I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 34

The moment Director Woo Hyun-gu saw the article title with his name on it, his eyes widened, bloodshot and bulging as if they might pop out.

“Th-this, this article, it just came out?!” he stammered, utterly agitated. His usual arrogance was nowhere to be seen. Director Kwon Ki-taek, on the other hand, remained calm with his arms crossed.

“Doesn’t seem like it’s been out for long,” Kwon Ki-taek remarked.

“Those damn reporters, what are they doing?!” Woo Hyun-gu exclaimed, a mix of urgency and agitation. He quickly scanned the article, his white-streaked eyebrows trembling.

The title was scandalous, but the content was even more appalling.

Starting with sexual harassment, a list of similar crimes was detailed, involving more than just one or two victims. The descriptions were disturbingly specific. Of course, all the accusations pointed to Director Woo Hyun-gu. It was hard to dismiss this as mere gossip.

Moreover.

“…A YouTuber’s exposé?” he muttered.

The source was clear. The article stated that a YouTuber with nearly a million subscribers had dropped a bombshell.

At that moment.

-Swish.

Director Kwon Ki-taek smoothly stood up and took back his phone, which Director Woo Hyun-gu was staring at intently. He calmly walked towards the door, then paused.

“Right, I said it earlier, didn’t I? It’ll be hard to have this kind of meeting for a while,” he said, glancing back at the dumbfounded Woo Hyun-gu.

“It won’t be for a while. At this point, it’ll be for life. But if you’ve committed a crime, you have to be punished. Take care. While you atone,” Kwon Ki-taek added softly before leaving the room. Director Woo Hyun-gu just stared blankly into space for about ten seconds. Then, he pulled out his phone and accessed YouTube, searching for the YouTuber mentioned in the article.

The funny thing was.

“This… is crazy,” he muttered.

There was no need to search. The video he was looking for was prominently displayed at the top of the real-time trending videos.

-Shocking!! The hidden, ugly side of master director Woo Hyun-gu! Sexual harassment was the least of it?! All the victims cried.

-Issue King TV

-303,128 views / 2020. 3. 23

It had been uploaded about an hour ago, but it already had over 300,000 views. It would easily surpass a million by the end of the day.

Director Woo Hyun-gu had gone from a master to a complete scoundrel. His life, built up over decades, was collapsing in an instant. He couldn’t help but turn pale.

“…Ah, wait a minute. Something’s wrong,” he said, his hand trembling slightly as he reached for the video.

-♬♪!!

His phone rang loudly, as if in anger. It was a call. The caller was, of course, the production company, Box Movie. At that moment, Director Woo Hyun-gu’s thoughts froze.

But the phone urged him on.

As soon as the ringtone stopped.

-♬♪,♬♪,♬♪!

Texts and messages flooded in. Director Woo Hyun-gu, looking down at the scene, threw his phone away as if it were contaminated. But the notifications continued endlessly.

-♬♪,♬♪,♬♪,♬♪!

Director Woo Hyun-gu, shivering as if he were cold, muttered quietly.

“…Shit. I’m screwed.”

It sounded like a last will.

At the same time.

With filming just around the corner, Kang Woo-jin was in a studio. Well, in fact, Woo-jin wasn’t the only one in this studio. All the main actors of ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ were gathered.

The studio setting was somewhat like a movie theater.

In the center of the stage, several chairs were arranged. The main actors, starting with Ryu Min-ki in a trench coat and Hong Hye-yeon with her long hair neatly tied up, sat down in a row. And at the very end.

“……”

Kang Woo-jin, in the role of ‘Manager Park,’ sat silently. His hair and makeup were done, and his denim jacket outfit was stylish. Even among the flashy stars, he didn’t look out of place. Today, he was not Manager Park, but actor Kang Woo-jin. His noticeable transformation caught the attention of the top actors sitting in a row.

Oh, except for Hong Hye-yeon, of course.

Including Ryu Jung-min, who had changed from long hair to a baby perm to match the male lead ‘Yoo Ji-hyung,’ sitting in the first seat.

‘I thought his base was okay… but with proper hair, makeup, and styling, his visuals have improved several times over,’ thought Ryu Jung-min.

Lead actors like Jang Tae-san and Lee Do-jung glanced at Kang Woo-jin without making it obvious. It was the first official meeting since the shocking script reading. Kang Woo-jin was still shrouded in mystery and wasn’t very close to the other actors.

