I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 169

Choi Seong-geon, who had casually accepted Kang Woo-jin’s indifferent greeting, paused.

“Yeah, hey. I’ll take good care of you… Huh?”

He stopped.

“Wait a minute.”

Then, he made eye contact with Woo-jin, who had a cynical expression.

“Woo-jin, what did you just say?”

“I said, please take care of next year’s Cannes as well.”

“…Cannes is in September next year.”

“Yes.”

“And your contract is until March next year.”

“That’s right.”

“That means—you’re going to stay with me.”

Because it was so sudden, Choi Seong-geon, who was usually full of composure and slyness, seemed quite flustered. It was like a feeling of being happy but also not believing it? Regardless, Kang Woo-jin was calm.

“Are you not happy about it?”

“W-w-what!! Not happy! No, but it was so sudden without any warning—I didn’t expect you to say it yourself.”

“I didn’t say it without thinking.”

“I guess so. Still… wow, I feel so touched.”

“Is that so?”

Woo-jin, who asked back, actually hadn’t spent as long as he thought to make the decision.

‘Why are you so surprised? Weren’t you expecting it to some extent?’

He had forgotten that it was a one-year contract, so how could he not be surprised? The world and many entertainment companies were in an uproar, but Kang Woo-jin himself didn’t make a fuss.

Therefore, it was a simple conclusion, and it was sincere.

However, the pebble that Kang Woo-jin casually threw caused a big wave. For whom?

‘This guy is really not good for my heart; he captivates people in strange ways.’

For Choi Seong-geon.

He felt infinite emotion at Woo-jin’s nonchalant words. He was overwhelmed. Even as someone who had been in the entertainment industry for so long, it was a situation he had never experienced before, and Choi Seong-geon thought that Woo-jin was definitely a unique case.

“Haha, yeah. Tsundere [a person who is initially cold but later shows a warmer side]. You’re exactly that.”

Choi Seong-geon, who barely held back his emotions, stared at Kang Woo-jin, then pulled a nearby folding chair and gestured for the standing Kang Woo-jin to sit down.

“Well, I should accept it gratefully—but you’ve received a lot of calls from big and small entertainment companies, right?”

“Yes. At least more than ten. It’s still the same now.”

“Is it okay to decide so quickly? There’s still time until early next year.”

Woo-jin, looking at Choi Seong-geon’s ponytail, deepened his persona. He lowered his voice even more.

“There is time, but I think it’s a waste to spend it on that. I’m also busy.”

This was also sincere. If it were a break period, he wouldn’t mind meeting them for the experience, but since his schedule was packed from the moment he opened his eyes until he closed them, he didn’t want to bother with unnecessary things.

Besides, he wondered, why bother?

More than anything.

‘There’s no place like my current agency.’

The relationship he had built with Choi Seong-geon was too deep. It had been a little over a year, which could be considered short or long. In that time, many things had happened, and Choi Seong-geon had taken care of Kang Woo-jin despite the numerous shocks he had received. The CEO of an entertainment company, no less. Of course, the deeply ingrained misunderstandings couldn’t be ignored, and BW Entertainment was used to Woo-jin’s persona. There was also Hong Hye-yeon.

Isn’t this the best agency for the unique Kang Woo-jin?

So, Choi Seong-geon was Woo-jin’s top pick. However, even so, he had no intention of glossing over the practical aspects.

‘If the conditions are vague, the CEO will be more uncomfortable.’

A contract is ultimately a business, and the relationship becomes stronger when mutual certainty is added. Choi Seong-geon knew this better than anyone.

Therefore.

“Woo-jin.”

Choi Seong-geon, before Kang Woo-jin, opened the door to reality.

“When we signed the one-year contract, I told you to see what BW Entertainment was like, right?”

“Yes.”

“Was it okay?”

“It was good.”

“Haha, thank you. Still, you need to hear the key points I had in mind regarding the contract extension.”

“Go ahead, ah—but you don’t have to do a one-year contract anymore. It’s cumbersome.”

Choi Seong-geon’s face suddenly turned serious.

“I know, so I set the extension contract for three years. Consider it the basic term. The ratio is 7:3 from 9:1. This is also a normal ratio. Of course, all the works and advertisements done under the 9:1 ratio will be maintained under the old contract. Lastly, the contract fee.”

Recently, there was a buzz about the transfer fee of Hong Hye-yeon, a top actress. 2 billion won. The media was in an uproar about the contract fee alone being 2 billion won. That 2 billion won was the price tag considering her career and everything else. On the other hand, Kang Woo-jin’s initial contract fee was 40 million.

Soon, Choi Seong-geon proposed to Kang Woo-jin.

“I’m going to give you the house you’re currently living in.”

“……”

Woo-jin’s expression was firm and unchanged, but inside, he was screaming.

‘Eeeek?!’

The luxury officetel [a studio apartment often found in South Korea] near Samsung Station where Kang Woo-jin was currently living.

‘He, he’s giving me the house?? Crazy!! Really?!’

Because the sale price was 1 billion won.

