I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 238

Kang Woo-jin, looking at the veteran director Ahn Ga-bok, made a nonchalant declaration. Though his tone was very low, it was clearly conveyed to everyone in the small theater.

A sudden silence enveloped the small theater.

“······”

“······”

“······”

At the same time, everyone stared at Kang Woo-jin’s poker face. There were over 20 people seated in the small theater. All of them stared intently at Woo-jin. Regardless, Kang Woo-jin’s poker face remained unshaken.

That strange atmosphere lasted only for a moment.

“S-So, you’re going to do the counterpart?”

“Did Woo-jin just say that? Did I hear wrong?”

“No. I heard it too.”

The managers of the participating actors, scattered throughout the rather spacious seating area, began to stir. Their expressions were filled with various emotions: bewilderment, absurdity, doubt, embarrassment, and so on. What was he suddenly saying? Out of the blue, he was going to do the counterpart? It was such an unpredictable timing, and it was impossible to grasp his inner thoughts from Kang Woo-jin’s stoic expression.

There was a common perception of Kang Woo-jin among the managers.

Cold, arrogant, eccentric, absurd, and many other things. They had mostly only heard rumors about Woo-jin and had little direct experience with him. Still, seeing him today, he seemed to fit the rumors.

‘I thought he would just sit there and pose?’

Moreover, perhaps because of his explosive popularity, he didn’t have the aura of a rookie. His posture and attitude were also different.

But what was he suddenly thinking?

Choi Sung-gun, with his narrowed brow and ponytail, felt similarly. However, unlike the other managers, he was more curious than bewildered. Why was that lukewarm Woo-jin suddenly making such a noticeable move?

‘I thought he would definitely just stay still.’

Whatever the reason, the murmuring among the managers seated here and there gradually grew louder, and Director Ahn Ga-bok, sitting in the first row, asked Kang Woo-jin, who was sitting at the end.

“······You’re going to do the counterpart, Woo-jin?”

Kang Woo-jin, with his firm expression, replied briefly.

“Yes, Director.”

“Huh—is that so? If you do that, the evaluation will be clearer, but is it really okay?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Hmm.”

Curiosity flickered in the eyes of Director Ahn Ga-bok, with his short white hair. Conversely, Shim Han-ho, who was watching Woo-jin intently, had an unreadable expression. Then, the film company representative and the casting team manager chimed in.

“If Woo-jin suddenly does the counterpart, the atmosphere is going to be······”

“Y-You don’t have to go that far. Why did you think of that?”

Why? Woo-jin’s nonchalant thought was very simple.

‘Just because, I’m bored. And a little nervous.’

The situation was already awkward. A judge, no less. His heart had been beating faintly since earlier. Because of that, sitting still felt more like sitting on pins and needles.

‘No, there’s nothing to do even if I stay still. What am I supposed to evaluate? I don’t even know what to score. Maybe if it was a taste test at a *gukbap* [Korean soup with rice] restaurant.’

Adding to that, the strange tension made it hard to breathe. Well, the heater inside the small theater was also blasting. That’s why he came to this conclusion.

‘If that’s the case, it’s better to do the counterpart for the actors.’

Thinking about it, it was a pretty good conclusion. He could subtly abandon his duties as a judge. He could also practice acting. It included testing his abilities, and it would pass the time well. Seeing it this way, Kang Woo-jin judged that acting was several times better.

‘Okay, confirmed.’

At that moment, Director Ahn Ga-bok’s old voice, taking over the film company representative’s words, was heard again.

“Woo-jin, is there a reason why you want to do the counterpart?”

Since he couldn’t say it was because he was bored, Woo-jin put on a solemn face and made up an excuse. Of course, he lowered his voice as much as possible.

“I thought I could see it more clearly than from this seat.”

Honestly, he just threw out whatever came to mind to fit the situation. But for some reason, Director Ahn Ga-bok’s eyes widened slightly at the answer.

“!!”

Then, he smiled subtly, his wrinkles showing.

‘See it clearly—I see.’

He slowly scanned the managers in the back seats and then whispered to Shim Han-ho, who was sitting right next to him.

“He’s trying to show those complainers.”

“’I think I can see it clearly’······Hmm, I think he means he’ll show them while watching.”

