I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 193

It was an emergency. That was Kang Woo-jin’s first thought upon seeing the unusual situation around the food truck.

‘What’s going on? Did something happen nearby?’

No, it was hard to see it that way. From the start, all the Americans were lined up in front of the ‘Our Table’ food truck. It was strange. Clearly, there was a problem with this picture. Woo-jin was clearly flustered, but he forced himself to maintain a poker face.

However, all the cast members of ‘Our Table’ except for Woo-jin were expressing their shock and bewilderment.

“Why is there such a long line?!”

“Is the line for another food truck spilling over to ours?”

“No! The other places aren’t even open yet!”

“It looks like there are more than 30 people, at least!”

Everyone except Kang Woo-jin was flustered. Of course, this scene was being vividly captured by the mini-cam installed in the van, and it was also being filmed by the two VJs holding cameras. Meanwhile, Ahn Jong-hak, who had his hair neatly styled back as usual, shouted to Ha Kang-soo, who was driving.

“Kang-soo! Let’s pass by for now!”

“Pass by?”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s pass by first! What if people swarm us after we get out there?”

“Ah, okay!”

Ha Kang-soo, who was driving, passed the food truck and parked the van on the side of the road a few hundred meters away. At the same time, everyone quickly turned to look out the rear window of the van. The long line was still visible. Fortunately, the Americans in line were not paying attention to the van.

They were just waiting for the food truck to open.

At this point, Kang Woo-jin and everyone else were certain. They were waiting for the ‘Our Table’ food truck, and something had changed. It was an impossible situation otherwise. Yesterday, they were just swatting flies when they opened. Of course, there were quite a few customers during business hours, but there were far more people passing by.

Soon, Ahn Jong-hak, who had been calming down while smoothing his hair back, picked up his phone.

“Are the staff nearby? Did Yoon PD [Production Director] see that?”

In response to the emergency, Ahn Jong-hak quickly tried to call Yoon Byung-sun PD. But there was no need to do so.

-Creak!

The van door suddenly opened, and Yoon Byung-sun PD, wearing glasses, appeared. A mischievous smile was spreading across his lips as he stood in front of the car door.

“Why aren’t you opening when there are so many customers?”

Hwa-rin and Yeon Baek-gwang, with wide eyes, almost simultaneously asked back. Their voices were filled with bewilderment.

“J, just open it?”

Then, Ahn Jong-hak, the figurehead, chimed in.

“How can we open in this state? And who are these people? Do you know something, Yoon PD?”

“Hyung, they’re obviously customers.”

“No, I’m saying, why are there customers from the morning? They’re even lined up.”

“Well?”

“…You know something. What is it? Tell me quickly.”

Yoon Byung-sun PD, who had been smirking, showed everyone something he had been hiding behind his back.

“Take a look at this.”

What he held out into the van was a newspaper filled with English text. What was unusual was.

“Here, here. Can you see our truck on the front page?”

A very familiar photo was on the front page of the newspaper. It was the ‘Our Table’ food truck. Yoon Byung-sun PD, pointing at that part in the newspaper with his index finger, began to explain.

“This newspaper is a local paper, and our truck was featured in an article here. We were surprised that people were gathering from the morning. So, when we asked, it turned out this happened.”

“…So, it’s on the front page of a local newspaper.”

“That’s right. But what’s more interesting is.”

Yoon Byung-sun PD, maintaining his smile, called out to Kang Woo-jin, who was looking down at the newspaper indifferently.

“Woo-jin, do you remember the elderly couple from yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Well, of course. They were the first customers. Anyway, the grandfather is quite famous around here.”

Hong Hye-yeon, who had her long hair tied up, chimed in.

“Ah- I heard. He’s a chef who runs a restaurant. I was surprised when I heard that.”

As if that wasn’t the end, Yoon Byung-sun PD took over.

“When I looked into that restaurant, it turned out to be a Michelin 1-star place. It was a very famous and well-known restaurant to the people around here.”