Back.

Time flows. Kang Woo-jin was just busy with his scheduled acting and schedules, but the external hype continued endlessly.

『Numerous Entertainment Companies Sending Love Calls, Where Will Kang Woo-jin Settle Next Year?』

In addition, since Kang Woo-jin’s issue was added, things related to him were also re-examined. No, the aggro [a term for aggressive attention or hype] that had been going on was already continuous, but it became even louder.

For example, ‘Male Friend’.

『[Drama Pick] ‘Male Friend’ Remains in Top Rankings on Netflix for Almost a Month, A Rebellion of a One-Act Play』

‘Male Friend’, which had caused a sensation upon its release, was currently holding second place on Netflix Korea.

[Today’s Top 10 Contents in South Korea]

1. Bad Mom

2. Male Friend

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It had given up first place, but even that was recent. The one-act play ‘Male Friend’ had held first place for almost three weeks. That alone was a record-breaking achievement, and it greatly boosted Kang Woo-jin’s recognition and acting spectrum. It wasn’t like his popularity had suddenly died down either.

It was still holding second place.

What was unusual was Japan.

[Today’s Top 10 Contents in Japan]

1. Male Friend

On Netflix Japan, ‘Male Friend’ was still in first place. Clearly, ‘Male Friend’ was also popular in Korea, but when the results were revealed, it boasted even greater explosive power in Japan. Thanks to this, the Japanese media highlighted and analyzed this phenomenon from various angles.

『The Korean Wave in Japan Seen Through the Success of “Male Friend”, Japan Must Be Alert』

Whatever the case, ‘Male Friend’ had given a boost to the Korean wave sweeping through Japan, and the OST [Original Soundtrack] of ‘Male Friend’ was still dominating the music charts.

[1(-)] Is This Okay?/Kang Woo-jin·Hwa-rin (‘Male Friend’ OST Part. 3)

[2(↑1)] Forbidden Love!/Go Joo-ah (‘Girl Group Trainee is in Forbidden Love’ OST Part 1, Prod. Han Ah-ri)

[3(new!)] Spicy boy/Jubid

[4(↓1)] Male Friend/Kang Woo-jin (‘Male Friend’ OST Part. 1)

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It even appeared on Japan’s Oricon chart.

Thus, ‘Male Friend’ could be considered to have left a unique legend as a one-act play, and at the center of it, of course, was Kang Woo-jin standing tall.

However, what was currently running like a bull was still ‘Drug Dealer’.

『[K-Movie] ‘Drug Dealer’ Surpasses 5 Million, Unwavering Box Office Heat… Undisputed No. 1』

It had been about three weeks since its release. However, the momentum of the ‘R-rated’ Drug Dealer was still fierce. Of course, it was true that the power had decreased slightly compared to the early days of its release, but sold-out screenings could be seen in movie theaters across the country.

After 3 million viewers, it was rolling on its own. The film industry media and the public spread word-of-mouth for free.

『’Drug Dealer’ Surpasses 5 Million Viewers, Continues Box Office No. 1 Streak』

『[Star Talk] Jin Jae-joon Performs Girl Group Dance as 5 Million Promise/Photo』

The unprecedented box office run of ‘Drug Dealer’ was even introduced on public broadcasting news. ‘Drug Dealer’, which had dominated the box office for three weeks, eventually.

『Will ‘R-Rated’ Movie Break Historical Records? Crowds Flock to See ‘Drug Dealer’ on Weekends』

Achieved a number that ‘R-rated’ movies had not been able to surpass.

[Daily Domestic Box Office]

1. Drug Dealer/ Release Date: October 28th/ Viewers: 360,111/ Number of Screens: 1002/ Cumulative Viewers: 6,015,472

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It had surpassed 6 million viewers. This was good news for the stagnant film industry, and it was like showing the hope of R-rated movies. There were plenty of new movies released every week, but they couldn’t stop the dominance of ‘Drug Dealer’. Because the fun of the movie itself and the acting of the actors were lacking.

『6 Million Viewers Surpassed, Breaking the Record for the Shortest Period for an R-Rated Movie!』

In particular, the word-of-mouth of the box office, which spread like a trend among the public or influencers, was a big factor. In addition, the character who supported the movie and stood out continued to add fuel to the fire.

It was Kang Woo-jin’s ‘Lee Sang-man’.

『[Movie Talk] Kang Woo-jin Effect? ‘Drug Dealer’ Aims for 7 Million After Surpassing 6 Million』

『[In-Depth Analysis] The Unique Character of the Rushing Drug Dealer, Audiences Have Fallen for ‘Lee Sang-man’』

Whether it’s the entertainment industry or sports, any field needs a star that catches the eye, and in ‘Drug Dealer’, Lee Sang-man had played that role no matter what anyone said.

『If ‘Drug Dealer’ Achieves 7 Million Viewers, It Will Become the Highest Grossing R-Rated Movie』

However, although it was already a jaw-dropping performance, the clear final score of ‘Drug Dealer’ was still not predicted.

