I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 254

Kang Woo-jin felt a slight nervousness from the moment he arrived at the script reading for ‘Leech.’ He was even the first to arrive, making him the only actor present. Although he had participated in numerous script readings before, so it wasn’t a new experience, he always found it challenging to immediately adapt to unfamiliar environments and people.

It was especially so since it had been a while since his last script reading.

‘Ugh, being here all alone is so awkward. Can someone please come?’

Of course, Woo-jin, trying to conceal his pounding heart, pretended to study the script with a serious expression, but there was no way he could concentrate. Today, his outward appearance and inner thoughts were unusually at odds.

‘Isn’t the reading room a bit too big?’

Director Ahn Ga-bok, a giant in the Korean film industry, was on set, and the actors participating were all top-tier veterans and stars.

And then.

“Woo-jin, you’re here very early? I guess you came early to review the script?”

“That must be it. Just looking at his focused expression, you can tell. By the way, did you see Woo-jin’s acting as the opposite role during the audition?”

“Of course, I saw it. All the staff were completely blown away that day.”

Perhaps because of Kang Woo-jin’s performance as the opposite role during the ‘Leech’ audition, the gazes of the dozens of staff members hurrying to set up the script reading were intense. The gazes of the key staff, film company, and distribution company officials who entered later were similar.

“Kang Woo-jin is here? Isn’t there about an hour left before the script reading starts?”

“I heard he seems tough on the outside but is actually quite soft on the inside.”

“That’s unexpected… With all the ultra-level issues and how he dominated the audition atmosphere, I thought he’d be a bit arrogant.”

“Ah, I heard Woo-jin caused a stir by acting as the opposite role during the audition?”

The gazes were piercing. Should he have held back a bit more during the audition? No, he thought he had held back? As the tension slowly grew, Woo-jin felt a tingling sensation in his lower abdomen.

‘I need to fart.’

He could do it silently, but when Woo-jin, reminded of a past mistake, silently tightened his sphincter.

“Hello, Woo-jin.”

Han So-jin appeared. Woo-jin, who had been alone the whole time, was secretly glad to see her. He wanted to smile and say he was lonely, but his persona prevented him.

‘I felt it during the audition last time too, but her beauty is insane.’

However, Han So-jin had a strangely competitive personality.

“Yes. That’s why I’ve become more determined. I want to surpass you, Woo-jin, no matter what.”

Why does this woman declare that she’ll win and surpass him every time she sees him? Is she a war maniac? Woo-jin decided to just ignore it. As time passed, more actors arrived. Many supporting actors, Jin Jae-joon, Oh Hee-ryung, and others, and Kang Woo-jin’s persona became even more intense. Honestly, when the tension was high, it was more comfortable if no one talked to him.

It was easier because people tended to avoid him when he acted tough.

Around that time.

-Swoosh.

The natural man. No, the veteran actor Shim Han-ho appeared. He exuded a rough aura and walked straight towards Woo-jin. Kang Woo-jin stood up with dignity, but inside, he was startled to see Shim Han-ho right in front of him.

‘Huh?!! Wow, what is this? Shim Han-ho’s presence is amazing!!’

The stubble on his face and Shim Han-ho’s overall image had changed drastically. He exuded a masculine scent. He already had a tiger-like feel, but with his appearance like this, he was radiating the energy of a beast.

Woo-jin, captivated by him, lowered his voice.

“Hello, senior.”

Shim Han-ho’s reply was heavy and short.

“My acting might be a bit fierce today.”

Kang Woo-jin was genuinely impressed. Wow, his line is like something out of a movie! That was his reaction, of course, internally. Perhaps because of the strong scent of a beast or a male, Shim Han-ho’s current line was perfect.

‘So cool. That’s the aura of a veteran actor!’

Amazing, so amazing. To be able to witness Shim Han-ho’s presence up close. Furthermore, Woo-jin thought he should learn from him. That sense of weight and atmosphere. Shim Han-ho was the real deal, not just acting, but if he remembered this form, he could use it effectively for his tough act later.

Now it was Kang Woo-jin’s turn.

