I Was Mistaken As A Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 165

While Choi Sung-gun stepped out to take a call, only Kang Woo-jin, Director Ahn Ga-bok, and the film company’s CEO remained in the CEO’s office. The atmosphere was a bit heavy. Director Ahn Ga-bok and the film company’s CEO were intently observing Woo-jin from across the room.

“······”

Kang Woo-jin was silently looking down at the first page of ‘Leech,’ which was to be Director Ahn Ga-bok’s 100th film. However, in a fleeting moment, Director Ahn Ga-bok noticed a subtle change in Woo-jin.

‘Just now—did he pause?’

That’s why he asked the question.

“Why? Is there something you don’t like?”

However, Kang Woo-jin didn’t answer immediately. He was just looking down at the ‘Leech’ script, while recalling the situation in the subspace he had entered a little while ago.

A new script added after a long time.

When Woo-jin entered the endlessly dark subspace, his first thought was brief.

‘The movie title is Leech? It’s awfully simple.’

A simple impression about the title. The title was somewhat blunt, yet it was hard to guess the content. Well, that could be figured out later after reading it. Kang Woo-jin checked the floating white rectangle. It was the one for ‘Leech,’ hanging at the very end of the list.

As soon as he saw it, Kang Woo-jin’s eyes widened slightly.

-[8/Script (Title: Leech), S-Rank]

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

S-Rank. The movie ‘Leech’ had an S-Rank from the start. Woo-jin was genuinely impressed.

“Wow—as expected of a master.”

Indeed, Director Ahn Ga-bok was worthy of being called a legend in the Korean film industry. However, a question arose here. It was great, but.

“But this movie, you said it’s aiming for Cannes, right?”

What kind of results would this ‘Leech’ get? If it was just being released in theaters like ‘Drug Dealer,’ it could be judged by the number of viewers. But since it was aiming for Cannes, would it only be successful there?

‘No. It could go to Cannes and then be released.’

‘The Fixer’ was a short film, so there was no thought of releasing it, but ‘Leech’ was a feature film. There was a high possibility that it would be released in domestic theaters after being submitted to Cannes. According to Woo-jin’s research, after being invited to the Academy Awards ceremony, the movie was sometimes released after some appropriate media play.

In other words, it was a bit ambiguous to predict.

Then, Kang Woo-jin stopped his complicated thoughts. Either way, wouldn’t it be enough if it was a hit? Maybe both could do well. At this point, Kang Woo-jin, who had stopped thinking about the subspace, was spoken to again by Director Ahn Ga-bok across from him. He tilted his head slightly.

“What’s wrong? Is there any problem?”

At the old voice, Kang Woo-jin, with a strong poker face, silently shook his head.

“No, I was just reading it.”

“Is that so? What do you think of it, even just from a glance?”

I don’t know yet. Of course, since I haven’t read it properly. I couldn’t just say, ‘This is precious, it’s S-Rank.’ Well, other top actors would say it’s good since it’s Director Ahn Ga-bok’s script, but Kang Woo-jin had a strong concept and decided to be honest.

“I don’t know yet.”

As if understanding Woo-jin’s personality, a smile spread across Director Ahn Ga-bok’s wrinkled lips.

“Okay. It’s a bit premature to ask right away.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had swept back his white hair, changed the subject.

“Hmm—then, shall we talk about something else for now? It was a bit abrupt in Da Nang. You can just think of it as I was very eager to have you.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, there’s nothing to thank me for.”

Here, a sense of weight settled in Director Ahn Ga-bok’s relaxed eyes.

“I’m formally requesting it, I want Woo-jin to be in my movie. I’m very keen.”

The film company’s CEO, sitting next to Director Ahn Ga-bok, took over the conversation.

“I understand that Mr. Woo-jin is not particularly interested in the Cannes Film Festival, as you said in Da Nang. And where your focus is. But with Mr. Kang Woo-jin’s current filmography, the Academy Awards are impossible, I’m sure of it.”

“······”

“Of course, Mr. Woo-jin’s growth rate is also at an unheard-of, crazy level. Nevertheless, if you go the standard route, it will easily take more than 5 years. In the first place, even top actors with 10 or 15 years of experience can’t even cross that threshold.”

