I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 232

When Kang Woo-jin first spoke with Asami Yusako, who was not only his ardent fan but also dreamed of becoming a voice actress, he already knew.

‘Do you have a favorite work?’

‘Ah! Mine is ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’!’

He knew the OST [Original Soundtrack] of the world-famous animation ‘Howl’s Moving Castle,’ specifically the song ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life.’ He could play it on the piano right away. It wasn’t just ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life.’ Other famous OST scores from ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ immediately popped into Kang Woo-jin’s head.

It was because of his 100% acquired piano skills.

Of course, Woo-jin had heard the OST of ‘Howl’s Moving Castle,’ but he had never seen the sheet music. Yet, it was vivid. As if he had played it on the piano thousands of times.

His fingers were itching.

It was after that when Kang Woo-jin discovered the white piano in the restaurant. A huge restaurant, with many guests chatting or enjoying their meals, and restaurant staff busily working in between.

In the middle of it all, a grand piano was placed.

‘Something about it—it’s cool?’

The white piano looked expensive and was sparkling. Its mere presence was eye-catching, and since there was no one playing it, it was as if it was inviting Woo-jin to sit down and play.

So, is that piano playable?

Honestly, at first, Woo-jin thought the white piano was just for the restaurant’s aesthetic. Was it just for decoration? Kang Woo-jin asked the female employee guiding him in low Japanese.

“Is that piano for display?”

The female employee, perhaps seeing an actor for the first time, stuttered shyly.

“Ah, no. It’s not being used right now. A pianist will come and play later.”

There was a regular pianist. It meant it wasn’t time for the performance yet. So, Kang Woo-jin sat down at the table with the ‘Strange Sacrifice’ crew. The actors greeted him and showered him with questions, but Woo-jin’s gaze was fixed on the piano in the center of the restaurant.

‘It’s bothering me.’

If it wasn’t there, he wouldn’t have known, but now that he saw the piano, he kept looking at it. He also remembered the piano in the high school music room, which was the filming location for ‘Strange Sacrifice’ a few days ago. Then, Woo-jin murmured to himself, as if talking to himself. Of course, in his mind.

‘Should I play it?’

It was a very simple thought. A moderate curiosity and the attention it would draw. That white piano also looked to be in very good condition. Unlike the piano in the music room, it would produce a smooth sound. Moreover, Kang Woo-jin didn’t have many opportunities to play the piano.

However, if he played the piano here, whether it was a misunderstanding or not, it would lead to more troublesome things.

So what?

So what if it did? Kang Woo-jin knew it well, but it wasn’t a big deal. He had already come this far, right? Woo-jin’s surroundings had long been a swamp of misunderstandings. It would just make the swamp a little heavier.

-Swish.

Woo-jin looked at the girl Asami Yusako, who was sitting near the entrance and had reminded him of his younger sister, Kang Hyun-ah. She was happily talking with her family. The song should be ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life,’ right? It was the most famous and popular of the OSTs from her favorite work. It was both to support the girl’s dream and as a birthday gift. In fact, for Woo-jin, it was more of a sincere act than fan service.

In other words, it wasn’t calculated.

Then, he turned his gaze to Director Kyotaro across the table.

‘Come to think of it, the director also asked me to play the piano once.’

It was truly killing two birds with one stone. Kang Woo-jin got up from his seat without hesitation. Even in his concept, he had a strong ‘no backing down’ vibe, but originally, Kang Woo-jin’s personality wasn’t one to dwell on things for long. Tomorrow is tomorrow. If a problem arises, then it will be dealt with then.

When he asked a staff member who seemed to be the restaurant manager, they said it was okay to play.

“A-Are you, Kang Woo-jin-nim, going to play yourself?”

“Yes. Is it okay?”

“Of course. But do you have any experience playing the piano…?”

“Well, maybe?”

“Pardon?”

That was how the piano melody began. Kang Woo-jin was simply tapping the white and black keys.

-♬♪

The piano performance of ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ resounded grandly in the restaurant. Naturally, the heads of the guests in the restaurant turned one by one. Towards Kang Woo-jin, who was sitting at the white piano. The reaction was fast. In a matter of seconds, all the guests’ eyes were on Woo-jin.

It was because the piano melody they heard was too fantastic to ignore.

-♬♪

The melody that melted their ears easily surpassed the level of someone who had learned for a year or two. The guests were simply mesmerized and unconsciously lost in the music.

“…Nice.”

“Wow… he’s good.”

“Hee- amazing?”