‘He’s putting on a serious face again today. But how many faces does he have? He smells nothing like Manager Park, and with hair, makeup, and styling, he looks like a different person,’ thought Jang Tae-san.

‘Oh my, he’s completely different from when he was acting as Manager Park today?’ Lee Do-jung mused.

Moreover, the word ‘self-taught’ and Kang Woo-jin’s acting were still vivid in the actors’ minds. That’s why everyone had been practicing their acting intensely since the reading, and it was still ongoing. Therefore, the atmosphere wasn’t bright.

It was somewhat ambiguous and simmering.

On the other hand, Woo-jin was solemn, like a general before a war. His expressionless face was the highlight. It was as if he were explaining what true coldness was. Of course, that was only how it looked to the other actors.

‘Ah—I need to fart. I should have gone to the bathroom before coming here?’

Right now, Kang Woo-jin was just a bit uncomfortable in his stomach. He needed to fart, but he couldn’t let his guard down. Woo-jin tightened his sphincter while transforming that strange tension into part of his concept.

Anyway, the reason they were gathered was simple.

It was to take actor interview cuts that would be used after the official broadcast. The format was similar to a teaser, and some of the dozens of staff members watching the actors on stage whispered.

“But are they taking an interview with Kang Woo-jin too?”

“They’re taking pictures for after the first episode. They said they’re taking interviews with all the villains, including Woo-jin? All four of them. Today, it’s just Woo-jin.”

“Ah, I see. But hasn’t Woo-jin changed completely? He was like Manager Park during the reading, but today he’s just an actor. I thought he was kind of handsome before, though.”

“Right? I was completely surprised when I saw him for the first time just now.”

At that moment.

-Swish.

PD [Production Director] Song Man-woo, who had been talking on the phone outside, entered the studio. He gave a sign to the passing staff to hurry, while moving towards the main stage where the actors were sitting. Then he paused.

“Hmm.”

He saw the back of a familiar ponytail man among the dozens of staff in front of the stage and stood next to him.

“You must be pleased? You have two actors from your agency there. And they’re even the key figures in our drama.”

The ponytail man, or rather, Choi Sung-gun, smiled when he saw PD Song Man-woo.

“What do you mean? Both of them have personalities that are beyond ordinary, so they’re in for a rough ride.”

“That ‘beyond ordinary’ isn’t just about their personalities, though.”

“Hahaha, I guess so. Especially Woo-jin, I have high expectations for him.”

“Right, I’m also curious how big that thing will grow. But is Woo-jin really done with exposing Director Woo Hyun-gu?”

“Yes. That’s it. I never thought the day would come when I’d expose Director Woo Hyun-gu. And the reason is his gut feeling. What can I do? Ugh, Woo-jin is so stubborn.”

PD Song Man-woo chuckled at the word ‘gut feeling.’ It reminded him of the ‘totem.’

“That part is also kind of anticipated.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“No, just talking to myself.”

Around this time, the staff around PD Song Man-woo and Choi Sung-gun became a bit noisy. PD Song Man-woo, narrowing his brow, called the assistant director.

“What’s going on? Why is it so loud?”

Then, the assistant director, who had been looking at his phone with some of the staff, approached quickly. There was a hint of shock on his face. Then, the assistant director showed his phone screen to PD Song Man-woo.

“It seems like an article just came out, it’s huge.”

PD Song Man-woo and Choi Sung-gun, tilting their heads, checked the phone screen. The article title was quite provocative.

『[Exclusive] The Ugly Truth Behind ‘Master’ Woo Hyun-gu’s Name: 900,000 YouTuber Exposes His Dirty Deeds』

PD Song Man-woo, who had frowned deeply while reading the article, snatched the assistant director’s phone. Then, he began to read the article carefully. Choi Sung-gun, whose face had become serious, also stood next to him.

Soon, they realized the seriousness of the situation.

“…That Director Woo Hyun-gu.”

“Is this the Woo Hyun-gu we know?”

Based on the article alone, it was certain that master director Woo Hyun-gu was going to fall from grace. And that too, overnight.

“No, what is this all of a sudden?”

“I know! It’s so out of the blue… but based on the content, it doesn’t seem like gossip?”

“Have other articles come out?”

