles of paper and asked.

“Coffee?”

“Do you even have any?”

“Of course, I do. It’s canned coffee though.”

“Anything is fine.”

Song Man-woo PD, who took out canned coffee from a small refrigerator, also sat at the desk. Then, he offered sincere congratulations to Choi Na-na across from him.

“Congratulations again?”

“T-thank you!”

Song Man-woo PD and Park Eun-mi naturally made eye contact. They were communicating with their eyes.

‘As expected, Woo-jin is someone to believe in.’

‘Of course, he’s Kang Totem.’

Their delusion and faith in the Kang Woo-jin phenomenon grew stronger. Around that time, Song Man-woo PD changed the subject while holding a can of coffee.

“So. What is it that you wanted to show me?”

“What else? A script.”

“Huh—you said you wouldn’t work with me? But the fact that writer Choi Na-na came with you means… is it writer Choi’s, not writer Park’s?”

“You’re quick to catch on.”

Park Eun-mi chuckled and gestured, and Choi Na-na put up a pile of papers she had brought. It was a script.

“I-it’s not perfect, but please take a look!”

Song Man-woo PD’s eyes widened slightly.

“It was real?”

“Yes!”

“But writer Choi, you just launched ‘My Guy Friend,’ and you’ve already written a script?”

The answer came quickly from Park Eun-mi, who was opening a can of coffee.

“I think it’s a revised version of a practice script.”

“Ah-ah.”

“PD-nim, have you finalized the script you’re going to use? If you have, you don’t need to look at it.”

At the question, Song Man-woo PD, thinking of Kang Woo-jin’s face, shook his head.

“If it was finalized, I wouldn’t have asked you to come.”

“How cold. Then please take a look, what do you think?”

“It’s an honor for a jobless PD like me. Let’s see—”

Song Man-woo PD immediately picked up the pile of papers. However, he didn’t have high expectations. He thought that Choi Na-na’s style didn’t match his. If he had to choose, Park Eun-mi’s style was a perfect match.

‘Choi is more like… kind and considerate.’

The content of ‘My Guy Friend’ was also like that. But since she came in person, he had to read it. Soon, Song Man-woo PD.

-Flip, flip.

Started quickly turning the pages. As expected of a big shot in the drama world, his reading was fast. He quickly passed 5 pages, then 10, then 15. What was unusual was.

‘Hmm?’

His face gradually hardened. As soon as he reached 20 pages, he even adjusted his posture.

‘Huh?’

And then.

“…Did Choi write this?”

Song Man-woo PD, his pupils dilated, looked at Choi Na-na and then asked Park Eun-mi, and Park Eun-mi shrugged as if she understood.

“It might not seem like it, but Nana wrote it. Well, I understand. I was surprised at first too.”

Following that, Choi Na-na shouted.

“I, I wrote it!”

As soon as he heard the answer, Song Man-woo PD looked back at the script. He immediately gave his evaluation in his mind.

‘It’s interesting? It doesn’t seem like something written by the timid Choi. Indeed, is she taking after her mentor?’

He turned a page of the script.

‘She wrote the action well. There’s action from the beginning, and it’s very exhilarating. The first scene reveals the theme that runs through the entire script. The pace is fast, the events that occur are rough, but the resolution is clean and refreshing. Above all.’

At this point, Song Man-woo PD looked up and made eye contact with Choi Na-na. Her eyes were full of tension.

“I like that the protagonist is a nice bastard. He’s truly ‘my way’.”

“Really??”

“Hmm, the character is amazing? It’s like, there’s no clean taste. The attitude of ‘screw the rules and the law’ and the idea of repaying violence with violence.”

Park Eun-mi added.

“He’s definitely not righteous. He’s just delivering judgment.”

“That’s right, is it evil punishing evil?”

Song Man-woo PD’s interest exploded. At this moment, Kang Woo-jin’s face flashed again, but this time, it was a script that he purely desired, rather than relying on the power of Kang Totem.

“And this could definitely be a series? Social issues are still popping up, and the protagonist resolves them with vicarious satisfaction. At least two seasons are possible.”

“Right?”

Then, Song Man-woo PD, who closed the script, said to Choi Na-na. His voice was full of desire.

“Writer Choi. Let’s do this together.”

“…Huh?”

Choi Na-na, who was momentarily stunned, was startled.

“R-r-really??!!”

“Would it be fake? How many episodes of the script are out?”

“…O-only the first episode for now. The one you’re looking at.”

“Then start working on the second episode as soon as possible.”

“Wow—is this a dream? This is a dream, right?”

Song Man-woo PD smiled and affirmed.

“It’s a dream. How can you survive in this industry with a sane mind?”

He opened the script again and added a question.

“This protagonist. The character’s vibe, and the fact that he’s carrying the work alone, means that casting the actor is the most crucial. Who is the actor you want right now?”

Choi Na-na looked at Song Man-woo PD and then at Park Eun-mi. Then, she answered quietly.

“…I would be happy if it was Kang Woo-jin. It was a practice script, but when I was revising it, I kept thinking of Woo-jin.”

Then, Park Eun-mi chuckled softly.

“Looks like we’re going to get robbed of this.”

Song Man-woo PD gave a thumbs up.

“We have the same thought from the start, Woo-jin is perfect for this.”

