I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 30

“Okay, I got it. I’ll reject it right away… Huh? Wait a minute.”

Choi Sung-gun, who had paused at Kang Woo-jin’s reply, asked back in a whisper, “Woo-jin-ssi, did you just say reject? Did I hear wrong?”

He wondered if he had heard correctly. Or maybe it was denial of reality. ‘Yeah, that’s right? I must have misheard.’ But Kang Woo-jin was calm. “No? You heard me right,” Woo-jin repeated in a low voice, as if emphasizing the words.

“Please reject it.”

“…!!”

In an instant, Choi Sung-gun’s eyes widened as he took off his rimless glasses. It was such an unexpected answer. But right now, Kang Woo-jin seemed extremely composed. Especially his eyes, which didn’t waver at all. It was genuine. That was genuine.

“Ah, no, what is that…”

Choi Sung-gun stared blankly at Woo-jin for a moment. Then, he suddenly came to his senses. ‘A weirdo,’ that’s what Hong Hye-yeon had said. Kang Woo-jin was such an unpredictable character. Choi Sung-gun first smiled at Director Choi Do-min across from him, then.

“Haha, Director, just a moment.”

He leaned close to Woo-jin next to him and whispered again, “Reject? No, you’ve only seen a few pages of the script, right? What’s with the rejection?”

“I don’t think I should do the audition.”

“No, no, Woo-jin-ssi, let’s calm down first.”

“I am calm.”

“Let’s calm down even more. Ha- Are you serious? Are you really going to throw away this opportunity? When Director Choi Do-min is pushing you like this?”

Choi Sung-gun tried desperately to dissuade him, but Kang Woo-jin’s poker face remained unchanged.

“Yes. I’m going to throw it away.”

There was no opening. His face was not one to be persuaded. There was no space to squeeze in. Choi Sung-gun felt a moment of dizziness looking at Woo-jin, who was so firm. But Choi Sung-gun tried his best to remain calm. Whatever the case, this was Box Movie’s headquarters.

It was right to maintain good relations with kind words for now.

Therefore, Choi Sung-gun.

“Ah- Director Choi, haha.”

He turned his gaze from Woo-jin to Director Choi Do-min across from him. The forced smile was a bonus.

“Yes, yes, Woo-jin-ssi says the script is very good.”

“Oh, really? Haha, of course, it’s Director Woo Hyun-gu’s work. But why are you saying that, CEO?”

At the same time, Choi Sung-gun subtly poked Woo-jin’s side. ‘Ouch, what is it?’ ‘Ah, is he telling me to play along?’ That was close to the answer. It was a sign to maintain his image for now, regardless of the rejection. Soon, Kang Woo-jin nodded calmly.

“It’s a script I want to keep reading.”

“That’s right, hahaha. But it’s a bit difficult to give you the script right away. If someone who’s going to audition knows the work beforehand, it might give the impression that we’re pushing them too much.”

Choi Sung-gun interjected here.

“That’s right, of course. If word gets out that we gave special treatment, it’ll be a headache.”

He started to talk about something else.

“By the way, Director Woo Hyun-gu is amazing as always. I’ve rarely seen him resting, he’s already starting his next project?”

“That’s just how the director is, right? He can’t rest. CEO Choi has greeted him a few times too, right? Because of Hong Hye-yeon.”

“Yes, of course.”

Honestly, these were just unnecessary small talks in this meeting. It was just to buy time. It would be strange to leave right after seeing the script. It also included the fact that Kang Woo-jin had joined BW Entertainment. Anyway, after about 30 minutes of small talk, Choi Sung-gun.

“Ah, yes, yes. Then, uh- I’ll check the schedule and contact you as soon as possible.”

He stood up from his seat. Of course, Kang Woo-jin followed. Director Choi Do-min did the same.

“Am I waiting again?”

“Ah, it’s because of ‘The Layabout’ and the other projects we’re preparing, it’s a bit awkward if the schedule is too tight. I’ll contact you, so don’t worry.”

“Contact me quickly? I’ll really get scolded by the director.”

“Of course, then thank you for your hard work.”