“Mi, Michelin!”

“Wow- amazing. What, then? Woo-jin hyung got high praise from that chef?!”

Just as Yeon Baek-gwang was getting excited, Kang Woo-jin almost started dancing along. Woo-jin, who barely managed to hold it back, lowered his voice as much as possible.

“Did that person spread rumors or something? Is that why there’s an article?”

“It’s similar. That chef gave us his contact information, asking us to let him know when we open. I confirmed it by talking to him, and it seems he recommended our food truck to his acquaintances on his way home yesterday. Among them was a reporter working for a local newspaper.”

“Did that reporter come to our truck yesterday?”

“That’s right! But it’s not just in the newspaper, the article is also online. It’s also on the local newspaper’s SNS [Social Networking Service].”

“……”

Woo-jin, who had grasped the situation, closed his mouth. Regardless, Yoon Byung-sun PD was excited.

“With that much, it’s normal for people to gather!”

Yoon Byung-sun PD tapped the English newspaper title with his index finger and gave Woo-jin a deep smile.

“Woo-jin, you don’t need the whole thing. Just translate the title here.”

“… ‘Michelin 1-Star Chef Also Fell for Korean Food, The Taste of Korean Food from a Food Truck from Korea Was Fantastic.'”

“See the very end of the article? There’s also an interview with that grandfather chef from yesterday.”

Then, Yoon Byung-sun PD, who had folded the newspaper, asked all the dumbfounded ‘Our Table’ cast members mischievously.

“Huh? What are you all doing here? You need to go open. Are you going to keep the customers waiting? They’ve been taking pictures of the closed food truck since earlier? Okay, okay, we’ve figured out the situation. Let’s go quickly and guide the customers?”

“……”

“Those customers aren’t all of them, you know? It’s only this much because it’s before opening, and more might gather if we go past the opening time! Come on! Move, move!”

At that moment, Kang Woo-jin recalled the kind-faced, white-haired American grandfather from yesterday. The grandfather smiling gently. For some reason, it overlapped with the face of Director Ahn Ga-bok.

‘……Why do the Korean and American grandfathers around me like to escalate things? Why the heck?!’

And then he sensed it. That today’s food truck would be

‘Ha- I’m screwed.’

A train to hell.

A few hours later, in Korea.

It was early morning on the 10th. The location was a large house in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. At first glance, it looked like a place where a chaebol [a wealthy family conglomerate] might live, but currently, the house was teeming with foreigners instead of a chaebol. It was the team of the world-renowned star ‘Miley Cara,’ who had recently visited Korea.

Her team had rented this house.

Although hotels were more common, they changed accommodations for Miley Cara’s safety. Whatever the case, Miley Cara, who was on her third day in Korea, was currently asleep. On the other hand, the other foreign staff members, except for her, were busy preparing for today’s schedule.

Thanks to that, the living room on the first floor of the house was bustling.

Among them, a large, buzz-cut foreign man sitting on the living room sofa stood out. He was Cara’s main manager, and the foreigners of various sizes around him were busy reporting something to the buzz-cut manager. Then, a slender foreign man asked a question.

“Jonathan, but why does Cara only think about ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character’ among the many Korean YouTube channels?”

The buzz-cut manager crossed his arms. Thanks to that, his muscles stood out.

“Who knows what’s on Cara’s mind.”

After answering briefly, he briefly recalled a few days ago.

It was a conversation he had with Miley Cara on the plane before arriving in Korea. It started after Cara declared that she would only appear on the ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character’ channel, and the buzz-cut manager was checking the channel’s information.

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

[Subscribers: 7.88 million]

[Videos: 31]

The main description of the channel was in Korean, but below it, English and Japanese were also kindly listed. It was natural since the channel was quite large and had many overseas fans. Anyway, the buzz-cut manager, who was looking at the ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character’ channel, immediately raised his head and met the gaze of Cara’s blue eyes, who was sitting in her seat.

