I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 201

Inside the recording booth, Kang Woo-jin, wearing headphones, focused intently on his vocals.

-♬♪

He could feel it himself.

‘Something—the emotions are getting more intense.’

He realized that his understanding of Cara’s hit song ‘Absolute,’ which he was singing, had deepened. Even though he had sung it countless times before, he felt a change. The color had become richer. The intensified emotions seeped into his tone.

Kang Woo-jin’s vocals, his singing ability, had grown even more.

It was fair to say he had improved. Vocals require technique and skill, but emotion is also a crucial part. Emotion determines the color of the vocals. And Woo-jin had, until now, imprinted many roles and their emotions.

It was clear that his vocals were changing. Of course, in a positive way.

His voice soared out clearly. But it wasn’t a light, cheerful tone. As Kang Woo-jin entered the second verse, he mixed anger into his vocals. However, it wasn’t a harsh shout that made one frown.

It was more like he was expressing anger on behalf of the listener.

Kang Woo-jin became increasingly immersed. His team, watching him from outside the booth, simply stared with wide eyes, taking no action. Both Kang Woo-jin’s team and the staff of the ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel. Some had already heard Woo-jin’s vocals, while others were hearing them for the first time today.

“······Wow-”

“······”

Either way, they were frozen. It was as if their souls had left their bodies. Among them, stylist director Han Ye-jeong, her eyes wide, asked the ponytail-wearing CEO Choi Seong-geon, who was standing next to her, in a small voice, her gaze fixed on Kang Woo-jin.

“CEO, maybe it’s just me, but Woo-jin *oppa’s* [an honorific term used by females to address older males] vocals… they seem even better. No, they were definitely crazy before, but now it feels even more amazing?”

Choi Seong-geon, who was also watching Kang Woo-jin in the booth, slowly nodded.

“······Yeah. I hear it too.”

They weren’t experts, but the change was definitely noticeable. It had become more powerful. The question was, when exactly? How? They hadn’t seen him practicing his vocals. So how was that guy able to grow?

It wasn’t a biased judgment or because they were fond of Kang Woo-jin.

Look at that global superstar Miley Cara.

‘Including Cara, her team is also spacing out, which says it all.’

In fact, Miley Cara and her foreign staff were all staring intently at Kang Woo-jin. Especially, the blonde Cara’s concentration was quite high. It was as if lasers were about to shoot out of her blue eyes.

Then.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin in the booth took a short breath. He was approaching the end of the song. His vocals, which had been soaring, and the melody of the song lowered in an instant. Then, Woo-jin and Cara, who was staring at him, made eye contact. It was a very brief moment. But in that instant, the blonde Miley Cara recognized her own heart fluttering.

It was a bit different from the flutter of romantic attraction.

‘His hobby is at this level… and the gap is huge compared to watching it on video. Then what about his main job, acting? What would it be like to see his acting in person?’

It was true that she was reacting to Kang Woo-jin’s charm and energy, but it was closer to longing. Or desire.

‘I understand a little bit, though not entirely, why he’s producing such absurd results in just one year. Even I, who only saw him briefly, can’t take my eyes off him like this?’

She wanted to work closely with that ridiculous tension. Whether it was vocals or acting. Either way, Miley Cara’s interest in Kang Woo-jin was exploding at this moment.

At that moment.

“Miley?”

Kang Woo-jin’s voice penetrated Cara’s ears as she was spacing out in the booth. Woo-jin’s vocals had already ended. Only then did Cara suddenly come to her senses.

“Ah- ah, yes. Sorry.”

Cara cleared her throat, brushing her long blonde hair back as if to hide her feelings.

“Ahem, I listened well. It’s several times more powerful and better than what I saw in the video.”

Her foreign team members around her also vehemently agreed, and Cara rolled up the sleeves of her knit sweater, getting ready. There was no need to delay any longer. No, rather, Cara wanted to mix her voice with Kang Woo-jin as soon as possible.

-Swish.

Cara, with her blonde hair tied up, stepped into the recording booth where Woo-jin was standing. Soon, a scene of the two standing side by side was created. The height difference was such that Cara’s blonde hair was slightly above Kang Woo-jin’s shoulder. Woo-jin glanced at Cara next to him without making it obvious.

‘She definitely has an amazing aura. Is it because she’s an alien? It’s hard to describe with just the word ‘pretty’?’

Okay, he decided. Let’s just recognize her as an alien.

Of course, Kang Woo-jin didn’t know. That among the dozens of people in this recording booth, he was the closest to being an alien. Cara, who was secretly sniffing the perfume scent of Woo-jin nearby, was like that.

‘His abilities are too absurd, aren’t they? It’s like he came from another planet. Yeah, maybe he’s an alien. But his scent is so nice?’

Everyone had similar feelings and gazes. Then, Woo-jin murmured to Cara in a low voice.

“Miley, how about you do your part as usual in the duet, and I’ll try doing my part in Korean?”

In other words, he was suggesting a duet in English and Korean. Cara, who met Woo-jin’s blue eyes, nodded nonchalantly.