Choi Sung-gun and Kang Woo-jin exchanged polite greetings and left the conference room. Then, they were in the hallway. Next was the elevator. They pressed the button for the first basement floor.

Even until this point, the two of them.

“……”

“……”

There was no conversation. There was just a slightly subtle atmosphere. However.

-Thud!

As soon as they got into the van, Choi Sung-gun pounced on Woo-jin, who was sitting in the passenger seat. It seemed he had decided it was safe here.

“Woo-jin-ssi! Why?! Why are you saying you’ll reject it? There must be a reason, right?”

‘Oh, my goodness.’ ‘A reason? There is.’ Kang Woo-jin slightly pulled his face back because Choi Sung-gun was so close. Then, he answered inwardly.

‘Then what? The work is F-grade.’

In fact, Kang Woo-jin had secretly visited the subspace in the conference room earlier. And he had confirmed it.

-[3/Scenario (Title: Negotiation), F-grade]

-[*This is a very high-quality movie scenario. 100% reading is possible.]

That the next work of the master director Woo Hyun-gu was F-grade. As soon as he saw that, Kang Woo-jin sighed. ‘No, F-grade? Not even E-grade, but F-grade??’ If it was the same F-grade, it was the script he had read first. It was the lowest of the grades. Of course, Woo-jin wondered if he should do this.

‘If it’s not even E-grade but F-grade, there’s no reason to do it, right? But how does this movie fail so badly that it’s F-grade?’

Was it a box office bomb? Or some other reason? There were countless ways a movie could fail. There were many works that couldn’t even be produced and collapsed. However, Woo-jin was a bit puzzled.

‘But isn’t he supposed to be a super famous master director? But it’s going to fail with an F-grade? Why?’

But there was no point in thinking about it. Whatever the reason for the failure, the movie ‘Negotiation’ had no merit for Kang Woo-jin. To others, Kang Woo-jin had been studying acting alone for a long time, but the real Woo-jin had only been an actor for a month.

It was better to join a successful project, right?

‘Well, I saw somewhere that even if it fails, if the work is good, it’s okay, but I can take care of that after I’ve become famous.’

Kang Woo-jin pondered. He couldn’t answer Choi Sung-gun, who was staring at him with wide eyes in the driver’s seat, with something like, ‘That movie is F-grade, you didn’t know, did you?’ Then, suddenly, Woo-jin thought of a common word that was used everywhere. It contained a suitable amount of bluff and weight.

‘Yeah, that’s the cheat key.’

It was a word he had used on PD [Production Director] Song Man-woo in the past.

“It’s just a feeling. I didn’t have a good feeling about it.”

Kang Woo-jin answered calmly without a hint of change in his expression. The epitome of shamelessness was here. Whatever it was, Choi Sung-gun understood it immediately. However, his understanding sank deeper into the mire.

“…What? A feeling? You said a feeling?”

“Yes.”

“So, you, you rejected Director Woo Hyun-gu just because you didn’t have a good feeling?”

“I didn’t reject him, I rejected the offer.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

Choi Sung-gun, who had asked back, suddenly stared at Woo-jin’s face. There was a hint of worry in his eyes.

“Woo-jin-ssi, are you not feeling well? Do you have a bad headache or something? Huh?”

“I’m perfectly fine.”

“But what’s with the feeling?”

“It’s the truth.”

“If it’s the truth, it’s even more of a problem.”

Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin was faithful to his concept. He added a bit of a tough act at this point.

“But please reject the audition offer.”

“……”

Choi Sung-gun, who was speechless, almost cursed at the calm Kang Woo-jin. He was truly a uniquely crazy guy.

‘This isn’t just guts or boldness, is it? Why is he doing this to me?’

Hong Hye-yeon was also beyond ordinary, but Kang Woo-jin had surpassed her. He had far exceeded common sense. No, a feeling?? What kind of weirdo is this?

Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail, felt his mind go blank.

‘He’s not just unpredictable… he’s just a crazy lunatic??!’

He had to assist this lunatic from now on.

Around early afternoon.

After leaving Box Movie and arriving at BW Entertainment, Kang Woo-jin walked leisurely down the street. He had refused Choi Sung-gun’s offer to drive him home. Since he had started his concept, personal time was very precious to Woo-jin.