“Cara, this channel was also on our schedule.”

In response, Cara asked back slightly coldly.

“Then why was it removed? It wasn’t on the list you showed me.”

The buzz-cut manager’s explanation followed immediately.

“It was definitely there when we first investigated. It had a great number of subscribers and the views per video were amazing.”

“But?”

“It’s problematic to appear for promotional purposes. The main content of that channel is song covers, and although there are occasional videos of the channel owner communicating with subscribers. But.”

“More than 90% of the videos are covers, right?”

“That’s right. What we want is appropriate talk, movie promotion, and to appeal to your charm, Cara. From the start, it’s right to contact channels with that kind of nature.”

It wasn’t wrong. No matter how many subscribers there were, if the channel’s concept was firm, the promotion would lose its power.

“For reference, there are quite a few channels of that size in Korea. Of course, there aren’t many, but they exist. What we or the film company want is a channel that is openly promotional.”

“Then find a way.”

“……Hoo-”

The buzz-cut manager, as if used to it, scratched his head and continued.

“Okay, first, I’ll contact this channel. I’ll ask if they can create separate content for us. If the channel doesn’t want anything more than song covers, we’ll consider other channels. Of course, because it’s you, Cara, the channel owner might force themselves to create a segment, but if we confirm it’s weak, it’s out.”

“Hmm-”

“This isn’t something that will work just because you insist. There’s your image and the film company’s position.”

“Of course. More than that, do you know that the owner of that channel is a Korean actor?”

“Of course. I’ve investigated it. That’s also a bit of a concern. It feels like a channel that grew because it was opened as a hobby.”

“Hobby? It doesn’t make sense that that vocal skill is a hobby. And Kang Woo-jin? He’s not a full-fledged singer, but I like him because he’s similar to me. He also covered my song wonderfully. Looking at the videos, it seems he’s also somewhat fluent in English.”

Miley Cara coldly listed her explanations. The manager, who was looking at her, chuckled.

“You watch that channel often.”

“Sometimes. This actor named Kang Woo-jin has a good tone. I even want to see his main job, acting.”

“……I see.”

The buzz-cut manager, who had noticed something, sighed again.

“You want me to find that Korean actor’s works? Of course, with English subtitles.”

“That’s right, so I can watch them during my Korean schedule. And also about the actor named Kang Woo-jin.”

“Okay, if it works out that you’ll be on that channel.”

The blonde Cara smiled faintly.

“Please take care of it this time too, Jonathan.”

Up to here. The buzz-cut manager, who was recalling Cara’s smile, returned to reality, to the sofa in the living room of the house.

Then, he asked the foreign staff members sitting next to him.

“How much research has been done on the Korean actor named Kang Woo-jin, and the ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character’ channel?”

The quick answer came from a freckled woman.

“It’s a quick investigation, so it’s not certain, but it should be enough for Cara to see.”

She handed a tablet to the buzz-cut manager.

Then.

“But that Korean actor named Kang Woo-jin is a bit strange.”

“Hmm? Why? Did he commit a crime in the past or something?”

“No way. It’s not that, but the more I know, the more absurd his filmography is. First, look at the data, Jonathan.”

The buzz-cut manager, who had been looking at her for a moment, lowered his gaze to the tablet. A brief investigation report on Kang Woo-jin was being displayed on the screen. But the content was not simple. There might be differences between Korea and Hollywood, but Kang Woo-jin’s entire filmography displayed on the tablet was comparable to a mid-level or higher actor in Hollywood.

Soon, the buzz-cut manager, stroking his chin, was impressed.

“Oh- he’s an actor with a more solid filmography than I thought. I’ve heard of Director Kwon Ki-taek. And even Director Tanoguchi Kyotaro. Did he even advance to Japan? Amazing? He worked with the masters of Korea.”