He was referring to the controversial issue of ‘Kang Woo-jin as a judge.’ In fact, many actors had given up after the news spread that Woo-jin was a judge, not just an audition for a top actor. The controversy was still prevalent among the actors, and the actors and managers who were participating now still hadn’t shaken off their discomfort.

Director Ahn Ga-bok judged that Kang Woo-jin was trying to show his worth regarding that. The veteran’s sharp judgment.

“It implies that he’s showing ‘why I’m sitting in the judge’s seat.’”

No, it was a sharp misunderstanding. A delusion. That delusion spread to the film company representative and the casting manager, beyond Shim Han-ho. Everyone looked at Woo-jin with widened eyes.

Kang Woo-jin worried inwardly without changing his expression.

‘What, what is it?? Was it too much?? Did I go too far? Should I take it back?’

They were looking at different points, but strangely, the situation progressed smoothly. Director Ahn Ga-bok smiled, his wrinkles showing, as he looked at Woo-jin. Then, he gestured towards the stage.

“Then, shall we ask you to do it?”

A lead actor, who was on par with the great actor Shim Han-ho, was going to do the counterpart? As a director, there was no reason to refuse. He even joked with Shim Han-ho.

“Haha, Woo-jin is going to do the counterpart—the actors auditioning today will have to put some extra effort in.”

Soon, Kang Woo-jin got up nonchalantly. He slowly walked onto the stage, rolling up the sleeves of his gray knit sweater. The concept was strong, and the weight was considerable.

At that moment.

“······Woo-jin.”

The expressionless Shim Han-ho asked Kang Woo-jin, who was going up on the small theater stage.

“The side script.”

Ah, he had forgotten and left the side script at his seat. Woo-jin, thinking, ‘Oh well?’ replied in a low voice.

“It’s okay.”

“You can do it without looking?”

“That’s better.”

“······”

‘That’s better?’ Shim Han-ho’s brow twitched. Kang Woo-jin’s laziness was a big deal to the great actor Shim Han-ho, and the film company representative, with an awkward smile, spoke to Woo-jin on the stage. He also glanced at the managers in the back.

“W-Woo-jin. You don’t have to overdo it. Just do it moderately, moderately.”

“No.”

But Director Ahn Ga-bok cut him off.

“Do as you please, Woo-jin. You can do it according to the scenario you analyzed, or you can give it a variation.”

He was telling him to unleash his full potential.

After that.

Around the time Kang Woo-jin went up on the small theater stage, the news was also delivered to the top-tier actors in each waiting room. The staff was quick, and then the managers who had witnessed the situation from their seats made the calls. There were about a dozen actors participating in today’s audition.

All of them widened their eyes.

Including Jin Jae-jun, the first in line, who was playing the ‘drug dealer.’

“W-Woo-jin is going to······do the audition counterpart? Suddenly?”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Kang Woo-jin is probably on stage right now. You can go right away.”

“Ah—yes, wait a minute.”

“Yes?”

“Let me calm down.”

Or the top actress Hong Hye-yeon.

“Really? Woo-jin said that himself??”

“I’m not sure about that······”

“Ha—what is it? If I do it poorly, I’ll be in trouble.”

“Yes??”

“No, I understand.”

And Hwa-rin too.

“······Woo-jin is doing it himself?”

Of course, the other male and female actors, except for them, were in an uproar.

“What, what did you say? No, didn’t they say that Kang Woo-jin was just going to be a judge?”

“W-Well, it was decided on the spot.”

“It’s a bit embarrassing. I thought I was preparing for a solo performance, but if there’s a counterpart, I have to change it.”

“I’m sorry, should I talk to the director?”

“Ah… no, it’s not that. I understand for now.”

The reactions varied, but they all had one thing in common.

“Ugh—this is driving me crazy.”

The pressure had increased tenfold. That was all it took for the word to spread that Kang Woo-jin, an actor of just one year, was going to do the counterpart.

“Is it right that it suddenly became a minefield! I never even thought about acting in front of Kang Woo-jin!”

However, the stellar actors were in a panic as if a fire had fallen on their feet. They all vaguely recognized it.

“Kang Woo-jin······Kang Woo-jin as the counterpart. Ha, it’s difficult, I have no idea what to expect.”

The current audition had turned into a war zone. How would the eccentric Kang Woo-jin act as a counterpart? In other words, Woo-jin was now instilling tension in several renowned actors while also putting psychological pressure on them. Of course, it wasn’t intentional.