While listening to the explanation, Woo-jin’s gaze shifted to Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had his arms crossed. Soon, the old master’s lips curled up slightly.

“Ah, only me and this friend know that Woo-jin is only interested in the Academy Awards. The CEO is more of an expert in that area than I am.”

So, grandpa? Where did that Academy Award suddenly come from? Woo-jin let out a long sigh internally. There was a flood of misunderstandings right in front of him. As expected, this old master was the culprit. However, questioning that old man in the current situation was foolish.

He just forcibly put on a calm and composed demeanor.

“I’ll keep listening.”

As Kang Woo-jin said in a low tone, the film company’s CEO continued the explanation.

“But if you achieve results in Cannes, the situation changes 180 degrees. In a way, it’s close to a shortcut.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok chimed in.

“It means using my movie as a springboard. I also want to see how quickly Woo-jin reaches his goal.”

As the misunderstanding gradually deepened, Director Ahn Ga-bok leaned forward.

“The Cannes Film Festival is usually held around June every year. But this year, due to internal circumstances at Cannes, it’s been pushed back to September. It’s a good opportunity for me, because if it went wrong, it could have been pushed back to the year after next.”

“That’s a relief.”

Here, the film company’s CEO added at the end of his sentence.

“But time is tight. Even if it’s been pushed back, filming must start by at least January next year, and filming must be completed by June, and editing must be finished before September for submission. However, Cannes has already sent an offer. This is because Director Ahn has had good results in Cannes in the past. The screening will of course take place, but there will be no problem with entering the main competition.”

Detailed explanations were pouring out. Woo-jin was just absorbing the information with an indifferent face.

‘It’s awfully tight?’

There wasn’t much time. Here, Director Ahn Ga-bok’s old voice was heard.

“Don’t worry about the fact that this is my 100th work or the surrounding views, just make a decision thinking about Woo-jin’s future.”

“I understand, Director.”

Then.

-Click.

Director Ahn Ga-bok got up from his seat, and the film company’s CEO followed. It meant that everything that needed to be said was over. Now, all that was left was Kang Woo-jin’s answer. At that time, Choi Sung-gun, who had gone out to take a call, returned to the CEO’s office.

“Ah! Are you finished?!”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who was smiling slightly, nodded.

“Yes, you’re busy, right? Contact me when Woo-jin makes a decision.”

“Yes, yes! Thank you, Director.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok left. Soon, the tension that had been prevalent in the CEO’s office decreased. As proof, Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail, let out a long breath.

“Hoo—Woo-jin, what do you think?”

“I don’t know, I’ll have to read the script first.”

“······Okay. Then read it and let me know.”

“Yes.”

“One more thing.”

Choi Sung-gun suddenly showed his phone to Kang Woo-jin. An article was displayed on the screen.

『[Exclusive] ‘Monster Rookie’ Kang Woo-jin, Turns Out to Have a 1-Year Contract with BW Entertainment… Will He Enter the FA [Free Agent] Market Early Next Year?』

Choi Sung-gun, who had become serious, continued to speak.

“I don’t know where it leaked from yet, but that’s not really important right now. It’s going to get noisy soon.”

“Ah.”

Kang Woo-jin’s expression was calm, but he was slightly surprised inside.

‘Huh? What is it? Ah—that’s right. I had a 1-year contract, didn’t I?’

As if he had forgotten. Choi Sung-gun, who had no way of knowing this, checked the time.

“First, we need to adjust the schedule. Let’s talk about the details later.”

“Yes, CEO.”

He poured cold water on the somewhat urgent situation.

‘It’s okay, there’s still time. If I react hastily, I’ll fall.’

Kang Woo-jin, who had given a calm answer.

‘But why did this get into the news? It’s strange.’

He hadn’t realized it yet.

Afterward.

Kang Woo-jin moved to the recording studio for the filming of the ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel. It was a place he was gradually getting used to, as it was a fixed location for cover song recordings and YouTube filming.

While Woo-jin headed to the recording studio.

“Is the story about Woo-jin oppa’s [term for older brother used by females] 1-year contract true??”