“Okay, I’m looking forward to it. It feels like a completely new song will come out.”

Both of them had their parts decided. Now, with the signal from the staff outside the booth, the song would start. At this moment, Miley Cara suddenly asked Kang Woo-jin.

“Kang Woo-jin, have you ever worked on an album before? Like featuring?”

“No.”

“Then how about appearing in a music video?”

“Never.”

After that, the song started.

Later.

The large recording studio shoot with Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara was wrapped up after about two hours, and the original song ‘Absolute’ was completed as an amazing duet. Of course, Woo-jin’s and Cara’s teams didn’t just get a duet song.

The process of getting to the result also produced great footage.

The subtle two-shot of Hollywood superstar Miley Cara and rookie Kang Woo-jin, who was in his first year. Their conversations and their focus on work were captured vividly. Just this alone was enough to create at least five videos.

Of course, for both Kang Woo-jin’s side and Cara’s side.

However, the schedules of the two teams weren’t over yet. They had to move to the rented cooking studio right away. Due to Cara’s departure schedule, they had to hurry. They decided to have lunch later, and Woo-jin’s team and Cara’s team moved to the next filming location.

From here, the focus was on talk and cooking.

“The camera setup is complete, so after Woo-jin and Miley have their makeup touched up and change their outfits, we can start right away!!”

After spending some time on Kang Woo-jin and Cara’s ‘hair, makeup, and costumes,’ filming began again. The setup was similar to the one with Hwa-rin before. Woo-jin, wearing an apron, was at the kitchen side, and the blonde Cara was sitting in front of him. There were also set questions and answers.

Of course, all the conversations were in English.

“Miley Cara is here on ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character.’ Hello, Miley.”

“Nice to meet you. By the way, Woo-jin, that apron looks really good on you?”

“Really?”

“Yes. I want that apron as a souvenir gift.”

“I’ll give it to you. Do you usually enjoy cooking?”

“Not at all. Oh, there’s a Korean restaurant near my house that I go to often.”

“What kind of food do you eat there?”

“*Budae jjigae* [Korean army stew]? The one with a lot of ham. You told me to decide on a dish I wanted to eat today, right? I’ll go with *budae jjigae*. But Woo-jin, are you good at cooking?”

“It’s just a hobby.”

Hearing the answer, Cara recalled Kang Woo-jin’s hobby, vocals, from earlier.

“······Hobby. I don’t think it will seem like a hobby this time either, but I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’ll do my best. Before that, I heard that your new movie is being released.”

“That’s right.”

“What kind of movie is it?”

The filming was progressing smoothly. There wasn’t anything to point out as a problem. If there was anything, it was that both Kang Woo-jin and Cara were naturally cold, so they seemed to be bickering at first glance?

Behind them.

-Swish.

After the set talk was finished, Kang Woo-jin started cooking. Cara, who was directly watching Woo-jin’s back, couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

-Chop chop chop chop chop chop!!

From the preparation of the ingredients, which began with dazzling knife skills, to his smooth cooking, his hands were dazzling.

‘What the heck… is his identity?’

Even at a glance, it was the aura of a professional. Miley Cara was in shock multiple times today. Strangely, Hollywood was dozens of times bigger in the world, but Cara, a superstar there, was experiencing a new world in Korea.

The Korean actor in front of her was too versatile.

Just a while ago, he was a singer with a voice that could melt ears, and now he was a chef with skills that stole the show. At this moment, *budae jjigae* was placed in front of the blonde Cara, and Woo-jin’s low voice was heard.

“Eat.”

Cara, who had been blinking her blue eyes, lowered her gaze from Woo-jin. The *budae jjigae* was steaming. But the quality was very different from the Korean restaurants in the US. Soon, she awkwardly picked up a spoon, scooped up the broth and ham of the *budae jjigae*, and put it in her mouth.

“······Ha. I knew it.”

Cara couldn’t help but exclaim.

“How can this fantastic taste be a hobby?”

On the same day, at night. Inside an airplane.

Miley Cara, with her long legs crossed, was sitting in a window seat in first class. Her chest-length blonde hair was tied up, and her face was slightly tired. Perhaps because of that, her cold image was further emphasized.

Well, it was understandable.

Cara had finished filming for the ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel a few hours ago and had moved directly to the airport, just boarding the plane. Thanks to that, she was staring blankly out the window.

At that moment.

“Cara.”

The buzz-cut manager, who sat in the empty seat next to her, spoke.

“What are your impressions of Korea, your first time here?”

Cara, with her chin resting on her hand, shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t know. My schedule was so busy. I didn’t even have time to enjoy it.”

“That’s true.”

“But today was fun. It’s the most memorable. I was also very shocked.”

“······Kang Woo-jin?”

At the large manager’s question, Cara chuckled.

“Honestly, when I heard he was doing both acting and singing, I thought he would be similar to me, but after seeing him today, he was completely different from me.”

“Well, I was surprised too.”

