I Was Mistaken As A Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 177

CEO Seo Gu-seop’s eyes were bloodshot, the veins standing out starkly. It looked as if they would burst if they became any more engorged. His face was also contorted, creating wrinkles like a bulldog’s. And the color? It was a deep red, as if all the blood in his body had rushed to his face. Sitting on the sofa, his hands and legs trembling, CEO Seo Gu-seop had long lost his reason. Now, he was filled only with instinct and rage.

“Shit!! What the hell is this!”

His once-normal thoughts swirled. Why was this mess happening? Who? When? Why? He gritted his teeth as he looked at the article on the tablet. But the article didn’t disappear.

『[Exclusive] “Called to Karaoke at Dawn”… Actress’s Confession Towards GGO Entertainment CEO Seo Gu-seop “I Wasn’t the Only One” – Part 1 of 5』/Power Patch

Power Patch, a media outlet that mainly deals with scoops. A major media company that always ranks in the top three in the entertainment industry. Clearly, a place that had a relationship with CEO Seo Gu-seop.

‘Are these bastards crazy? Even if media outlets are cheap, what the hell is this without any prior notice?’

The relationship between media and entertainment companies in the entertainment industry was all for show. A mask for mutual benefit. They laugh and joke in front, but behind the scenes, they are always ready to stab each other in the back. Even so, this was too sudden.

At this point.

“Hoo-”

With difficulty, CEO Seo Gu-seop suppressed his rage and spoke to the directors with a hot breath. His tone was very cold.

“Hey, are you just going to stand there like idiots?”

The two directors, who had been staring blankly at the tablet screen on either side of Seo Gu-seop, were startled. The bulldog, Seo Gu-seop, gave them a low order.

“Call those Power Patch bastards.”

Only then did the two directors quickly pull out their phones.

“S-Sorry! I’ll do it right away!”

“Yes, yes, me too!”

The two directors hurriedly made calls. What was interesting was that the two directors, with their phones to their ears, were also glancing at Seo Gu-seop.

-Swish.

They were slowly slipping out of the CEO’s office. It seemed like they were going outside for a more comfortable call, but their true intention was different. It was an escape. If a volcano was about to erupt in front of you, wouldn’t it be foolish to stay still? Loyalty was only possible when the master had power.

Soon, the two directors who had left the CEO’s office looked at each other and whispered.

“It feels like we’re being… targeted, right?”

“What else could it be? He should have been more moderate in his behavior.”

“What can we do?”

“What do you mean what can we do? We have to find our own way to survive.”

The two directors, their minds aligned. Betrayal. Turning their backs in an instant. Instead of making calls, they quickly left.

Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office, CEO Seo Gu-seop was.

“……”

With bloodshot eyes, he was checking the contents of the article that Power Patch had released. Part 1 of 5. That meant there were four more attacks to come. The article was filled with sensational content that matched the title.

-[Power Patch = Gu Tae-yoon, Kim Jin-gi, Hwang So-yeon Reporters]

-Actress A, who mustered her courage, took a deep breath before the interview. But she eventually opened up, recalling the past.

“It was quite a while ago. Late at night after filming, I got a call from CEO Seo Gu-seop.”

Actress A’s voice trembled. She then showed the text message sent by CEO Seo Gu-seop.

‘Filming’s over, right? Come to the karaoke in Cheongdam-dong now.’

Even though she clearly expressed her refusal, CEO Seo Gu-seop began to threaten her.

‘Do you want to be blacklisted in this industry? This is all for your own good. Come right now. If you don’t come, I’ll take you off the schedule starting tomorrow.’

At the time and even now, CEO Seo Gu-seop’s power in the entertainment industry was immense, so actress A could not overcome his threats. When she arrived, CEO Seo Gu-seop, his acquaintances, and entertainment industry officials such as PDs [Producers] were gathered.

Out of the total five-part series, the first article that was released was about entertainment. Calling out actresses to act as a face, creating actual sponsor-like situations, and using celebrities like playthings. The article was very detailed and thorough. It felt like it was based on solid evidence.

Moreover, there was more than one victim.

