I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 163

“Kang Woo-jin’s contract with BW Entertainment is for one year?” The chubby editor-in-chief’s frown deepened as he addressed the serious-looking female reporter before him, his tone slightly raised.

“What kind of nonsense is that? A one-year contract? Who would believe such a thing? Hey, do you know who Choi Sung-gun is? He’s a pro, a real player. Would a well-connected guy like him be crazy enough to sign a diamond like Kang Woo-jin for just one year? No, a one-year contract is practically unheard of.”

While none of it was wrong, the female reporter didn’t back down.

“I have the information.”

“……”

The editor-in-chief, who had been scratching his chin, stopped and slowly assessed the female reporter’s determination. After a few seconds, he spoke again.

“How certain are you about this information?”

“About 80%?”

“80?”

“Yes.”

Her confidence was evident. At this point, the editor-in-chief couldn’t simply ignore it.

“Huh… this is groundbreaking news. What entertainment company these days signs a rookie for just one year?”

“Exactly! And the fact that it’s Kang Woo-jin makes it even more absurd. He’s got a string of hit projects right now.”

‘Okay, let’s say it’s one year for the sake of argument. But he blew up with ‘Mise-en-scène’ and ‘The Idler’ right after his debut, right? Then, if they weren’t idiots, they should have immediately extended the contract, shouldn’t they?’

Kang Woo-jin was currently making waves not only in the Korean entertainment industry but also in the Japanese one. In less than a year. And Choi Sung-gun just left it like that? Did he lose his touch?

“…Well, I don’t know, but there must be some circumstances between them. Or maybe a deal.”

“Whatever it is, if BW Entertainment loses Kang Woo-jin now, they’ll be seen as crazy in the industry.”

“That’s right.”

“Well, we don’t really care about that. Anyway, Chief, how does this story sound? Big, right?”

The female reporter smiled faintly. The editor-in-chief also slowly began to smile.

“What’s there to say? Kang Woo-jin is practically monopolizing the market right now, and if this breaks, the entertainment companies will be turned upside down. They’ll all come running with money. The public’s interest will skyrocket too. First of all, the story is interesting.”

“We can hook them properly for the first time in a while, and the end of the year is just around the corner.”

“So, are you going to publish it right away?”

“Why waste time? Let’s just go for it.”

The editor-in-chief, who would normally have agreed, was a bit cautious this time.

“Hmm, no, that information you got. Double-check it. Then come back to me for confirmation.”

The female reporter frowned.

“…Chief. Are you putting a stop to this right now??”

“Yeah.”

“No! Why are you wasting time on this?? For no reason?”

“If you publish this and it turns out to be false, and they retaliate, are you going to take full responsibility?”

“What retaliation could there be??”

The editor-in-chief sighed softly.

“Listen carefully, touching Kang Woo-jin right now requires some resolve. It’s not just about hitting him and being done with it.”

“Huh??”

“List the big shots around Kang Woo-jin.”

“Ah.”

“The drama scene, the movie scene, the variety scene, star writers, even the Japanese side. And do you know that the main investor for ‘Strange Gisaeng’ is the Japanese conglomerate ‘Kashihi Group’?”

“……”

“They’re all super big shots that a normal rookie could only dream of, but whatever the case, those guys are swarming around Kang Woo-jin right now. That means you have to be prepared to deal with all those big shots.”

“But it’s not a scandal.”

“What good is it to create trouble for no reason?”

The female reporter understood the editor-in-chief’s concerns. Then, the editor-in-chief slowly got up from his seat. His protruding belly was impressive.

“If what you said is 100% true, there’s no problem. But if it turns out to be a rumor or something, it’s a disaster. But it’s a topic that’s too good to throw away.”

He muttered, then stood right in front of the female reporter and said in a low voice.

“So, double-check it. It’s not too late to turn the entertainment companies upside down after that.”

Around lunchtime on the same day, at the ‘Maxnald’ advertisement filming set.

Kang Woo-jin was still struggling with the hamburger. The filming that started in the morning had continued until now. Judging by the filming schedule, it would probably end around the afternoon.