In the van parked in the parking lot, Jang Su-hwan, Han Ye-jeong, and the rest of Woo-jin’s team were busy having a heated conversation. The topic was, of course, Kang Woo-jin.

“It just seems like a tabloid. A 1-year contract doesn’t make any sense.”

“That’s true—but the atmosphere is a bit strange, so it’s awkward to ask.”

“Woo-jin oppa must have seen the article, but he hasn’t said anything.”

“The articles keep increasing, but the CEO has also been quiet, right?”

Woo-jin’s 1-year contract rumor, which had surfaced in the morning, had become a matter of great interest to them as well.

“B-but if that article is true, what will happen to us?”

“No, it’s a big deal for Woo-jin oppa, but he’s still a rookie, right? Usually, rookies have 5 to 7-year contracts, don’t they?”

At this time, Han Ye-jeong, with her blue bobbed hair, chimed in with a cold tone.

“Does anyone know about Woo-jin oppa’s casting process?”

“······”

“No, right? So, let’s just wait without getting ahead of ourselves.”

Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin was in a meeting at the recording studio. The people present were the ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel team, the producer, and Choi Sung-gun. The ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel had already grown huge, so they had to stockpile videos whenever they had the chance.

Today, they were planning to cover selected pop songs and J-pop [Japanese pop music] in Korean.

For reference, the current subscribers of the ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel were.

[Channel Name: Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character]

[5.87 million subscribers]

[17 videos]

It had surpassed 5.8 million. Due to issues such as ‘Drug Dealer,’ domestic fans had increased, but due to the success of ‘Boyfriend Material,’ more fans from Japan had joined. Of course, thanks to the videos covering K-pop [Korean pop music] in English, English comments had also increased significantly.

The views of the uploaded videos were still enormous.

-【(6) Miley Cara / ‘Absolute’】Cover [Korean Ver]｜Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character

-6.12 million views

Although the videos varied in taste, they basically had 5 million views as a baseline. Perhaps because of this, the ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel team was excited. Especially the main PD [Producer Director].

“The video we uploaded this time is also a hit! I think the song selection was good! Doing ‘Miley Cara’ was a stroke of genius!”

The producer in front of the recording equipment also chimed in.

“Miley Cara is also a genius. Her main job is acting, and she’s treated as a top star in Hollywood, but with one musical movie appearance, her position as a singer has also become solid.”

“Ah! Is that how it happened? I thought Miley Cara originally debuted as an actor and singer at the same time.”

“No. There are some people like that in Hollywood. They do both acting and singing. But she established herself as an actor first and then showed her talent as a singer a bit later.”

Miley Cara? Woo-jin, who had been listening silently, also knew the name. What was it? Was she a really successful actress in Hollywood? He had also heard that she had a large fan base in Korea. But it was just shallow knowledge.

At this time, Choi Sung-gun, who was looking down at his diary, chimed in.

“We’ve received cover requests. No, cover requests have been pouring in these days. From idols to veteran singers, etc. To the point where we have to filter them.”

“Ah! That’s right, you told me about it before, right? So, who requested it this time?”

“Lee Jung-ah.”

“Lee Jung-ah! The real Lee Jung-ah??!”

Lee Jung-ah was a top solo female singer.

“Well, the content is the same as everyone knows. A request to promote her new song.”

The ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel was now powerful, so it was natural that people were flocking to it. Anyway, the topic changed during the ongoing meeting. Of course, it came from Choi Sung-gun’s mouth, and it was about Woo-jin’s ‘cooking.’

“For cooking—let’s see, it’s been narrowed down to three things. Woo-jin, you telling subscribers recipes and cooking, inviting guests and talking while making the desired dishes, and avatar cooking.”

Kang Woo-jin asked indifferently.

“Avatar cooking?”

“Yeah. It’s an idea that came from inviting guests, but simply put, the invited guest is an avatar, and you’re just telling them what to do from behind.”

“Ah—”

“How is it?”

“I think it’s okay.”

Choi Sung-gun smiled wryly.

“It won’t be if a guest who can’t cook comes out, right? Because you can only tell the guest what to do.”

In other words, the key was the image of Kang Woo-jin being frustrated behind the guest.

“It’s a content that’s going in a more variety show direction.”