However, it was impossible for CEO Seo Gu-seop to identify the victims in the article. In fact, he had just thrown the tablet on the floor.

“Shit! Shit!!! You bastards!!!”

He couldn’t pinpoint anyone. The reason was simple. The content in the article was just the tip of the iceberg. There were too many similar cases. Countless if you included even the minor gatherings. And it didn’t matter if they were male or female actors. The victims in the article were also completely anonymous.

Soon, CEO Seo Gu-seop, who had gotten up and was panting.

-Swish.

He put a cigarette in his mouth, his hands trembling slightly. It was an attempt to calm himself, and after struggling to light the cigarette, he shifted his gaze to the door.

“But are these bastards making phones to call? Hey!!”

Calling out to the directors who had already fled only brought silence.

“……”

That silence gnawed at the spirit of CEO Seo Gu-seop, who was always strong. The noose of despair around his neck gradually tightened. He was suffocating.

But the bulldog, Seo Gu-seop, swallowed the unease with curses.

Right at that moment.

-Vvvv.

His phone, placed on the table of the sofa, emitted a short vibration. The problem was that the short vibration didn’t end with just one.

-Vvvv.

The phone was pouring out countless notifications as if it was broken. Whoever the caller was, they must have seen the article. Finally.

-Vvvv Vvvvv.

The phone even started ringing. It was then that CEO Seo Gu-seop began to feel the reality of the situation.

“Shit, I’m screwed.”

After that.

The Power Patch’s attack, which hit the entertainment industry on the morning of the 22nd, was enough to attract the attention of the hyenas.

『[Breaking News] Allegations of GGO Entertainment CEO Seo Gu-seop Treating Female Actors as Face-Makers Emerge』

『[Issue Pick] Numerous Victims and Even Recordings… The True Face of CEO Seo Gu-seop Revealed』

By the afternoon, past lunchtime, the single article had multiplied into hundreds.

『”Come to the Karaoke” CEO Seo Gu-seop’s Entertainment Was a Way of Life』

If it were just an average person, a few more articles might have been released and that would have been the end of it, but GGO Entertainment’s CEO Seo Gu-seop was not an ordinary figure. He was a big shot, one of the top three CEOs of entertainment agencies. GGO Entertainment was also very famous, and many of the celebrities under it were top-tier.

So, various media outlets had no choice but to jump on it with their eyes wide open.

“Hey, hey! Reporter Kim!! Did you call GGO Entertainment??!”

“Yes! But it’s not going through!”

“Aish- shit, then just keep changing the wording and titles and keep writing!”

“Ah, I understand! But won’t Seo Gu-seop get mad later??!”

“Who cares!! Look at the speed at which the articles are coming out! No matter how powerful that bastard is, how can he stop this! Just take out your brain and write as much as you can!!”

However, Power Patch, which fired the first shot, was currently silent. As if they were conserving their strength for the next attack. Whatever the case, the articles continued to be produced.

『GGO Entertainment CEO Seo Gu-seop Controversy… But There Are Still 4 More Shots Left?』

Eventually, by late afternoon, Seo Gu-seop’s name filled the entire entertainment news. With the situation reaching this point, it wasn’t just the media that was moving.

Seo Gu-seop’s name appeared on the evening news.

“This is a breaking news report. Allegations of entertainment orders by Seo Gu-seop, CEO of GGO Entertainment, a major domestic agency, have emerged. This is reporter Gong Chang-hyun.”

Numerous videos were also uploaded on video platforms such as YouTube.

-[Exclusive] GGO Entertainment CEO Seo Gu-seop’s Abusive Language Recording… “You Fucking Don’t Listen”｜Issue Man TV

-In-depth Analysis of Recordings with Seo Gu-seop’s Voice!!!｜Wrecker Man Reporter

The public opinion was cold.

-That guy is so disgusting

-He ruined the lives of people who are like his daughters and lived so well, put him in jail

-Wow… Seo Gu-seop… But this guy has had a lot of rumors since before

-The celebrities who signed with that idiot are so pitiful

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋAnother one blew up??? Reality is more disgusting than dramasㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Seo Gu-seop is just a gangsterㅋㅋㅋㅋMost people know that???