Anyway, the hurdle for the audition had risen sharply.

Meanwhile, the first top actor of the audition entered the small theater.

-Swish.

It was Jin Jae-jun, with his sharp features. He was wearing a white shirt to match the role he had prepared. He scanned the heavy interior of the small theater. First, he greeted the judges, such as Director Ahn Ga-bok and Shim Han-ho. Then, he turned his head towards the stage.

A monster was standing there nonchalantly.

‘······This is driving me crazy.’

No, it was Kang Woo-jin. His expression was calm, but his eyes were dazzling, perhaps because of the lighting. It felt like meeting the last boss in a starting village in a game. At least, that’s how Jin Jae-jun felt.

“Woo-jin.”

He went up on stage and said quietly to Kang Woo-jin.

“Please take care of me.”

“Please take care of me, senior.”

It had been quite a while since the two had met after ‘Drug Dealer,’ but the greetings were brief. Their positions were also different.

‘I’m the challenger, and Woo-jin is the lead. In the blink of an eye.’

In less than half a year, the lead and cameo from ‘Drug Dealer’ had now become the opposite. What kind of crazy speed was this? But Jin Jae-jun didn’t have time to be impressed.

“Jae-jun, what scene did you prepare?”

Director Ahn Ga-bok’s comment was thrown out. The side scripts that were given to the actors auditioning were not just one cut. There were a total of three types of cuts, and the actors would select and show one of them. Therefore, Jin Jae-jun had chosen the cut he wanted, and Director Ahn Ga-bok slowly nodded and replied in a low voice.

“Okay. Tell me when you’re ready.”

Jin Jae-jun, nodding, calmed his mind. He took a small breath. He put the side script he was holding on the floor. Then, he looked straight ahead. He saw Kang Woo-jin with a cynical face.

There was no side script in his hands or around him.

‘······Is he not even looking at the script?’

Jin Jae-jun knew Kang Woo-jin’s absurd reading skills well. During the filming of ‘Drug Dealer,’ he had mastered the changed scenario in just 10 minutes. So, it would be the same this time.

Kang Woo-jin and Jin Jae-jun’s situations were not the same.

Unlike Jin Jae-jun, who only had to practice one scene from the pre-distributed side script, Kang Woo-jin had to show different scenes for each actor on the spot. Moreover, the roles of the counterparts were all different.

At this moment.

‘Huh? Wait a minute.’

Jin Jae-jun realized.

‘The fact that he’s doing the counterpart for all the actors means that······Woo-jin is going to play not only Park Ha-sung but also Chairman Yoon Jung-bae and other roles? He can handle all of them?’

It was an absurd conclusion. But soon, Jin Jae-jun shook his head slightly. No matter how much of a monster Kang Woo-jin was, could he really go that far?

‘It’s understandable that Woo-jin is playing Park Ha-sung, but he’ll probably just give the lines for Chairman Yoon Jung-bae and the other roles.’

This was the same thought that everyone in the small theater, except for Jin Jae-jun, had. Director Ahn Ga-bok, Shim Han-ho, and others. Especially the managers, who had already come to a firm conclusion.

‘It’s impossible for him to handle the other roles.’

‘How many schedules does he have? It’s crazy to think he knows all of them, he’ll just give the lines roughly.’

‘No way······Leaving the side script behind is just a bluff.’

Regardless.

“I’m ready, Director.”

As Jin Jae-jun, with a firm expression, murmured, Director Ahn Ga-bok, showing a thumbs up, gave a small signal.

“Hi—action.”

The role that Jin Jae-jun, the first in line, was trying to get was ‘Yoon Ja-ho,’ the eldest son of the *chaebol* [family-owned conglomerate] family that was the background of ‘Leech.’ Among the three children, he was the most power-hungry. Jin Jae-jun, embodying ‘Yoon Ja-ho,’ changed his gaze.

Annoyance and meanness were evident.

“······”

His posture also changed. He was upright and proper, but he expressed his arrogance by putting one hand in his pocket. His opponent this time was Park Ha-sung. Kang Woo-jin had already pulled up Park Ha-sung from the moment he heard the scene that Jin Jae-jun had chosen.

From his brain to the blood flowing through his body, he was Park Ha-sung himself.