Was it because he had witnessed such a powerful aura? Kang Woo-jin felt a surge of competitiveness. He wanted to show this beast in front of him the best persona he could. He put on an extreme level of brazenness and lowered his voice to the lowest level.

His heart was moved, and he suddenly gained momentum.

But what should he say? He said his acting would be fierce, so—’I’ll try to tame you well?’ No, that was too much. In the end, Woo-jin maintained a bit of arrogance and politeness.

“Yes, I’ll take it well.”

He threw a straight fastball without any hesitation. Kang Woo-jin tried to maintain his composure and repeated his mind control.

‘Ugh, don’t waver.’

It was amateurish to avoid eye contact here. Woo-jin, who replied in a cold tone, did not avoid the eyes of the veteran actor Shim Han-ho. There was a moment of silence.

“……”

“……”

Neither Kang Woo-jin nor Shim Han-ho spoke, they just exchanged glances. Shim Han-ho’s calm gaze. He was a real beast, and Woo-jin was just putting on a show, with his fur bristled up. But no one in the reading room noticed this.

Thanks to the build-up of misunderstandings he had accumulated so far.

Whatever it was, the reading room instantly turned into an ice rink. A huge tension surged. Dozens of staff members looked at each other, and the actors maintained blank expressions. Meanwhile, Han So-jin, who was standing across from Woo-jin and Shim Han-ho, was screaming internally.

‘No! K, Kang Woo-jin! Is he really doing that?!! That’s way too direct???!’

Of course, it was a scream directed at the unyielding Woo-jin. In her eyes, it looked like a beast and a monster were growling at each other. But how is that even possible? Shim Han-ho was a legend among legends in the acting world. Even Director Ahn Ga-bok would give him respect.

But Kang Woo-jin didn’t falter at all.

At that moment.

“Oh my.”

Oh Hee-ryung, who was sitting to Han So-jin’s right, muttered with a strange smile.

“He’s bold?”

Han So-jin, with wide eyes, asked with difficulty.

“……Yes?”

“I’m talking about Woo-jin. Doesn’t he seem like a character we’ve never seen before?”

“Ah-”

“If you see senior Shim Han-ho’s aura in front of you, you’d usually be intimidated, but he’s just calm~ I heard he’s from overseas, is that true?”

“Huh? Overseas?”

Just as Han So-jin was stepping into the swamp of misunderstandings, the murmuring of the reporters gathered at the entrance of the reading room grew louder.

“Woah—what’s going on? Is it a scoop? Should we take a picture?”

“Are you crazy? Do you want to get kicked out for taking that?”

“Uh, we have to stop them anyway. Why are you all just standing there?”

Suddenly.

“They’re just frozen by the unfamiliar situation.”

An old voice penetrated from behind the reporters. It was the veteran director Ahn Ga-bok, who had arrived unnoticed. At his appearance, the reporters almost shouted in unison.

“Ah! Director…”

But it was cut off. Because Director Ahn Ga-bok put his index finger to his lips. He then looked back at Kang Woo-jin and Shim Han-ho inside the reading room. Director Ahn Ga-bok was surrounded by about six staff members, including the assistant director, and the anxious assistant director spoke in a low voice.

“Director, I’ll mediate. There’s going to be an accident.”

But Director Ahn Ga-bok shook his head with a relaxed smile.

“If we get involved in those monsters’ battle of nerves, we’ll just get hurt.”

“……Yes?”

“I’m saying just leave them alone.”

“B, but still.”

“A jungle is better than a gentlemanly set.”

On the other hand, the assistant director and staff were restless. Director Ahn Ga-bok gestured for them to calm down.

“It’s okay, leave them be. That will only ignite the actors. Kang Woo-jin has established a standard for ‘Leech’ acting, and Shim Han-ho has set off the fuse at the starting point of ‘Leech’. A battle of nerves between the two top leads. Where else can you find such a stimulant?”

Soon, Director Ahn Ga-bok pointed his index finger at the two monsters.

“Look, in this scene, aren’t those two the only ones who are ‘Park Ha-sung’ and ‘Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’?”

After that.

Among Kang Woo-jin and Shim Han-ho, who were exchanging intense gazes while everyone watched, it was Shim Han-ho, wearing the mask of a beast, who broke the tension first.