“I’m so tired.”

Kang Woo-jin, who had muttered to himself, paused. And he laughed absurdly. He had spoken in a solemn voice even when he was alone.

‘Am I crazy? Why am I acting all serious even when I’m alone? Ah, come to think of it, it’s been a while since I laughed.’

Kang Woo-jin slapped his throat as if blaming himself. People passing by looked at him strangely. Regardless, Woo-jin went down the subway stairs. He saw many people.

Kang Woo-jin felt a sense of wonder here.

‘Is the day when these people recognize me really coming?’

He, a commoner, had a company. He was even offered a large sum of 40 million won [approximately $30,000 USD] and good conditions. Somehow, he had filmed ‘The Fixer’ and was about to start filming ‘Profiler Han-ryang’.

‘I even had a meeting with a big movie company related to a master director.’

The work kept getting bigger, and several snowballs, including misunderstandings, were added and rolled. It might be a situation where he would feel burdened, but Kang Woo-jin, the originator of all this, was surprisingly calm.

‘Is it because it doesn’t feel real?’

It was then.

-Vrr, vrr.

Woo-jin’s phone, tucked into his back pocket of his jeans, vibrated loudly. The caller was top actress Hong Hye-yeon. Kang Woo-jin chuckled again here.

“How did I end up in a life where Hong Hye-yeon calls me like a friend?”

He cleared his throat and regained his composure.

“Yes.”

Hong Hye-yeon’s laughter was heard over the phone.

“I heard you signed. I heard you decided to work with us.”

‘The CEO is fast.’ Kang Woo-jin leaned against the wall and replied.

“I did, please take care of me.”

“What’s there to take care of me? Well, please take care of me too. We’re family now. But this is just my curiosity, what’s the biggest reason you chose our company?”

‘Reason?’ Kang Woo-jin thought for a moment. But he couldn’t think of any core reason. It was just a mix of several subtle judgments. Talking about conditions or contract money seemed too materialistic. It didn’t fit the cool concept.

‘Should I just use Hong Hye-yeon as an excuse here? That was one of the reasons.’

Soon, Kang Woo-jin said dryly.

“Just this and that. Hong Hye-yeon-ssi is here too.”

“……”

Hong Hye-yeon on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment. Her reply came a few seconds later.

“Do you often hear that you’re a tsundere [a person who is initially cold but later shows a warmer side]?”

Meanwhile, at this time, the fact that Kang Woo-jin had signed with BW Entertainment was not only heard by Hong Hye-yeon. Choi Sung-gun had quickly contacted those related to Woo-jin.

Like PD Song Man-woo of ‘Profiler Han-ryang’.

“BW Entertainment- Hong Star was very concerned about it. Well, it’s not bad. The key is how CEO Choi Sung-gun will control that Kang Woo-jin.”

And of course, to Director Shin Dong-chun of ‘The Fixer’.

“Oh- BW Entertainment? CEO Choi has good connections, and his influence is considerable. But did Woo-jin-ssi get a contract fee?”

Director Shin Dong-chun was currently in the production company’s editing room with two editors. The post-production editing of ‘The Fixer’ had just begun in earnest.

The intensity in his eyes showed that Director Shin Dong-chun’s fighting spirit was considerable.

“Okay, let’s start! We absolutely have to get this into the main competition of the ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’ [a prestigious South Korean short film festival], the cuts are amazing, so we can definitely do it!”

It seemed like he was determined to dress Woo-jin in a stylish suit no matter what.

The next day, the morning of the 17th, Kang Woo-jin’s studio apartment.

Kang Woo-jin came out of the bathroom, shaking his head as if he had just showered. Then, he gulped down a banana milk from the refrigerator. His Adam’s apple moved up and down refreshingly. Soon, Woo-jin made a clear sound.

“Kya- as expected, a hot shower followed by banana milk is the best.”

Woo-jin, who had chugged the banana milk while wearing only his underwear, was 180 degrees different from the concept-acting Kang Woo-jin. Well, that was natural. Then, he put on his clothes. In fact, Kang Woo-jin had gone for a morning workout. It was to build up his physical strength for filming. Of course, it was just a simple run.