“Woo-jin! Can you give us the feeling of lightning striking your eyes when you eat the hamburger??”

“Lightning. Yes, I’ll try.”

“Okay! Let’s go again with that feeling!”

Meanwhile, Choi Sung-gun, who had a rather serious expression among Woo-jin’s dozen or so team members, caught his eye. He was standing with his arms crossed, quietly staring at Kang Woo-jin. Choi Sung-gun, who was re-tying his ponytail tightly, muttered to himself in a low voice.

“A stepping stone? That Director Ahn Ga-bok?”

Choi Sung-gun’s mind was currently filled with Director Ahn Ga-bok. The conversation he had with Director Ahn Ga-bok a few hours ago in the morning kept replaying in his head. They were definitely not light topics.

Then, Choi Sung-gun.

“Hmm-”

He recalled an important part of his conversation with Director Ahn Ga-bok. It started with Director Ahn Ga-bok’s old voice over the phone.

“I think CEO Choi has already noticed. I need actor Kang Woo-jin for my 100th film. As you may have heard, I’m planning to challenge the Cannes Film Festival with this film.”

Choi Sung-gun had already finished his investigation, but he hadn’t acted openly. He just pretended to be a little surprised.

“Ah, is that so? I was planning to meet you after the overseas location filming anyway, so I’ll let Woo-jin know and make time. But Director, may I ask you one thing?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m curious why you became interested in Woo-jin.”

“Sign language.”

“Sign language, you say?”

“Yes. It started with sign language. It was a skill needed for film directing, and I wanted the actor to have it if possible, rather than teaching it. Around that time, that friend Kang Woo-jin caught my eye.”

“…I understand.”

“However, now I’m more interested in his acting and his character.”

Character? As Choi Sung-gun tilted his head, Director Ahn Ga-bok continued.

“But when I mentioned Cannes to Woo-jin in Da Nang, he said he wasn’t particularly interested, and his eyes were sincere. He really doesn’t have big ambitions about Cannes.”

“……”

“By any chance, did CEO Choi know about this?”

Choi Sung-gun had overheard it rather than knowing it. But he had to pretend not to know for now.

“No, he’s such an unpredictable friend.”

“Hmm. Then you wouldn’t know that Woo-jin is aiming for the ‘Oscar’ rather than Cannes.”

What? The Oscar?

“Huh? No… what are you talking about?”

The old master, a super-powerful entity, nonchalantly preached a keen delusion over the phone.

“The Oscar. That is, Woo-jin is aiming to get on the Academy Awards ceremony. I felt it deeply in the meaning of his words and eyes.”

Choi Sung-gun was flustered. The Academy Awards? The Academy Awards, you say? Of course, it was a huge world that he would face someday, but already? It was a place where even top actors had to strive for more than 10 years. Yet, Kang Woo-jin had only been doing it for a year. It didn’t make sense.

At this point, Choi Sung-gun recalled Kang Woo-jin’s tendencies and his path. Along with his abilities.

Then, he couldn’t help but agree.

‘……No. The native-level English he had from the beginning. And many languages. The desire to advance overseas, including Japan, just like he stayed in place when ‘Strange Gisaeng’ was in crisis. The big shots around him.’

Come to think of it, Director Kwon Ki-taek and Director Kyotaro were all well-known overseas.

Finally.

‘And the special clause that he doesn’t want anyone to touch the works he chooses.’

When he combined everything, the answer became clear. In reality, Kang Woo-jin was silently walking towards the final boss without showing it. That final boss was the ‘Academy Award.’ Yes, that’s how it was. Choi Sung-gun’s conviction became clearer.

‘Has he been moving under a clear plan from the beginning? To get to the Academy Awards in the shortest distance??’

He was thoroughly infected by the delusion preached by the old master. The main character, Kang Woo-jin, was just chewing on a hamburger, but only Choi Sung-gun and Director Ahn Ga-bok were serious. Among the two, Director Ahn Ga-bok on the phone spoke again.

“The boldness that Woo-jin has is not from bluffing. It comes from his attitude. He’s running with all his heart. But, CEO Choi must know too. Many conditions are needed to go to the Academy Awards.”

“……That’s what you meant by a stepping stone.”

