I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 315

Miley Cara. A superstar with immense influence, even among Hollywood’s top actresses. She had achieved great success not only as an actress but also as a singer. Her YouTube channel boasted an astonishing number of subscribers, and she had a social media following in the hundreds of millions.

Why was Miley Cara suddenly popping up here?

That was the sentiment of Song Man-woo PD, who had his phone pressed to his ear, his eyes blinking with question marks. Even though he had heard it twice from the calm Kang Woo-jin on the other end of the phone, he couldn’t quite grasp it.

“······M-Miley Cara?”

But Woo-jin’s answer was simple this time as well.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Uh- well, Miley… Cara is currently working with Woo-jin on a new album, right?”

“Yes.”

“Did you get the name mixed up?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Or did you mention a similar Hollywood actress? Like Mayley Cara or Miley Kira?”

“No. It’s Miley Cara.”

“······The one I know. No, the Miley Cara that everyone in the world knows, you mean that one?”

“Yes.”

Song Man-woo PD, with his stubbled chin, who had been frozen for a few seconds, opened his mouth wide. Then he let out a scream. Only in his mind.

‘Miley Cara??!!!’

He thought they were just casting an actor for ‘Beneficial Evil,’ but suddenly Miley Cara was thrown into the mix. He heard it, but he couldn’t believe it. Why was that crazy Hollywood star in ‘Beneficial Evil’? Song Man-woo PD ran his hand through his hair as he asked again.

“Woo-jin, are you, are you not joking? Are you serious?”

“100% serious.”

“That doesn’t make sense—why on earth would Miley Cara be in our project?”

“That’s how it turned out. Ah, please keep this matter top secret for now.”

The explanation was too short. But even with just that, Song Man-woo PD felt like his brain was about to explode. Beyond being flustered, his thoughts had stopped. Could something like this ever happen in Korea, past or future?

‘It’s absurd—but Woo-jin isn’t the type to make such blatant jokes.’

No, it wouldn’t be strange to call it impossible.

‘Ah, no, but how can he talk about something as huge as a nuclear bomb so casually, like he’s flipping a coin!’

Even though the situation was about getting Miley Cara, a global-level figure, into ‘Beneficial Evil,’ Kang Woo-jin’s voice on the phone was low and incredibly calm. That made Song Man-woo PD even more agitated. But Song Man-woo PD was also a veteran director with decades of experience. First, he tried his best to regain his composure.

Let’s stay calm, I don’t know what’s going on, but.

‘It’s definitely a world-shaking event.’

Song Man-woo PD, with his stubbled chin, suppressed his excitement as much as possible and spoke again.

“Uh- Woo-jin, explain it a bit. How did this happen?”

“I can’t tell you the whole situation, but things worked out well with Miley Cara.”

Kang Woo-jin conveyed only the key points to Song Man-woo PD. Cara’s debt to Woo-jin, Kang Woo-jin’s proposal, and so on. Of course, the incident where she was attacked was not mentioned. As Song Man-woo PD listened to the explanation, his shock transformed into admiration.

“Ha, in short, you’re saying that Woo-jin made a proposal to Miley Cara? As a way to pay off her debt.”

“Yes. I threw it out there just in case, and she readily accepted.”

“But why did you make her pay off her debt with such a proposal?”

“Because it seemed interesting.”

“Interesting?”

“‘Beneficial Evil’ is an ambitious project aiming for the global market. An event like this is fine, right?”

“······”

After hearing the answer, Song Man-woo PD wore a serious expression. However, his heart was overflowing with warm emotion.

‘To care so much about the project.’

Kang Woo-jin had always been dedicated to filming, but he didn’t know he had this much affection for it. All while pretending not to with that indifferent face. Soon, the square-jawed director Shin Dong-chun from ‘Errand Service’ came to Song Man-woo PD’s mind.

‘The unspeakable emotion that guy talked about must be this feeling.’

It was an emotion born from a misunderstanding, but Song Man-woo PD, who had no way of knowing this, had a smile on his face.

“Thank you, Woo-jin. For giving me an experience I’ll never have in my life. No, for creating this opportunity.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“This is something. I’ve also incurred a debt. If it’s Miley Cara, even the top Hollywood directors would have a hard time casting her. I’ll have to bet my next life on this.”

For Song Man-woo PD, this was a cosmic opportunity. Perhaps, even in his lifetime, Song Man-woo PD would be the first and last Korean director to experience such a situation.

“Ah- but Woo-jin, has the amount of screen time for Miley Cara been discussed?”

“I’ll leave that to you. She said that even a supporting or minor role is fine.”

In other words, it wasn’t just a special appearance like a fleeting cameo, but it could be quite substantial.