『’Drug Dealer’ Surpasses 6 Million, Exceeds 45 Billion Won in Cumulative Sales, What About 7 Million?』

‘Drug Dealer’ was still the undisputed number one at the box office, and its momentum had not subsided.

『The Unbelievable ‘Drug Dealer’, Just Before Surpassing 7 Million Viewers』

Roughly a week. Perhaps by next week, the final score of Drug Dealer will be revealed.

Around this time, while ‘Drug Dealer’ was dominating the film industry, new news was being thrown into the entertainment industry as a whole.

『Kang Woo-jin, the Star of ‘Drug Dealer’, Departs for Japan on the 16th for the Script Reading of ‘Strange Geisha’』

『[Star Issue] Kang Woo-jin Goes to Japan Again After ‘Male Friend’, This Time Visiting Alone』

『Korean Actor Kang Woo-jin to Show Off His Acting Skills in Japan in the Movie ‘Strange Geisha’ by a Japanese Master Director』

It was related to Director Kyotaro’s ‘Strange Geisha’. Of course, it was the same in Japan as well as in Korea.

『Korea’s Kang Woo-jin Returns to Japan for the Script Reading of the Much-Talked-About “Strange Geisha”』

Kang Woo-jin’s revisit spread throughout Japan.

Morning of the 16th, Tokyo, Japan.

‘Kashihi Tokyo Hotel’, the most luxurious hotel in Tokyo. As the name suggests, ‘Kashihi Tokyo Hotel’ is owned by Kashihi Group, one of Japan’s major corporations. The area around the hotel was very bustling. It was already a very famous hotel, so there were many guests even on normal days.

“What’s going on? Why are there so many reporters?”

“I know. It looks like there’s some event at the hotel.”

“It’s chaotic.”

For some reason, there were many reporters today. There were many from right in front of the hotel to the nearby streets. The reason was simple.

Today, the script reading for the movie ‘Strange Geisha’, which had been shaking Japan, was scheduled to take place at this ‘Kashihi Tokyo Hotel’. However, even if there was a script reading, the number of dozens of reporters was a bit excessive.

The script reading of ‘Strange Geisha’ included many issues.

Not only was ‘Strange Geisha’ itself, in which many top Japanese actors participated, but also the big-name director Kyotaro, the world-renowned novelist Takikawa Akari, and the Kashihi Group and Chairman Hideki, who had not yet clearly stated their position.

And.

『”Kang Woo-jin” of ‘Male Friend’, Who is Scheduled to Arrive Today, The Only Korean Actor Among the Actors of Strange Geisha』

Even Kang Woo-jin, a Korean actor whose recognition had skyrocketed in an extraordinary way. It was a script reading that combined issues from both the entertainment and social sections, so reporters flocked to it. The reporters who occupied the area around the hotel were enough to catch the attention of the citizens, and there were even many reporters in the hotel lobby.

However, these reporters were a bit different from the outside reporters.

These were reporters who were officially invited to the ‘Strange Geisha’ script reading. Therefore, unlike the fierce outside reporters, they had some leisure.

“Did you hear? That the original author, Takikawa Akari, will also be attending today’s reading.”

“It’s a very noisy work and one of the bestsellers, so it’s only natural. I hope they give us a brief interview.”

“Hmm, but the fact that the ‘Strange Geisha’ script reading is being held at this ‘Kashihi Tokyo Hotel’—”

“It’s clear that the Kashihi Group is the backer.”

They were busy having simple conversations while waiting to enter the hall.

“It would be nice if Chairman Yoshimura Hideki would also show up.”

“Well, I don’t think Yoshimura Hideki will bother to show his face.”

“Anyway, it’s chaotic with all the reporters. Doesn’t it feel like an end-of-year awards ceremony?”

“By the way, when is Kang Woo-jin coming?”

“Isn’t he the only Korean actor among the actors? I think he probably arrived at Haneda Airport by now.”

The reporter, who was slowly nodding, chuckled.

“There must be quite a few reporters there too.”

Meanwhile, at the departure hall of Haneda Airport.

The departure hall was more crowded than ever. Among them, a woman who looked like a BJ [Broadcast Jockey, a live streamer], with a gimbal and a phone, stood out. It was obvious. Not only because of her appearance, but also because her hair color was close to green.

“Wow!! Look at the reporters!”

She turned her body around and showed the state of the departure hall on her phone. There were at least a hundred reporters, all huddled together in front of the fence line.

What was interesting was.

“Ah!! Please move aside!!”

“Kyaa! Someone just stepped on my foot!”

“Don’t push!!”

There were several times more onlookers behind the reporters, either standing on tiptoes or holding their phones high above their heads. There were also dozens of people with a similar vibe to the green-haired BJ. Soon, the BJ opened her eyes wide and exclaimed.

“Look at this, look at this. They’re all Kang Woo-jin fans! They even brought banners!”

Right then.

“Ah!!”

The female BJ quickly showed the departure hall on her phone and shouted.

“Kang Woo-jin! Kang Woo-jin is here!!”