“That’s right. Of course, what Woo-jin has is enough to shake up Hollywood. But the process of showing it is difficult. They don’t know Woo-jin at all yet. There are many actors in the world who spend their whole lives trying to get that ticket.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But Woo-jin’s interest is more than just attending the Academy Awards ceremony. He wants to receive the shiny thing. To do that.”

“I know. He needs a convincing filmography and achievements that make people nod their heads, on his resume.”

“That’s the foundation. That’s how the Academy Awards system is.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had been smiling softly, put a little strength into his old voice.

“There’s nothing better than Cannes as a stepping stone. It gives credibility to everyone involved in the Academy Awards.”

Up to this point. Choi Sung-gun, who had been recalling his conversation with Director Ahn Ga-bok, returned to reality. His gaze was on Kang Woo-jin inside the filming zone. Soon, Choi Sung-gun, whose keen delusion had merged, muttered to himself.

‘The only flaw and deficiency of actor Kang Woo-jin right now is his experience. His filmography is still barren. The Academy Awards system is complex. It’s full of numerous vested interests and connections that are hard to overcome.’

What Choi Sung-gun said now was the basics. If you delve deeper into the Academy Awards, there are quite a few intertwined verifications and systems. It’s daunting. One of those many things is the actor’s path or reputation.

A resume is a power that can never be ignored anywhere.

It was the same for the Academy Awards, and it was difficult for the current Kang Woo-jin. It’s not something you can break through with effort or passion. It was simply impossible in reality.

But.

‘If a rookie who debuted a year ago turns Cannes upside down.’

A sliver of possibility arises. Because it will create curiosity. So far, there has never been a history of a rookie who has only been doing it for a year dominating the Cannes Film Festival. That’s the key to counter.

Then.

“Haha.”

Choi Sung-gun, who had been deep in thought, let out a hollow laugh.

“I’m going crazy, I’m also thinking of the Cannes Film Festival as a stepping stone?”

From the beginning, it was unheard of for a rookie to advance to Cannes. The same was true in the past and the future. Of course, until Kang Woo-jin appeared. Anyway, the Cannes Film Festival had become a side issue.

At this time.

-Swish.

Woo-jin, with a nonchalant face, returned to his seat as if it was a break time.

‘What is it? He seems to be in a really good mood??’

Then he asked.

“CEO, is there something good happening?”

At the calm question, the smile on Choi Sung-gun’s face deepened.

“It’s similar. I imagined something good.”

He vowed to himself. He would watch the impossible happen right next to him.

‘Let’s make history once. Before that, let’s solve the contract first.’

He had no idea that the foundation was a keen delusion.

The next day, the 10th. At writer Lee Wol-sun’s studio.

In a quiet room, writer Lee Wol-sun was staring at her laptop. Unlike usual, she had a relaxed look, and after looking at the laptop screen for a few minutes, she sighed softly.

“Done.”

Then, writer Lee Wol-sun suddenly picked up her phone and called the directing PD of ‘Freezing Romance.’ It was probably during filming, but the directing PD answered quickly.

“Yes, yes, writer.”

Writer Lee Wol-sun simply declared.

“I just finished the final episode’s script.”

This meant that the script work for ‘Freezing Romance,’ which was about to premiere, was finished. The directing PD’s voice rose over the phone.

“Wow! You’ve worked hard, writer! Well, I don’t think it’ll be today! Tomorrow! I’ll go tomorrow morning!”

“Okay. But there are two versions of the final episode’s script.”

“Yes? Two versions?”

“Yes. I kept thinking about the ‘mysterious man next door’ that you mentioned last time.”

“Hmm? You finished it well, didn’t you? You inserted flashback cuts and mentioned that he moved away.”

“But I’m a bit disappointed with the character. And Woo-jin brought him to life, which raised the quality.”

“…That’s true. What are the two versions?”

“One with a scene where the main character ‘Song Tae-hyung’ and the ‘mysterious man next door’ meet again in the final episode, and one without it.”

“Ah, I see.”

Writer Lee Wol-sun, who was slowly crossing her legs, continued her explanation.