“You mean it’s okay to give her lines and assign her a character name?”

“Yes. In my opinion, it would be best to have her appear in the Bangkok overseas location shoot, which corresponds to episodes 1 and 2 of ‘Beneficial Evil.'”

“The ‘CQC’ [Close Quarters Combat] shoot. In other words, it would be good to have her appear in relation to ‘Jang Yeon-woo’s’ past?”

“That would be neat.”

“And I can consider this matter confirmed?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

Song Man-woo PD, who had clenched his fist tightly without showing it, suddenly faced the wall of reality. Casting an ultra-level superstar was a miracle, but the cost of that miracle was something he couldn’t even imagine.

“But uh- if it’s Cara… roughly how much should her fee be?”

Kang Woo-jin’s answer was quick.

“It’s already been paid.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“But it would be good to take care of her out of courtesy. Accommodation, as well as travel expenses.”

“That’s a given.”

“I’m sorry, PD-nim [Director]. I have to hang up now.”

As if he was busy, Kang Woo-jin said a brief goodbye and ended the call. Song Man-woo PD slowly lowered his phone and spaced out for a moment. Come to think of it, this morning, the stunt team leader, Ethan Smith, had also said something quite surprising.

‘Didn’t a famous Hollywood contact say that they were coming to see this Bangkok overseas location shoot for Woo-jin? And now Miley Cara too?’

If Cara moved, her numerous teams would also move.

‘Why are all these Hollywood figures gathering?? They’re all related to Woo-jin.’

It was all thanks to Kang Woo-jin.

* * *

Morning of the 20th, LA.

Monday passed, and Tuesday dawned. Kang Woo-jin could be found inside the familiar large studio dome. It was the same place that had been used for Miley Cara’s music video shoot a few days ago. The filming, which had been temporarily halted due to the attack, was resuming.

However, this time the site was heavily guarded.

The number of burly guards had increased at least threefold, and the checks on the participating staff were also thorough. Of course, the same was true for Kang Woo-jin’s personnel. The music video shoot, which was being done again, began under strict security.

Even so, the procedures were similar.

Kang Woo-jin had to wear the same outfits he had worn before. In the middle, Woo-jin gave a genuine thumbs up as he watched Cara matching her choreography with the backup dancers.

‘A pro, a pro.’

Perhaps it was also because she was mindful of Woo-jin’s schedule, but to resume filming immediately after such an attack was by no means an easy task. Mentally or physically. Whatever the case, this time, fortunately, the music video shoot went smoothly without any major problems.

Although it was his first experience, Kang Woo-jin also handled the filming quite naturally.

‘Hmm, there’s nothing particularly difficult? Well, I don’t have any lines or choreography, though.’

With that, the morning shoot was finished, and as they were moving to another set, a break was given. Kang Woo-jin’s outfit also changed. He took off his tuxedo and put on a shirt and jeans.

Around this time.

-Swish.

Choi Sung-gun, his face showing signs of fatigue and his ponytail slightly disheveled, approached Woo-jin. Then he showed him his phone.

“The viewership ratings for episode 2 of ‘Male Friend: Remake’ are out.”

By now, episode 2 of ‘Male Friend: Remake’ had aired, and the viewership ratings had been released in Japan.

-[Viewership Ratings]

1. Male Friend: Remake / TBE / 15.5%

2. Magic Rotation / Fuji ETV / 9.3%

3. Strongest Spy / Tokyo ETV / 7.1%

4. Detective Conan / NHM / 5.9%

·

·

·

·

Choi Sung-gun, after showing the results, smirked.

“It went up again.”

Indeed, the viewership rating for episode 2 of ‘Male Friend: Remake’ had increased compared to episode 1. Of course, the OP [Opening] song sung by Woo-jin, which was number 1 on the Oricon chart, was also firmly holding its position. Kang Woo-jin reacted calmly with a stoic expression, but.

“That’s good.”

Internally, he was giving a strong round of applause.

‘Good! Good, good!!’

Although he hadn’t looked it up himself, Japan and Korea were probably 100% buzzing with articles about ‘Male Friend: Remake’ right now.

The music video shoot for Cara ended at night. By the end, Cara and all the hundred or so foreign staff were exhausted. Only one person, Woo-jin, was fine. The cleanup also took quite some time.

About two hours?

It was past 11 PM when the cleanup was finished, but Kang Woo-jin and Choi Sung-gun didn’t return to the hotel right away. There was an after-party at Miley Cara’s house.

“Everyone, you all worked so hard!”

Expensive champagne was the main feature. It wasn’t something to drink to excess, but everyone except Woo-jin and Cara enjoyed the after-party. The snacks were made by Kang Woo-jin. The menu was bulgogi [Korean marinated beef], and there were two versions. Soy sauce-based and spicy.