Then, he quickly became gloomy.

“Of course, there’s no guarantee that Kang Totem will do it.”

At the same time, at writer Lee Wol-sun’s studio.

Lee Wol-sun’s studio was near Sinnonhyeon Station. Unlike Park Eun-mi, whose apartment was her studio, Lee Wol-sun’s studio was a luxury officetel [a combined office and residential space]. Well, if you look at the context, they both have a similar feel.

Anyway.

-Flip.

Writer Lee Wol-sun, the directing PD, assistant writers, and planning team staff gathered on the sofa in the center of the studio’s living room. They were in the middle of a script meeting. For reference, the script for ‘Freezing Romance’ had a total of 9 episodes, and they were currently looking at the 10th episode.

Then, Lee Wol-sun, who was natural, without makeup or any accessories, asked the PD.

“What do you think?”

She was full of confidence, even with a smile that seemed to anticipate the answer. As if to prove it, the directing PD closed the script he was looking at and gave a thumbs up.

“I think it’s interesting. Especially the psychological changes of ‘Song Tae-hyung’ and the recovery of people’s relationships are heartwarming. At the same time, events keep happening on one side, so the pace is also good. However.”

“…However?”

“Even though ‘The Mysterious Man Next Door’ doesn’t appear much after the beginning, except in flashbacks, it would be good if ‘Song Tae-hyung’ mentioned him at least once around this point.”

“Ah—like he hasn’t been seen lately?”

“Yes. The fact that he’s paying attention to others is also a sign of ‘Song Tae-hyung’s’ growth. If you cover it up later by saying he moved away and then express regret.”

“‘Song Tae-hyung’s’ change will be more noticeable.”

“Yes, writer.”

Lee Wol-sun, who had seriously accepted the point, wrote something on the script she was looking at. At this time, the directing PD, who had taken off his hat, suddenly wore a faint smile.

“And writer, the scheduling and broadcast date for ‘Freezing Romance’ have been confirmed.”

“Oh—really? That was fast.”

“Yes, it’s Friday and Saturday at 10 PM. The schedule is that ‘Bad Relationship,’ which is currently airing on Fridays and Saturdays, will end in the first week of November. After covering it with a special episode for one week and a one-act play for one week, the first broadcast will be on Friday, November 27th.”

The first broadcast date for KBC’s ‘Freezing Romance’ was confirmed. Friday, November 27th. Today was the 22nd, so it was a little over a month away. Lee Wol-sun’s face flushed slightly.

“Ugh, it’s already been several times, but the talk about the first broadcast is always a bit heavy.”

“Hahaha, writer? Come on.”

“Anyway, now that the first broadcast date is confirmed, we should put more effort into promotion, right?”

“Yes. Of course. We plan to run it more than twice as much as usual. Above all, we have a spillover effect thanks to Woo-jin right now.”

It was true. Due to Kang Woo-jin’s recent major issues, ‘Freezing Romance’ was also being mentioned frequently. Now was the perfect time to further increase awareness.

At this point, the planning team manager joined the conversation.

“Writer, since we’re talking about promotion, Woo-jin’s ticket power was already good because he was always a hot topic, but with this ‘My Guy Friend’ hit, his size has increased several times over?”

“That’s right. I—I didn’t know he would hit number one on Netflix with a one-act play.”

“Even though Woo-jin is a special appearance in our work, at this timing, it would be better to gradually reveal Woo-jin’s presence rather than hiding it too much.”

Lee Wol-sun, who had her arms crossed, asked back.

“You’re saying we should reveal what kind of acting Woo-jin will show in ‘Freezing Romance’?”

“That’s right. The media is currently showering Woo-jin with praise, calling him a chameleon of acting, a face of a thousand faces.”

“Because the character of Park Dae-ri and ‘My Guy Friend’ are so different.”

“He went from Park Dae-ri to ‘My Guy Friend,’ and if we release our stuff here, wouldn’t it catch people’s attention? It would be good for Woo-jin too.”

The manager’s smile deepened.

“Everyone will have no idea that it’s sign language acting.”

‘Park Dae-ri,’ the playboy who swept the nation and Japan, and ‘Han In-ho’ from ‘My Guy Friend’ hit one after another. And ‘Lee Sang-man’ from ‘Drug Dealer’ was waiting in the wings.

In between, ‘The Mysterious Man Next Door’ was infiltrating. No, sign language acting.

The manager’s judgment was good. At least, Lee Wol-sun thought so. If they threw in ‘The Mysterious Man Next Door’ now, when Kang Woo-jin’s colorful acting was attracting attention, the hooking power would be great.

That’s why Lee Wol-sun agreed with the manager’s opinion.

“Then, let’s release the press releases we prepared about Woo-jin starting today.”

This bait was thrown to the world around noon.

『[Exclusive] Is Kang Woo-jin’s acting in Lee Wol-sun’s ‘Freezing Romance’ ‘sign language acting’?』

What’s interesting is that there was another noteworthy piece of news at this time.

-【Melon Real-Time TOP100 Chart】

It could be found on the number one music platform in Korea.

-[1(new!)] My Guy Friend / Kang Woo-jin (‘My Guy Friend’ OST Part. 1)

Number 1.

The OST of ‘My Guy Friend’ caused a sensation one day after its release.

End