Even a dozen or so restaurant staff stopped working.

Yes, it was as if time had stopped only in this restaurant in the world.

“……”

“……”

“……”

That was how it started, but gradually a different atmosphere formed. Who is it? Who is that black-haired man? Who is playing the piano? Dozens of guests were curious about the man playing the piano. Of course, they quickly realized it was Kang Woo-jin.

“That man… Kang Woo-jin??”

“Kang Woo-jin? Didn’t he just come in and join the actors over there? He was definitely by the window.”

“Why is Kang Woo-jin playing the piano?”

Their shock doubled.

“Oh, my god. Kang Woo-jin is playing the piano?”

“Amazing, so amazing??”

But Kang Woo-jin’s performance became even more dazzling.

-♬♪

The shock mixed with the extraordinary.

“That Korean actor—was he originally a pianist?”

He was so good. It was as if this place was a large hall and a concert was being held.

The climax and then the fading piano sound.

The grand atmosphere was filled with tension. The pervasive excitement faded, but the guests couldn’t take their eyes off Kang Woo-jin. It was because of the anticipation for the next climax. His piano playing had an amazing control of tempo.

And then, the girl in the wheelchair. Asami Yusako’s eyes welled up with tears.

“…I, I said I liked ‘Howl’s Moving Castle.’ That’s why Kang Woo-jin-nim is playing that song for me. Mom, Dad. I really don’t think I’ll ever forget today. How can I forget such a gift…”

He looked radiant. That noble man playing the piano so calmly. It was amazing that such a being existed in the world. Even if it was a dream, it was okay. It was enough if she could just remember this feeling, this emotion.

In the end, Yusako had to wipe her eyes.

However, the girl’s parents had no time to comfort her.

“Is that what actors are usually like? No, it’s not. He’s playing the piano for a fan’s birthday, a fan he’s only exchanged a few words with…”

“Beyond being an actor, his humanity itself is amazing.”

The parents were in a state of shock from the gratitude and thankfulness they had never experienced before. It was enough to wash away all the things they had to endure in their wheelchair-bound daughter’s growth.

The girl’s father and mother also had tears in their eyes.

-♬♪

The piano that resonated with their hearts. Some of the guests in the restaurant were the same. For some reason, they were wiping away tears. They were reminded of their past while looking at Woo-jin. Although the melody they heard was the same, the emotions that settled in everyone were different.

Some were reminded of the past, some of the present, some of the future, some of loved ones, and some of their current wounds.

Those who weren’t were filming Kang Woo-jin. Either recording videos or taking pictures. Some guests had been filming from the beginning, while others started from the middle or from now.

“This is—a rare sight. Where else could you see this?”

It was true. An actor, and a famous Korean actor at that, was in Japan playing the piano. Captivating people’s souls.

It was a scene only possible in imagination.

Around this time, someone slowly entered the restaurant filled with the piano melody.

-Swish.

“…Huh?”

A woman with her hair tied up. It was the pianist who was supposed to come. By the time she arrived, Woo-jin’s performance was nearing its end, and she stopped to listen to the performance, unknowingly. Then, she suddenly narrowed her brows. She asked a male employee who was standing stiffly nearby.

“What is it? Did you hire another pianist besides me?”

“Yes? Ah—no. That person is Kang Woo-jin-ssi.”

“Wh-Who?”

“Kang Woo-jin-ssi. An actor, that Korean actor.”

“No… I know that. But is that the piano skill of an actor?”

That was the moment.

-♬♪

The piano melody that had been gradually fading suddenly stopped. Kang Woo-jin’s performance had ended. But no one in the restaurant moved right away. It was because they were still soaked in the emotion, the excitement.

“……”

“……”

Soon.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin, who had been sitting at the white piano, got up with a silent face. It was then that dozens of guests were able to come to their senses, and the sound of applause first spread from the entrance.

-Clap clap clap clap!

It was Asami Yusako and her parents. The three of them were busy applauding Kang Woo-jin. Naturally, all the guests also stood up.

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

The restaurant was filled with applause and praise. It was all sincere. They were expressing their intense gratitude to Kang Woo-jin, who had comforted them in a short moment and presented them with a sensational sight. Where else could you see such a scene if not in a movie?

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

In between, words of thanks, gratitude, best, and amazing were mixed in. Kang Woo-jin’s indifferent face in front of the piano remained, but inside, he was extremely embarrassed.

‘Oh—wow, what should I do in this situation? Should I just stand here?’