The spicy bulgogi was for Cara.

As per her request, it was very spicy, and the blonde Cara’s eyes welled up as she ate the bulgogi.

“Ha- it’s spicy, this is too spicy, isn’t it?”

“You wanted it to be so spicy that you’d lose your mind, didn’t you?”

Cara was overwhelmed by the spiciness of Korean food, and she fell asleep quickly after drinking too much champagne.

This was the end of Kang Woo-jin’s LA schedule.

‘Well, a lot of things happened. But it wasn’t too bad.’

Woo-jin boarded a plane to Korea a few hours later, around dawn.

* * *

Morning after Kang Woo-jin left LA.

The place was Miley Cara’s magnificent house. Cara, who had woken up groggily in her bed, spaced out for a moment before suddenly getting up.

“Ah!”

Her long blonde hair was slightly disheveled. But without bothering to fix her hair, Cara, wearing a hoodie that covered her hips, took the stairs leading to the first floor. In the spacious living room on the first floor, her main manager, Jonathan, was sitting on the sofa. He looked up from his tablet and smiled.

“You’re alive.”

Cara asked urgently.

“Jonathan, where’s Kang Woo-jin?”

“He’s already left for Korea.”

“Ah- darn it.”

Only then did Cara run her hand through her blonde hair. She was blaming herself for falling asleep drunk.

“I didn’t get to say goodbye.”

“Isn’t it okay to just contact him?”

“It is, but… we worked hard together for almost 10 days, it’s a shame.”

At the same time, the thought ‘When will I ever see him again?’ flashed through Cara’s mind. But she didn’t say it out loud, and Jonathan, who had stood up, patted Cara’s shoulder as if to say not to worry.

“Don’t worry. I took care of his send-off for you.”

“······”

Cara, who had been pursing her lips for a moment, suddenly said to Jonathan.

“Actually, I’ve decided to make the song that Woo-jin participated in the main title of this new album.”

* * *

Several hours later.

Morning of the 21st, Kang Woo-jin, who had spent a long time on the plane, arrived in Korea. He hadn’t informed the media, and since there had been changes to his LA schedule, there were no reporters at the airport. Still, when Kang Woo-jin arrived, hundreds of people gathered.

His arrival photos were already being posted on Instagram.

Around this time, Kang Woo-jin was inside a black van speeding down the highway. The inside was quiet. Thanks to the rather long LA schedule, the team members had fallen into a deep sleep. Of course, only Choi Sung-gun and Woo-jin were still awake, and Choi Sung-gun, who had yawned widely, tied his ponytail again and turned his head.

“The reporters are starting to get a whiff that you’ve returned to Korea, articles are starting to be released.”

“Is that so?”

“Hehe, they’re getting all excited. Well, I guess they’d be dying to know. But I think I’d be the same. Your chemistry with Cara in the song and music video.”

Choi Sung-gun’s smile deepened.

“Anyway, Miley Cara’s side agreed to let us know before the album is released, and the music video will be released as a teaser on Cara’s YouTube channel first. Then we can use it.”

“Yes, CEO.”

“That’s that, but I’m also looking forward to Cara’s special appearance in ‘Beneficial Evil.'”

Choi Sung-gun, with a deep smile, rubbed his hands together.

“The announcement will be a bit later, but when that’s revealed, not only Korea but also Hollywood. No, the whole world might be turned upside down?”

Considering Cara’s global influence, it was a very possible scenario. Just looking at the immediate situation, Korea, Japan, and Hollywood were bound to be shaken up.

At that moment, Kang Woo-jin suddenly moved his index finger instead of answering.

-Poof!

He picked up the script that was placed nearby and entered the subspace. The reason was simple.

“Ugh- damn, I almost yawned.”

He was on the verge of yawning due to his intense concept, and it was natural since the fatigue of about ten days had accumulated in Woo-jin’s body. Soon, Woo-jin threw away his concept and yawned and stretched a few times.

While doing so.

-Swish.

He walked towards the row of white rectangles. In fact, the reason Kang Woo-jin had entered the subspace wasn’t just because of the yawn, but there was another reason. No, should it be called a guess or an expectation?

“Oh!! Yes, that’s right! Awesome!”

Kang Woo-jin was gently swaying his shoulders as he looked at one of the white rectangles. To be precise, it was the white rectangle of ‘Beneficial Evil.’

It was understandable. The grade of ‘Beneficial Evil,’ which had been SSS+, was now.

-[9/Script (Title: Beneficial Evil), EX Grade]

A new grade that he had never seen before was engraved. EX grade, it was definitely an upgrade.

“I knew it! There was a higher grade.”

He couldn’t even guess how destructive it would be.

End