“You’ll take it well, huh—”

The stubble-faced man suddenly showed a faint smile on his stiff face. It almost seemed like he was intrigued.

“You answered immediately without even thinking for a second. There’s a lot to learn.”

“It was meant as a ‘I’ll do my best’ kind of thing.”

“Me too.”

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

At this point, the chilly battle of nerves ended. Kang Woo-jin bowed his head slightly, and Shim Han-ho, who received the greeting, slowly moved to the seat opposite Woo-jin. Oh Hee-ryung, with a smile, said to Shim Han-ho as he pulled out his chair.

“Senior, aren’t you tightening the belt too much from the start? Look, everyone’s frozen. Ugh—it’s cold.”

Shim Han-ho, letting down his tied-back long hair, spoke in a deep voice.

“I just said what needed to be said.”

Oh Hee-ryung was fine, but most of the actors couldn’t relax. In particular, Han So-jin, who was in the third seat, was actually rolling her eyes in a daze. It was this overwhelming situation that was broken by.

“Has everyone arrived?”

It was Director Ahn Ga-bok who entered at the perfect timing. The short-haired man received everyone’s greetings and sat at the head of the zero-shaped table. Soon, Director Ahn Ga-bok scanned the entire reading room. Dozens of actors from ‘Leech’, staff members, film company and distribution company officials. Director Ahn Ga-bok, slowly looking at the crowd of over a hundred people.

-Swoosh.

Quietly murmured.

“Let’s begin.”

At the same time, the reporters raised their cameras, and the cameras placed throughout the reading room also started operating. The start of the script reading was, of course, with introductions.

“Actor Shim Han-ho, in the role of ‘Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’.”

Of course, Director Ahn Ga-bok was in charge of handling it.

“Actor Kang Woo-jin, in the role of ‘Park Ha-sung’.”

The atmosphere was generally heavy.

“Actress Oh Hee-ryung, in the role of ‘Yoo Hyun-ji’.”

Short introductions and greetings from the actors. It lasted for about 30 minutes, and after the introduction of Director Ahn Ga-bok, who was sitting at the head of the table, was finished.

-Flap.

Director Ahn Ga-bok opened the first page of the ‘Leech’ script. The actors, as well as everyone around the zero-shaped table, did the same.

During the reading, the stage directions and the lines of actors who were not participating were read by Director Ahn Ga-bok.

“1, Park Ha-sung’s monologue.”

Kang Woo-jin was the first actor to speak. Of course, after bringing out ‘Park Ha-sung’.

“I don’t know anymore, who I am. Who I exist as. I’ve lost my way…”

It was a rather long monologue. But no one’s posture was out of place. Everyone listened intently to Woo-jin’s monologue. Because it was the voice that pierced through the theme of ‘Leech’.

Then, the scene changed.

The cuts shown as a director were roughly skipped with Director Ahn Ga-bok’s comments. One page after another. After about three pages of the script, Kang Woo-jin spoke again. It was a scene looking into the early life of ‘Park Ha-sung’. The lines were exchanged between Kang Woo-jin and Director Ahn Ga-bok. It was about 15 minutes before other actors appeared.

Oh Hee-ryung, who had been smiling continuously, suddenly changed her energy completely.

She had entered ‘Yoo Hyun-ji’.

She was indeed a veteran of the veteran actor class. Her usual self was nowhere to be seen. The atmosphere around Oh Hee-ryung was also different. After Director Ahn Ga-bok’s stage direction explanation, the first meeting between Kang Woo-jin and Oh Hee-ryung took place.

However.

“……”

“……”

There were no lines between the two. From the beginning, the two actors only communicated in sign language, so it was natural. There were no words, but their hands were busy. But it wasn’t just sign language that was visible. The movement of the upper body, gaze, facial expressions, changes in the eyes, nose, and mouth, etc.

Kang Woo-jin and Oh Hee-ryung had to convey the situation only through emotions, and of course, there was no awkwardness at all.

The actors other than Jin Jae-joon and Han So-jin were shocked.

‘The level is high. Even with just sign language… the situation is understood. The expressions and acting must be replacing the lines.’