“All the Korean works he filmed were also home runs.”

“And he even has such a big YouTube channel. Was he top-tier?”

The freckled woman changed the atmosphere in an instant.

“He achieved all of that within a year of his debut.”

The buzz-cut manager’s face, which had been filled with interest, was instantly shocked.

“Wh, what did you say?”

Meanwhile, in the largest room on the second floor of the house.

There was nothing missing in the luxurious room. Bed, TV, refrigerator, dining table and table, sofa, bathroom, etc. It was more than enough for one person to live in.

A woman with long blonde hair was lying on the sofa in that room.

It was Miley Cara. However, she was not asleep but was lying face down, watching TV. To be exact, she was watching the Korean drama ‘Profiler Han Ryang.’ It seemed to be connected to Netflix. Of course, it included English subtitles, and the scene of ‘Manager Park’s’ interrogation was currently being displayed on the screen.

Cara, with a slightly cold face, couldn’t take her eyes off ‘Manager Park’ on TV.

Why?

Because the acting skills of the Korean actor named Kang Woo-jin, who had ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Sub-Character,’ were beyond imagination.

‘……No, is that really him? It’s a completely different feeling from the cover videos?’

At this time.

-Knock knock knock.

A knock sounded on the door of the room. Thanks to that, Cara, who had stopped the playback of Han Ryang and tidied her long blonde hair, got up and opened the door. The large buzz-cut manager was standing in front of the door.

“Yes, Jonathan.”

The buzz-cut manager, who handed Cara the tablet he had brought, spoke in a very serious tone in English.

“Cara, take a look at that.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about Kang Woo-jin.”

“Already?”

“Kang Woo-jin, this Korean actor has many interesting points. Before I explain, watch that video first.”

Cara, narrowing her brows, lowered her gaze to the tablet screen she had received. A video was being displayed on the tablet. The main character was, of course, Kang Woo-jin. Cara’s cold face, who had been watching the video for a while, was bewildered. She asked the manager quietly, with her eyes still on the video.

“What is it? Is this a scene from an action movie?”

The buzz-cut manager shook his head.

“No, it’s real. And it happened a few days ago.”

A few days later, on the 13th. Hollywood, LA, USA.

Late morning. The location was Hollywood, known as the home of movies. The Beverly Hotel, a 5-star hotel located in the center of Hollywood. As expected of a 5-star luxury hotel, there were many impressive figures in the lobby, and if you pass through the crowded first-floor lobby and go to the back of the hotel, the atmosphere changes instantly.

The outdoor garden, decorated like a beach, was full of leisure. There were many foreigners enjoying swimming in the pool or sunbathing.

In the middle of those numerous beach benches.

“……”

A man with a protruding belly wearing sunglasses stood out. He looked like something reminiscent of Santa Claus. His hair color was somewhere between yellow and white. The man seemed to be enjoying sunbathing while lying on a bench.

It was then.

“Director.”

A woman’s voice was heard by the Santa man. Soon, a foreign woman with brown bobbed hair in a suit was seen by the man who had only turned his head. As soon as he saw her, the Santa man resumed sunbathing.

“You woke up early.”

“Did you throw your phone in the pool?”

“No way. It’ll be in the locker.”

“How about at least being in a place where you can be seen.”

“If the casting director sees me, the work will increase.”

The woman, sighing, shook her head and changed the subject.

“As you said, I’m continuing to monitor actors from Asia.”

“See, the work is increasing.”

“……As expected, there are many in the martial arts world from China.”

“That’s right.”

“But do you remember the Korean actor you mentioned before?”

“Hmm? Who was it?”

“The one who stood out the most at the Korean film festival, ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival.’ The actor named Kang Woo-jin.”

“Ah- yes, I remember.”

“Recently, regarding that actor-”

The bobbed-haired woman took a step closer to the Santa man who was lying down and said.

“There’s an interesting video circulating on YouTube, of him subduing a thug.”