Although it was only a few dozen people applauding, it felt like thousands were applauding to Woo-jin. Ah—right, let’s just greet them. Woo-jin, with a strong poker face, gave a small greeting to everyone. Then, he turned his gaze to the entrance.

He made eye contact with Asami Yusako.

That was all he wanted to say. Happy birthday. He was cheering for her future dreams. Yusako, who understood his meaning, bowed to Woo-jin several times while sitting in her wheelchair.

The only words the girl could say were:

“Thank you, thank you.”

Of course, not everyone in the restaurant knew the story of Kang Woo-jin and the girl.

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

Not yet.

After that.

The applause in the restaurant for Kang Woo-jin continued. Meanwhile, the ‘Strange Sacrifice’ team by the window were frozen. Except for a few actors who were clapping, they couldn’t even move.

It was because they were so astonished.

Mihuyu, who was looking at Woo-jin, who had been sitting next to her until just now, seemed completely smitten with Kang Woo-jin.

“This is crazy, how is that just basic level? What is it? That’s cheating. He’s too cool?”

The other Japanese actresses were no different. They had the same expressions. Director Kyotaro, with his gray hair, had a similar expression to the actresses, but what he was feeling was different.

‘God-like acting, Japanese, sign language. His singing is also top-notch. He has so many abilities, but what is that piano skill? Why…?’

Director Kyotaro couldn’t understand it at all. No, isn’t it realistically impossible? But that impossibility was unfolding before his eyes. There is no formula, but the answer exists? I don’t know. I can’t understand.

Then, Director Kyotaro came to a similar conclusion as Choi Sung-gun.

‘Y-Yeah. The important thing is that Woo-jin-ssi exists anyway. That’s enough. Yes.’

He gave up on trying to understand. He just decided to accept whatever he saw.

Around this time.

“What the heck is this—”

Choi Sung-gun rushed into the restaurant. Whether he heard the news late or not, he was wearing comfortable clothes and slippers, as if he had come in a hurry. Choi Sung-gun paused for a moment at the sight of the guests in the restaurant standing up and applauding, then quickly moved to Kang Woo-jin in front of the piano.

Understanding the situation could wait, getting out of there was the priority.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin and Choi Sung-gun barely escaped the restaurant. As soon as they got into the elevator, Choi Sung-gun asked Woo-jin.

“What is it?? What happened? Why are the guests applauding you—did you put on a performance there??”

He asked urgently, but Kang Woo-jin’s answer was low and concise.

“I just played a song I knew because there was a piano.”

“…What did you play?”

“The piano.”

“The piano.”

“Yes, I got a hint for the song from the girl fan I saw earlier.”

No, that’s not what he was asking? It was more of a ‘what do you mean suddenly a piano?’ kind of look, but Choi Sung-gun, who took a long deep breath, didn’t express his inner thoughts. It wasn’t the first time this had happened.

Asking would only destroy common sense.

“Ah—okay. Right, the piano. You played a song you knew.”

“Yes.”

“It just so happened that there was a piano in that restaurant.”

“That’s right.”

“Okay, the piano. Th-that was good.”

“Thank you.”

Meanwhile.

“Wow!! Kang Woo-jin!”

“Amazing! To see something like that! Did you film it??”

“Of course!”

“I wanted to hear one more song!”

“I’m a Kang Woo-jin fan from today.”

The restaurant that Kang Woo-jin had left was.

“He must have played the piano from the beginning, and then switched to acting.”

“With that skill, he would have performed in concerts. Should we look it up??”

It was filled with talk about him.

Two days later, January 31st. Sunday.

The sunlight shining through the window. Thanks to that sunlight, the dust that was barely visible danced gently, settling on the various instruments lined up by the window.

It was a music room.

And it was quiet. The faint smell of wood and the sound of the wind blowing through the slightly open window were all there was. Occasionally, the beige curtains fluttered thanks to the wind.

That was the moment.

“Hi—Q.”

At the same time as the voice was heard from somewhere, the closed door of the music room creaked open. Someone came in. It was about 10 seconds later that his dry footsteps, which had been still by the door, moved. Tap, tap, tap.

-Clack.

Someone sat in front of the old black piano. His movements were slow, and he slowly raised his hand and placed it on the lid. He didn’t open the lid. He just placed his hand on it.

As if some memory would be injected if he opened the lid.

“……”

But he eventually opened the piano lid. The white and black keys lined up in order were visible. The scratches on it made it seem quite old.

Then, he placed both hands on the keys.

-Swoosh.

No, it was ‘Iyota Kiyoshi.’

End