‘Kang Woo-jin—this is crazy, I thought maybe because Park Ha-sung uses sign language, but his acting is absurd, and he’s even doing sign language at this level?’

To be precise, everyone gathered in this reading room, except for Director Ahn Ga-bok, felt the same way. Unfamiliar sign language, two actors concentrating to a terrifying degree, and the high quality of acting.

And then.

“Hmm? Who are you?”

Shim Han-ho, with his stubble, opened his mouth. ‘Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’ had entered. He was looking at Kang Woo-jin on the opposite side. His current appearance was extremely rough, but there was no trace of a beast’s tone in the lines Shim Han-ho was uttering. Rather, it was witty and gentle.

The problem was.

-Swoosh.

It was his eyes. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes hid a subtle madness. His breathing also felt peaceful, but there were moments when it was out of sync.

“Play well with my wife. But don’t seduce her.”

It didn’t seem dangerous at first glance, but there was a threat lurking. While maintaining the essence of ‘Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’, he was holding a knife behind his back. That was exactly how Shim Han-ho’s acting was when he looked at Woo-jin.

But it wasn’t obvious.

Kang Woo-jin, Shim Han-ho, and Oh Hee-ryung. The three actors who continued the reading were like monsters hiding their true selves, opening their false mouths while concealing their feelings.

The staff members got goosebumps.

‘Ugh—what is this, really?’

Clearly, they were just saying the lines in the script, and the background hadn’t changed much, but strangely, as the three actors’ performances continued, a chill spread.

Then, the scene changed again.

The cut where Chairman Yoon Jung-bae makes his first deal with Park Ha-sung.

“There’s only one goal. First, make my wife rely on you, blindly.”

“……I’ll try.”

At this point, Park Ha-sung had not yet grasped his own essence. That’s why he was scared.

“B, but I don’t really know what it means to make her rely on me. And even more so, I think it’ll be difficult to make it blind…”

It was from here that Shim Han-ho started to act fiercely.

“Then do it easily.”

Shim Han-ho, looking at Woo-jin, widened his eyes. The area around his stubbled mouth twitched. The tone was still sly, but the overall shape of his face was somewhat similar to that of a madman.

Somewhere between madness and rage.

This was clearly different from the Chairman Yoon Jung-bae that Director Ahn Ga-bok had created. He maintained the essence, but his behavior that went beyond that essence was natural. He was like a clown with a desire for dominance at his core.

“That’s the difference in mindset, you know? It just depends on how you see it. Huh? Change that defeated gaze of yours.”

“……”

Chairman Yoon Jung-bae attacks Kang Woo-jin.

“Did you realize? The moment you got into this car, your life was in my hands?”

“Yes??!”

“You heard everything, right? You can’t just take the money and not have the guts. You want to live? Then change your mindset with all your might.”

He was blunt. But Kang Woo-jin didn’t back down at all. No, he was in the same spot from the beginning.

“Mindset… Does it mean that I should have the mindset that I live in the same world as the chairman?”

“Don’t get confused. Think of it as rent. Status is something that keeps coming out like sewage no matter how much you suck it up.”

“The rent theory is difficult. I’ll think of it as a lease.”

“Hehe, as expected—you were the right choice. I like that you’re moderately dark. But don’t cross the line, got it?”

“If you clearly draw it for me.”

“You’ll know the moment you enter my house. You will dominate my wife, and I will dominate you.”

Han So-jin, who had a dazed expression at this moment, could only listen blankly.

“……”

Because it was a battle of monsters.

Meanwhile, in a studio that looked like an apartment.

A desk in the center of the living room. It was large enough for about five people to sit comfortably, but only one woman was sitting at the desk, typing on a laptop.

-Tap, tap, tap.

She was a slender woman with round glasses. It was writer Choi Nana. She was usually timid, but her spirit was different now. Her eyes looking at the laptop screen were shining, and her fingers typing were full of confidence.

About an hour later.

Writer Choi Nana, who had been typing on her laptop frantically, suddenly raised her head to the ceiling and.

“Haa—”

Let out a long sigh.

“It’s done.”

It meant that the writing of the final episode of ‘Beneficial Evil’ was finished.

End