-Even if it’s just entertainment and sponsorship, he’s going to jailㅋㅋㅋㅋPower Patch has 4 more shots leftㅋㅋㅋㅋBye bye

-You perverted trash!!! Ugh! Spit!

-I’m boycotting GGO Entertainment

But this was just the beginning. The next day, on the morning of the 23rd, Power Patch’s second bullet was fired.

『[Exclusive] “Zero Settlement for 3 Years After Debut”… The Luxuries Enjoyed by GGO Entertainment CEO Seo Gu-seop Were All Made by Scamming Rookie Actors – Part 2 of 5』/Power Patch

Although the situation was spiraling out of control, there was no reaction from GGO Entertainment or CEO Seo Gu-seop. Around lunchtime on the 24th, Power Patch’s third bomb exploded.

『[Exclusive] A Former Manager Revealed “3 Assaults in 1 Year at GGO”… CEO Seo Gu-seop Wielded Not Only Power but Also His Fists – Part 3 of 5』/Power Patch

Soon, the police and prosecution began to move. It was late morning on the 26th, two days later. The person who had started this entire snowball, who had been watching until this point, was on the phone with Power Patch.

“Hmm, I saw it. The timing isn’t bad.”

It was Choi Sung-gun with his ponytail, located in Buyeo. Even though the world was in an uproar over CEO Seo Gu-seop, the filming of ‘Island of the Lost’ was continuing. Choi Sung-gun, with his phone to his ear, spoke from a place a little away from the filming zone.

“You’ll proceed with the rest as we discussed, right?”

A familiar male voice was heard on the other end of the phone. It was the editor-in-chief that Choi Sung-gun had met in the past.

“There’s nothing to worry about, but… how about you give us the remaining data?”

“Hey, why are you like this? You’ll see that we keep our promises. But again, anonymity and punctuality.”

“Okay, okay. Just don’t give it to anyone else.”

Choi Sung-gun, with a faint smile, replied.

“Let’s not say the obvious, we’re professionals.”

Friday, November 27th.

While Seo Gu-seop, who was on a train to hell, was experiencing hell, the foundation of the entertainment industry was shaking, but Kang Woo-jin’s daily life didn’t change much. He was filming ‘Island of the Lost’ and handling his exploding schedule. Of course, Woo-jin also heard the news about Seo Gu-seop, but he didn’t even scoff at it.

He didn’t feel the need to.

Hate was something that was talked about when there was a certain level of relationship. To Kang Woo-jin, Seo Gu-seop was just a common, washed-up old man.

Who cared if he was the CEO of a big agency?

He even saw Director Ahn Ga-bok as just a neighbor, so how could he care about Seo Gu-seop? He didn’t even know that Choi Sung-gun, who was taking care of him, was the one who had instigated all of this.

Whatever the case.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin had just finished showering and came out of the bathroom. He was in a room at a resort hotel in Buyeo. Soon, Kang Woo-jin, who was shaking his wet hair, put on comfortable clothes and checked the time.

“Hmm- 8 o’clock.”

The time was 8:10 PM. Woo-jin had been filming ‘Island of the Lost’ all day today. He could rest now. After drying his hair, Kang Woo-jin picked up the script for ‘Beneficial Evil’ that he had recently received from PD Song Man-woo.

-Thump!

He dove onto the bed.

“Ugh- heaven.”

After tossing and turning on the bed for a while, he picked up his phone instead of the script. Something had come to mind, and Woo-jin accessed his YouTube channel.

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

[6.61 Million Subscribers]

[23 Videos]

The ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character’ channel was already heading towards 7 million subscribers. And a few hours ago, a new video had been uploaded to the ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character’ channel. However, it wasn’t the usual cover video.

-【Introducing the Second Content of Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character Channel!!】(‘Avatar Cooking’ Teaser) ｜Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character

-3.03 Million Views / 2020. 11. 27

It was a teaser video about the second content, ‘Cooking’. Perhaps because it was a different topic than usual, it had surpassed 3 million views in just a few hours. The teaser video was simple. It combined Woo-jin’s interview about what he would show in the future with cooking, and the ‘Avatar Cooking’ part he had filmed with Han Ye-jung before.