PD Song Man-woo checked other articles with slightly hurried hands. It didn’t take long. The entertainment section was already filled with articles about Director Woo Hyun-gu. The hyena reporters had caught the scent of prey.

Numerous nuclear bombs were falling on Director Woo Hyun-gu’s life.

At this moment.

“!!!”

PD Song Man-woo’s eyes widened for a moment.

“Wait a minute. If this is the case.”

“…Yes?”

Choi Sung-gun, who had asked back, also had something flash in his mind.

“Ah.”

Soon, PD Song Man-woo and Choi Sung-gun, who had been looking at their phones, simultaneously raised their heads sharply. They looked towards the main stage where the actors were sitting. Or rather, specifically.

“Totem.”

“That gut feeling.”

They were looking at Kang Woo-jin, who was sitting calmly (holding in a fart) on the stage. It was a situation where misunderstandings could easily deepen. Because that strange, monster actor’s instinct or gut feeling had been eerily accurate.

Therefore, PD Song Man-woo and Choi Sung-gun were in great shock.

‘This isn’t just some totem-like superstition?! Did he come from the future??’

‘What is he? Did he receive a divine revelation? He hit this right with his gut feeling? Is that even possible??!’

The news about Director Woo Hyun-gu also reached the actors on stage. It started with Jang Tae-san, who was looking at his phone with his legs crossed.

“Huh? What is this? Wow—it’s crazy. Director Woo Hyun-gu is ruined?” he muttered.

At his words, actors like Ryu Jung-min and Hong Hye-yeon gathered around. But Kang Woo-jin at the end didn’t move. He kept his place with a heavy expression, as if he wasn’t particularly curious about worldly affairs. But inside, it was different.

He was a bit anxious.

‘What’s going on? Oh, man, I’m a bit curious,’ he thought.

Whether he was or not, the other actors who had checked the article covered their mouths or had bewildered and shocked expressions.

“Crazy… is this real??”

“I thought something like this would happen to Woo Hyun-gu someday. He was a pervert.”

“Still, this is too much. He’s a criminal? What age are we living in that he’s still doing this?”

“The article is very detailed. There are many victims too. Wow—if this is the case, both Director Woo Hyun-gu and Box Movie will be ruined. And they started construction on that movie set, right? They got investors too.”

“Woo Hyun-gu is done for. The penalty for breach of contract will be enormous.”

The actors were all chattering busily. However, this was only about Director Woo Hyun-gu. They didn’t pay any attention to Kang Woo-jin sitting at the end.

However, there was one person among the actors who were huddled together.

“…?”

Only Hye-yeon turned her head to look at Kang Woo-jin at this moment.

‘He said… gut feeling? But it matched so accurately? No, did he know from the beginning? There’s no other explanation…’ she thought, her already large eyes growing even larger.

Soon, Kang Woo-jin, noticing her gaze, slowly met eyes with Hong Hye-yeon. Still with a poker face. Hong Hye-yeon, confirming Woo-jin’s firm gaze here, narrowed her brow.

‘It’s strange that he’s so calm in this situation. What the heck is your identity??’ she wondered.

Although there was no change in his expression, Kang Woo-jin was slightly startled inside.

‘…Did I get caught? I tried to keep the sound down when I farted,’ he thought.

He wondered if his secretly passed fart had been caught.

Back then.

About an hour after Kang Woo-jin started his interview shoot, various portal sites began to fill up with articles about Director Woo Hyun-gu.

『[Breaking] YouTuber Who Exposed the Ugly Truth of ‘Master’ Director Woo Hyun-gu, Video Views Explode』

『Another Scandal in the Film Industry, More Than Five Victims of Sexual Harassment, Assault, and Threats… Big Shot Director Woo Hyun-gu Remains Silent』

His dirty behavior was being reported in detail. It was only a matter of time before it spread to many areas through the mouths and fingers of the fast-moving public. Director Woo Hyun-gu was silent, but it seemed clear that he would fall into a pit full of filth.

While the world was being completely covered with Director Woo Hyun-gu’s story.

Around late afternoon, the interview shoot with the actors, including Kang Woo-jin, ended. The dozens of staff members were still talking about Director Woo Hyun-gu while cleaning up.

The actors who hadn’t left their seats were the same. At this time, Hong Hye-yeon suddenly stood up.

-Swish.