“As you’ll see in the script, the ‘mysterious man next door’ meets Song Tae-hyung by chance. The ‘mysterious man next door’ avoids eye contact. But the completely changed Song Tae-hyung greets him in sign language, and the surprised ‘mysterious man next door’ also smiles and responds in sign language.”

“Oh! It would be heartwarming to see the contrast between the first and last episodes, wouldn’t it??”

“But we can’t use it if Woo-jin doesn’t do it.”

“……Yes. I can see that Woo-jin is very busy from the news.”

“The filming would only take about half a day, so could you ask Woo-jin’s side first?”

“Okay, writer.”

What was unusual was that the reply to the contact sent by the directing PD was very fast. Of course, the other party was Choi Sung-gun.

-[Yes, PD. Woo-jin also wants to do it, and if you let us know a week in advance, we can make time.]

And around the same time, ‘Freezing Romance’ released its official trailer to the world. On various video platforms other than YouTube.

-‘Freezing Romance’ | Official 1st Trailer | KBC

There were 15-second and 30-second teasers and the official first trailer. It was a natural step since the first broadcast was only about two weeks away. Of course, both videos contained a short but intense appearance of the ‘mysterious man next door.’ The sign language was the same. Kang Woo-jin’s presence was strangely intense.

Naturally, the public’s reactions quickly followed.

-Kang Woo-jin’s acting in the drug dealer scene was amazing with his eyes and breathing…. He was really scary like a sexy, crazy psychopath… But the sign language acting is new??

-How much does Kang Woo-jin appear in this??

-Kang Woo-jin’s mask is so diverse, I love it! He was sweet, then scary, and now he has a soft feeling

-AhㅠㅠㅠㅠI feel like it’s going to be boring…..

-Writer Lee Wol-sunㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋCan she beat writer Park Eun-mi?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Kang Woo-jinㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋHe was a lover, then a drug addict, and now he’s doing sign languageㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋHe’s just like a completely different personㅋㅋㅋ

-Jung Jang-hwan is in another dramaㅋㅋㅋIsn’t he filming movies??

-Wow, Kang Woo-jin is amazing even though he only appears for a moment… His facial muscles, every gesture, wow, it’s amazing… It looks so fun just from the trailer….

Kang Woo-jin’s acting spectrum was endlessly expanding.

Meanwhile, at the same time. At a shop in Cheongdam-dong.

Kang Woo-jin’s van was visible in the parking lot of a large shop. Soon, Woo-jin, who had full makeup on, came out of the shop and got into the van. Only Choi Sung-gun was visible in the passenger seat. Han Ye-jung and Jang Su-hwan were in the bathroom, and the rest of the team was at the company.

Today, Woo-jin’s schedule included two interviews in the morning, and he had to return to filming ‘Island of the Missing’ from lunch until night.

Whatever it was.

-Swish.

Choi Sung-gun, who was sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly handed Kang Woo-jin a transparent file.

“Those are the year-end related materials. The award ceremonies that have requested invitations so far. By the way, it’s always beneficial to attend any kind of year-end award ceremony, you know?”

The cold Kang Woo-jin silently opened the file and nodded.

“Yes, I know.”

Choi Sung-gun, who was carefully watching Woo-jin with his eyes on the transparent file, suddenly changed the subject.

“And the Academy Awards are impossible right now.”

At this, Kang Woo-jin slowly raised his head and met Choi Sung-gun’s eyes, and remained silent for a moment.

“……”

There was no wavering in his poker face. But it seemed like there was a strange agitation mixed in. No, should it be called a question mark? After a few tens of seconds, Kang Woo-jin replied in a calm voice.

“Of course, it will be difficult this year.”

As soon as he heard the answer, Choi Sung-gun let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha, I was hoping, but it was as I expected. The Academy Awards… it’s so grand, it’s so distant. It’s destroying common sense.”

He muttered as if he was fed up, which was a bonus.

“Were you aiming for the Academy Awards from the beginning? I’m disappointed. If you had given me a hint about that crazy plan, I would have prepared myself. I’m going to have a heart attack.”

Kang Woo-jin’s indifferent face was firmer than ever.

‘……?’

End