However.

‘Just by looking at his posture, he came to pick a fight.’

The current Park Ha-sung was not the mindset of Park Ha-sung in the early part of ‘Leech.’ It had been altered and transformed. The soul that wrapped around Woo-jin’s body was turbid. He was Park Ha-sung, but not Park Ha-sung. The eyes that were full of defeatism were nowhere to be seen.

Rather, his desire was soaring to the sky.

It was natural since the current scene was after some time had passed.

Kang Woo-jin’s vision, with his overflowing desire in his eyes, was no longer the stage. The lights disappeared, the screen in the back disappeared, and the platform was erased like smoke. The world that Kang Woo-jin was currently seeing was the yard of a huge mansion. Well-maintained grass was laid out. Round trees were also planted here and there.

Park Ha-sung and Yoon Ja-ho faced each other in the middle.

Yoon Ja-ho, the eldest son of the *chaebol* family, opened his mouth first, sneering.

“How is mother doing these days?”

“······”

However, Yoon Ja-ho, or Kang Woo-jin, just stared at Yoon Ja-ho without answering. He even seemed relaxed. Then.

-Swish.

Turning his body, he grabbed a white chair nearby and pulled it. The sound of it dragging on the grass spread. Of course, to the ears of Director Ahn Ga-bok, Shim Han-ho, and others in the small theater, it was a screeching sound. Because Kang Woo-jin had dragged a steel chair from one side of the stage.

Kang Woo-jin, sitting on the chair, crossed his legs. Then, he lightly replied to Yoon Ja-ho.

“Madam. No, mother is doing very well.”

“······What? Mother?”

“That’s what she told me to call her, mother did.”

It was a lie. But there was no way to confirm it.

“Ha—this is driving me crazy. Hey, servant. Watch your words.”

“I just said it as it is. Ah—then should I call you brother?”

Jin Jae-jun, with a cold face, put his hand on Woo-jin’s shoulder.

“Watch your words.”

“If it’s still hard to adjust, I’ll do it later. Mother also told me to take it slow.”

“Don’t call her mother.”

Jin Jae-jun grabbed Woo-jin’s collar roughly. But Woo-jin, smiling slightly, just accepted it. He just opened his mouth.

“Mother will be sad.”

“······”

Jin Jae-jun, who had been glaring at Woo-jin, roughly let go of his collar. Then, he poked Kang Woo-jin’s face with his index finger.

“Hey, if you’re a servant, act like a servant. Just suck blood like a leech. Don’t try to step into another world for no reason.”

Kang Woo-jin sat back on the chair. The difference in height between Jin Jae-jun and Woo-jin was created again. Then, Kang Woo-jin looked up and calmly replied.

“Are we in a different space right now? We’re in the same place.”

Yoon Ja-ho gritted his teeth. Here, Kang Woo-jin turned his face to the right. In the first-floor living room window of the huge mansion, he could see himself sitting in the chair.

Of course, Yoon Ja-ho too.

Anyone would see them as people of this house. Kang Woo-jin slightly raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at himself in the window.

“We’re together, aren’t we?”

Yoon Ja-ho. No, Jin Jae-jun narrowed his brow. Because he could also see the yard of the mansion, not the stage, in his eyes. The Kang Woo-jin effect. A slight chill ran down his arm.

‘I expected it—but as expected, Woo-jin has no intention of doing it roughly. To bring out the hidden side of Park Ha-sung so quickly.’

And the great actor Shim Han-ho, who was staring intently at Kang Woo-jin on the stage, murmured quietly.

“······Ripley Syndrome.”

At the same time, at DM Production.

In the largest conference room of DM Production, a new production company that was in the midst of producing ‘The Beneficial Evil,’ PD Song Man-woo, with his beard, was seen. He was sitting in the middle of the U-shaped table, with his back to the window. The key staff of ‘The Beneficial Evil’ were also with him on both sides.

The interesting thing was.

“PD-nim.”

Among the guests sitting opposite PD Song Man-woo, a familiar-looking woman was sitting. It was Kim So-hyang, the head director of Netflix, with a relaxed smile. She leaned her body slightly forward.

“How about opening the project you’re preparing now on our Netflix, instead of a broadcasting station?”

She said definitively to PD Song Man-woo.

“Of course, with a worldwide launch.”