She stuck close to Kang Woo-jin, who was getting up from his chair. Soon, a pleasant fragrance wafted towards Woo-jin. But he maintained a blank expression. Hong Hye-yeon whispered to him.

“Did you know when you exposed him?”

“What do you mean?”

“Director Woo Hyun-gu. Did you know when you exposed him?”

Ah—that story? Kang Woo-jin had already heard about Director Woo Hyun-gu’s situation.

But his reaction wasn’t as big as the other actors. It was just, ‘So that’s why he was F-grade.’ He knew the future hints. Of course, he cursed that director as trash inside.

But he couldn’t say that.

Honestly, Kang Woo-jin didn’t know that the F-grade would explode with this kind of incident. Well, he thought it would be something like a box office bomb. Even if it was something else, he thought it would happen later.

‘I thought at least the movie would be released,’ he mused.

By that time, a few months would have passed, people’s memories would be a bit hazy, and there was a possibility that he could vaguely deny or gloss over it. But the incident arrived sooner than expected.

‘I’d be dumbfounded too, my gut feeling would look like some kind of future prediction, right? Ah, is it somewhat similar?’

Whatever it was, Kang Woo-jin, looking at Hong Hye-yeon, maintained his cynicism while pondering. But when he thought about it, it wasn’t that big of a problem. Well, he’d just get through it smoothly this time too.

There was no evidence anywhere.

What could he do if there was no evidence? In Kang Woo-jin’s view, the word ‘gut feeling’ seemed like it would be used often in the future. Then it would be better if it was a bit more accurate. Still, Kang Woo-jin was slightly nervous. At this point, Hong Hye-yeon, who was close to Woo-jin, asked again. The pleasant fragrance intensified.

“You said you exposed Director Woo Hyun-gu with your gut feeling. But it was too accurate.”

Expression management. First, calm down. After completing an intense mental control inside, Woo-jin recited the answer he had decided on in a low voice.

“It’s a coincidence.”

“…A coincidence?”

“Yes, a coincidence.”

Hong Hye-yeon took this even more seriously.

“So, you exposed Director Woo Hyun-gu with your gut feeling, and it just happened to be a coincidence that it all matched up and this happened?”

“That’s how it turned out.”

“No, that doesn’t make sense… but why are you so calm?”

“Should I be jumping up and down?”

At that moment, Choi Sung-gun, with the eyes of a startled rabbit, ran onto the stage. He also stuck close to Kang Woo-jin’s right side.

“Woo-jin, explain about Director Woo Hyun-gu.”

“It’s a coincidence.”

“R-right… right? It’s obviously a coincidence, but the timing is too perfect,” Choi Sung-gun said, trailing off as he checked Kang Woo-jin’s face. It was firm and unwavering. It couldn’t be a lie. No, it had to be a coincidence. It couldn’t be a lie.

If it wasn’t.

‘It’s to the point where I’d believe he’s an alien,’ he thought.

It was hard to see him as a human.

‘Anyway, his gut feeling is insane? And he didn’t even see Director Woo Hyun-gu? Some kind of monster instinct… but why is he so indifferent?’

And outside the stage, one person was quietly watching Kang Woo-jin, who had Hong Hye-yeon and Choi Sung-gun on both sides.

‘This must be a coincidence. The situation must have just matched up. The problem is that guy’s intuition that hit that situation right on the mark,’ thought PD Song Man-woo with the beard.

To him, Kang Woo-jin was already out of the ordinary. A mysterious monster actor shrouded in an opaque past.

‘Totem… honestly, it was half a joke, but at this point, whether it’s a coincidence or not, it’s at the level of being blessed by a god,’ PD Song Man-woo muttered inside, moving his feet to approach Kang Woo-jin. But.

-Swish.

At that moment, Kang Woo-jin and PD Song Man-woo made eye contact. It was then that Woo-jin noticed that PD Song Man-woo was nearby.

‘Ah, is that guy going to stick to me too? Please hold back,’ he thought.

PD Song Man-woo, who had stopped walking, felt it from Kang Woo-jin’s cold, expressionless face.

‘He’s unbelievably detached. As if this kind of thing is nothing,’ he thought.

To that strange one, this kind of incident was just everyday life. At this moment, no one knew, but in the wide studio.

‘That opaque, lonely, and silently walked past, these kinds of situations happened often.’

Errors and misunderstandings were rampant like crazy.

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────