“Does it make sense? Such an existence is something you’d see in a superhero movie, but why is he in reality?”

“Hahaha, a hero?”

“That’s how absurd an actor he is. There isn’t an actor with that much tension in Hollywood.”

“I can’t think of one right now.”

“That’s because there isn’t one. That’s why I’m even more disappointed.”

“Huh? What?”

The blonde Cara changed the direction of her crossed legs and answered.

“Everything I saw today was a hobby, and I didn’t get to see his real job, acting.”

“Ah- you said you watched the drama he was in.”

“Didn’t you see his vocals today? It was completely different from the YouTube video. His acting will be the same.”

Miley Cara crossed her arms and stated her conclusion.

“I’ve decided, I want to work with him. No matter what.”

Her blue eyes were filled with determination.

Meanwhile.

After finishing filming with Miley Cara, Kang Woo-jin, who had a meeting with the YouTube team, appeared in the underground parking lot. His expression was calm due to the concept, but inside, he was quite tired.

‘Ugh- it’s finally over. I was so busy that I didn’t even think about resting in the subspace. I should just go home and get a full night’s sleep.’

Soon, Choi Seong-geon, who was following behind Woo-jin, spoke.

“You’re energetic, right? This kind of schedule is nothing for you. What do you want to do? I was thinking of treating the kids to some beef since they worked hard today. You’re coming too, right?”

Choi Seong-geon’s misunderstanding due to his accumulated assumptions. Therefore, Woo-jin was tempted by the beef, but he calmly shook his head.

“No, I’m going in to look at the script.”

“Really? Well, you have a lot to look at, right? But that’s so like you. You’re going in to look at the script again?”

No, actually, I’m going to get a full night’s sleep. As Woo-jin murmured inwardly, Choi Seong-geon continued to speak.

“Anyway, we’ve overcome a big hurdle. Good job. As expected, things will be a bit noisy tomorrow because of Miley Cara. We have some PR to do too. I saw you exchanging Instagrams with Miley earlier? Did you?”

“Ah- yes. She asked me to.”

“Hehe, wow- you’re probably the first Korean actor to become friends with Miley. The articles will come out right away. The reporters are like ghosts when it comes to that kind of thing.”

It was then.

“*Oppa*.”

Han Ye-jeong, with her blue bobbed hair, was standing in front of the parked van. She suddenly opened the back door of the car and gestured as if to look inside, and said in her unique cold tone.

“Ta-da.”

No, there’s too little emotion in her tone? Whatever, inside, there were several suits hanging on hangers on the seats. They looked quite luxurious.

Then, Kang Woo-jin asked calmly.

“What is it?”

The answer came not from Han Ye-jeong, but from the stylists who came out of the van.

“What do you mean! *Oppa*, it’s a tuxedo!”

“The fit and style are totally crazy, right? We were super focused on choosing these!”

“There are four in total! They have to be different for each film festival and awards ceremony.”

“Ah-”

It was the tuxedo he had only heard about. The one that great top actors, whom he had only seen on TV or YouTube, wore while walking the red carpet? Soon, Han Ye-jeong’s explanation followed.

“All from luxury brands. We didn’t even have to do any sales or lift a finger.”

She gave Kang Woo-jin a thumbs up with a nonchalant face.

“All the brands were scrambling to get to us, we just had to choose.”

Choi Seong-geon, with a deep smile, patted Woo-jin’s shoulder.

“You’re getting a lot of sponsorships now, but it’s the first time I’ve seen luxury brands rushing to a first-year actor like this. It’s all because your brand power is so strong.”

“······”

Woo-jin, who didn’t answer, took a step forward and looked down at the stacked tuxedos. It was hard to know what he was thinking thanks to his poker face, and Han Ye-jeong, with her bobbed hair, added an explanation, just in case.

“The colors and designs are all chosen to best suit your fit, but you can change them if you don’t like them.”

“Okay.”

“But since the red carpet is the main thing, black and navy are the best.”

It was then that Kang Woo-jin could realize it.

‘Wow- seriously, the red carpet? I’m going to wear this?’

He was going to walk the red carpet.

The next day, in the morning.

The Blue Dragon Film Awards officially announced the confirmed news.

『[Official] This year’s Blue Dragon Film Awards to open on December 23rd… Blue Dragon Film Awards side says, “It will be held grandly, please look forward to it”』

The opening was on the 23rd, which meant there were only 4 days left.

Meanwhile, in LA.

It was morning in Korea, but it was afternoon in LA. At this time, inside a large van driving on the streets of Hollywood, a huge black man was frowning deeply, looking down at a tablet in his hand.

It was Joseph Felton, a famous Hollywood producer.

He turned his head to the bald foreigner next to him. The crease in his brow was still deep.

“Robert, there seems to be an error in the data.”

“······That’s impossible.”

“There’s no way a filmography like this exists.”

“You’re looking at it now.”

Joseph Felton’s face was filled with bewilderment.

“Look, are you telling me to believe that an actor who hasn’t even debuted for a year dissed Hollywood?”