‘Starting is half the battle.’

Anyway, there was no schedule today. Choi Sung-gun would have a lot to prepare, but Kang Woo-jin was just waiting.

Around that time.

“Ah, right.”

As if something had come to mind, Kang Woo-jin moved. He picked up the third part of the ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ script from the table. No, to be precise, he poked the black square attached to the side of the script.

-Poke!

Woo-jin entered the subspace as it was. A dark view that quickly unfolded. Woo-jin, who had arrived in a space that was now as comfortable as his own home, turned his body. He found the white squares floating, and there were now three of them.

-[1/Scenario (Title: The Fixer), B-grade]

-[2/Script (Title: Profiler Han-ryang Part 1), S-grade]

-[3/Scenario (Title: Negotiation), F-grade]

Because yesterday, Director Woo Hyun-gu’s scenario ‘Negotiation’ had been added. The reason why Kang Woo-jin had suddenly entered the subspace and checked ‘Negotiation’ was simple.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a scenario, and it’s a master director, so it wouldn’t be bad to try reading it, right?”

He was curious. Unfortunately, he couldn’t read the scenario itself, but it didn’t matter. Woo-jin could read (experience) all the male roles in ‘Negotiation’. Maybe he would even be able to judge why it was F-grade.

Soon, Kang Woo-jin selected the white square of ‘Negotiation’. Another phrase appeared quickly.

-[You have selected 3/Scenario (Title: Negotiation).]

-[Lists the characters available for reading (experience).]

-[A: Lee Do-joon, B: Park Dae-hyun, C: Kim Wang-woo… G: James]

Kang Woo-jin, who had been scanning the roles, tilted his head.

“James? Is he a foreigner?”

He was curious. It was his first time with a foreigner. Thanks to that, Woo-jin immediately chose the role of ‘James’. At the same time, a familiar robotic female voice was heard.

[“A new language other than the basic language has been detected. First, acquire ‘English’.”]

But her words were a bit different from usual.

[“Preparing to read ‘English’……”]

[“……Preparation complete. Starting ‘English’ reading.”]

Kang Woo-jin, who was listening, frowned.

“What are you saying? ‘English’? Hey, woman! What suddenly.”

But.

“Ugh!”

Instead of an answer, a huge gray mass covered Kang Woo-jin. When Woo-jin opened his eyes, he was floating in a gray space, not the dark subspace. He could feel the temperature on his skin. It was a bit cool. The sensation of floating was also clear. His lower abdomen was tingling.

“What is this? Exit!”

Woo-jin shouted the command to exit the subspace, but all that came back was an echo. At this moment, Woo-jin was flustered. He couldn’t figure out what was going on.

Right then.

“Huh?”

Something was approaching from afar. No, was it flying? It was getting closer and closer. The speed was fast. Soon, Kang Woo-jin recognized its shape.

“…A?”

It was the letter A. The color was white. An A the size of Kang Woo-jin’s body was flying quickly. The interesting thing was.

“Ugh!”

As soon as the quickly flying A touched Woo-jin’s body, it melted into him. But that wasn’t the end. As if waiting, B flew in, and then C. In other words, the alphabet was flying in one after another.

The alphabet charged at Kang Woo-jin without hesitation.

And finally, Z. The problem was that this wasn’t the end. This time it was an army.

“What is that?”

In front of Kang Woo-jin’s eyes, hundreds and thousands of white English words were flying in.

How long had it been like this? When Kang Woo-jin was exhausted, the female voice was heard again.

[“Ending the reading of the new language ‘English’.”]

Kang Woo-jin had returned to his studio apartment. However, the cool sensation of the alphabets and words melting into his body was still vivid.

Yes, it was similar to when he was reading a role.

Moreover, there was one more vivid thing for Kang Woo-jin, who was sitting blankly. It was English. A language he had never studied except for the basics in his entire life.

“What happened?(roughly confused)”

It was so clear as if he had studied for decades.

“Oh my goodness…”(roughly shocked)”

The pronunciation was also fluent.

“…This is crazy. Is this real?”

‘English’ was imprinted on Kang Woo-jin.

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