Then, Kang Woo-jin, who was checking the teaser video, looked at the comment section. It was overflowing.

-No!!!! Cooking??!! Cooking??!!!!

-OMG, this is crazy? Oppa, oppa, oppa, I’m really good at eating

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋWhat is it? Could it be… Kang Woo-jin is also good at cooking???

-WowㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋThis is really unexpected? No, if oppa is also good at cooking, I’m really grateful!

-Lee Sang-man is crazy

-Kang Woo-jin, are you the kitchen team in our dining table??

-Wow!! I saw oppa cooking in the teaser, and it’s seriously… so cool… especially here at 1:24

Of course, Japanese and English were also mixed in appropriately. Woo-jin raised the corners of his mouth as if he was satisfied.

“The reaction is good.”

If formal celebrity guests other than Hwa-rin were added in the future, it would be even more explosive than now. Then, the ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character’ channel would naturally grow even bigger.

At that moment.

-Knock knock knock.

The sound of knocking spread. It was sudden, but Woo-jin got up and walked towards the door without much thought. The smile that had spread was hidden, and he put on his concept. It seemed like he knew who had come, and outside the open door stood Choi Sung-gun and the burly Jang Su-hwan, holding bags in both hands.

“Did you come a bit early?”

“Hyungnim! I bought some things, and if you’re hungry, I’ll buy more!”

Kang Woo-jin shook his head and let them into the room.

“Come in.”

Soon, Choi Sung-gun and Jang Su-hwan put the bags they were holding on the table. They were full of beer, drinks, and snacks. Among them, Choi Sung-gun handed Woo-jin a can of non-alcoholic beer.

“This is for you. It’s non-alcoholic.”

“Thank you.”

“Didn’t you turn on the TV?”

“Yes. I was checking my YouTube channel.”

Choi Sung-gun smiled right away.

“The reaction to the teaser is amazing, right?”

Jang Su-hwan chimed in.

“The reaction is crazy!! I saw that there were a lot of comments too??”

Choi Sung-gun, wearing a loose t-shirt, turned on the TV and continued.

“It seems like it’s because we revealed that you’re the main kitchen team member in ‘Our Dining Table’. When the official video is released around the time we leave for the US filming of ‘Our Dining Table’ on December 5th, both sides will explode with interest. It’s a win-win situation.”

Departure on December 5th. Today was the 27th, so Kang Woo-jin’s departure for the US filming of ‘Our Dining Table’ was exactly one week away. Had it already come to that? Woo-jin felt a brief moment of excitement.

‘Wow- shit, I’m actually a bit nervous about the US.’

After talking about ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character’ and ‘Our Dining Table’ for several tens of minutes, Jang Su-hwan checked the time and picked up the remote to turn on the TV.

“It’s time!”

“Ah, that’s right.”

The channel Jang Su-hwan turned on was KBC, and commercials were being shown right before the start of a new drama. Then, Choi Sung-gun crossed his legs and held up a can of beer.

“After ‘Drug Dealer’ became a huge hit, viewers will be shocked again when they see ‘The Strange Man Next Door’.”

Jang Su-hwan gave a thumbs up.

“Of course! ‘Drug Dealer’ surpassed 7.5 million viewers, and everyone praised Woo-jin hyungnim for ‘Lee Sang-man’! But then a completely different character comes out with sign language!”

Kang Woo-jin felt a little awkward, but.

‘Why are you going so far? Ahem, it’s embarrassing.’

He forced his mouth shut and stared at the TV.

At that moment.

“Oh, it’s starting.”

The commercials on TV had ended, and the opening of the new drama was being shown. A cheerful OST with a violin was playing along with a refreshing animation. It depicted the main actors. Below, the names of the main actors were displayed.

-♬♪

The OST ended, and the drama title was displayed in the center of a light purple screen.

-[‘Freezing Romance’]

-[Episode 1]