As a result, the ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel was largely divided into two categories. Covers and cooking. Even within those major categories, the content branched out into subcategories. There were roughly more than ten types of content for covers and cooking alone.

“So, Woo-jin, who would be a good first guest for the cooking side?”

“It would have to be Hwa-rin.”

“Hmm—that’s right. It’s the first song on the ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel, so it’s meaningful. Okay, I’ll send a request to Hwa-rin’s side right away. What about the avatar side?”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay, then I’ll decide on that side as well?”

“Yes, CEO.”

After the meeting ended, Kang Woo-jin entered the recording booth. It was to film a cover video, and just as the filming preparations were starting, the main PD of the ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel asked Choi Sung-gun quietly.

“Um… CEO. Mr. Woo-jin, I saw the article. Are you really transferring early next year?”

Choi Sung-gun, who was watching Woo-jin inside the booth with his arms crossed, gave a short answer.

“You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Ah—yes, I was just a little worried. Hahaha, so it’s just a baseless article, right?”

At this moment.

-Vvvvv, vvvvv.

Choi Sung-gun’s phone in his jacket pocket emitted a long vibration. The caller was Hong Hye-yeon. Soon, Choi Sung-gun, who had come out to the hallway outside the studio, put the phone to his ear.

“Yeah. Why.”

Hong Hye-yeon’s excited voice was immediately heard.

“Oppa!! Did you release Woo-jin’s article?!”

“Am I crazy?”

“B-but why did it come out??”

“Ha—I don’t know, you.”

“How can you not know??”

Hong Hye-yeon was an investor in BW Entertainment. She was worried about Woo-jin, but she also had a strong feeling as a company investor.

“Why… why is this happening? What does Woo-jin say?!”

“You know, Woo-jin’s personality. He doesn’t say anything about it.”

“······If it was the decisive Woo-jin, he would have decided already?”

“That’s right.”

That was not the case at all. Kang Woo-jin currently had no thoughts about his contract.

“Oppa, what were the terms of Woo-jin’s 1-year contract?”

“A contract fee of 400 million, a 9:1 ratio, and a 1-year contract to let him experience what our BW Entertainment is like first. We told him to decide whether to extend it or not after that.”

In that one year. No, to be exact, in less than a year, Kang Woo-jin’s size had become a monster. Perhaps because of this, Hong Hye-yeon’s voice on the phone was a bit urgent.

“······B-but if he hasn’t said anything yet, does that mean he doesn’t like us that much?”

“I don’t know. Who knows what’s going on in Woo-jin’s mind. Let’s just take this opportunity to move faster than originally planned. We’ll do our best. But as you know, Woo-jin’s schedule is crazy, so other agencies can’t easily approach him.”

“But a war is going to break out. This one article is like a public announcement. You know, right? We have to catch Woo-jin no matter what.”

“Yeah, I know. His value has increased by more than 100 times in my experience.”

The main actor, the YouTube channel, SNS [Social Network Service], the big shots around him, his entry into Japan, and even aiming for the Academy Awards. What about his abilities such as vocals, cooking, and language? Choi Sung-gun, who had been watching him right next to him, knew this well.

“I’m gathering as much ammunition as possible.”

Two days later, in the morning. Nonhyeon-dong, GGO Entertainment.

Several people were gathered in the CEO’s office of the mega-sized GGO Entertainment from the morning. In addition to the executive-level employees, there was Bulldog sitting on the top seat of the 5-person sofa. No, it was CEO Seo Gu-seop, who had been humiliated by Kang Woo-jin in the past over the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’ incident.

They were all looking down at tablets.

Then.

“Director Kim, have you checked this article?”

At CEO Seo Gu-seop’s question from the top seat of the sofa, an executive sitting next to him bowed his head.

“Yes, CEO. The media seems to be almost certain.”

“Really? Then it’s not a lie—”

“The movements of other agencies are also unusual.”

“They’re already preparing to rush in.”

Then, CEO Seo Gu-seop, who had chuckled, thought of Choi Sung-gun with his ponytail.

“One year? He kept that monster for only one year? Is Choi Sung-gun’s brain broken or something?”

He was wearing a slightly sinister smile.

‘I don’t care about the reason. I have to swallow Kang Woo-jin this time.’