I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 355

When Kang Woo-jin first arrived at the screening room for the ‘Bizarre Stranger’ preview, he felt a strong urge to cause a scene after seeing the chaos inside.

The reason was simple.

“Did you call that a movie?! You’ve completely ruined the original work!”

The excited shouts of hundreds of audience members echoed through the screening room. The movie theater staff, who had been glancing at Woo-jin with curiosity, and the distributor of ‘Bizarre Stranger’ stopped him, trying to dissuade him.

“Um—it might be better not to go in right now.”

“Yes, please wait until things calm down, or maybe skip this showing.”

The distributor spoke as if they were used to this kind of situation. And they were. ‘Bizarre Stranger’ had held more than twice the usual number of previews, and each time, most people, including reporters, had been agitated. Of course, the audience previews were several times louder. However, Kang Woo-jin hadn’t been present at those previous screenings, but this time he was.

“If Woo-jin goes in there, they’ll probably get even more worked up.”

Woo-jin’s face was indifferent, but inside, he strongly agreed.

‘True, if I go in there now, something might fly at me.’

However, with his current cool and tough persona, showing weakness was a mistake. Woo-jin tried to calm himself and replied nonchalantly.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“……Excuse me?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Ah.”

No big deal. That’s how Kang Woo-jin entered the screening room filled with agitated viewers. Well, once he was inside, he wasn’t that nervous.

‘I’ve been to Cannes, this is nothing.’

However, he had to maintain an even stronger poker face than usual. After all, the atmosphere in this screening room was hostile. The appearance of Kang Woo-jin surprised Director Kyotaro and the Japanese actors of ‘Bizarre Stranger.’ It was understandable. Kang Woo-jin’s presence in Japan had been a rather rushed affair. In fact, he didn’t even have to come. Kang Woo-jin had insisted on coming anyway.

Still, he was the lead in the movie, so he had to make an appearance at the stage greetings a few times.

Naturally, the hundreds of audience members also stopped moving and shouting as soon as they saw Woo-jin. It was truly an unexpected appearance.

And then.

“……Kang Woo-jin?”

“Didn’t they say he wasn’t coming?”

“What a surprise.”

The immense prestige of the ‘Cannes Film Festival Best Actor’ award, which had taken the world by storm, also played a significant role. Whatever the reason, Kang Woo-jin lowered his voice, addressing the hundreds of audience members.

‘I’m going to go even harder than usual.’

Of course, it was all intentional aloofness.

“Hello, I’m Kang Woo-jin, who played ‘Iyota Kiyoshi’ in ‘Bizarre Stranger’.”

The hundreds of audience members, except for the hardcore fans of the original ‘Bizarre Stranger,’ were speechless. Some even had their mouths agape, unable to believe they were seeing Kang Woo-jin in person. Amidst the sudden silence, whispers spread among the audience.

“Kang Woo-jin… he’s definitely different from the other actors—somehow.”

“He hasn’t done anything big, but he’s incredibly… heavy, isn’t he?”

“Right. What do they call that? The top of the tops, or something?”

“His presence is truly absurd.”

Everyone was overwhelmed by Kang Woo-jin’s control. The entire screening room, which had been noisy just moments before, became as quiet as a mouse. It was a bonus.

“……”

“……”

Director Kyotaro let out a small chuckle.

‘It felt like a war was about to break out—but just the appearance of the actor Kang Woo-jin has calmed things down so easily?’

It was a sight he had never seen before, even as a veteran director with decades of experience.

‘He’s already become a world-class star.’

The actors of ‘Bizarre Stranger’ all felt the same as Director Kyotaro. They were also looking at Kang Woo-jin with wonder, so how could the audience not be? Mana Kosaku, with a serious face, muttered sincerely. Of course, in his mind.

‘How is that the aura of a two-year-old actor?’

At this point.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin, who had been greeting the audience, handed the microphone he was holding to Mana Kosaku. With a serious expression, he gave a small bow to Woo-jin.

“Thank you.”

He moved one space over, taking the first spot next to Director Kyotaro among the actors. After all, Kang Woo-jin was the main lead of ‘Bizarre Stranger.’ Only after Woo-jin took his place were the main actors of ‘Bizarre Stranger’ complete.

“Hello, I’m Mana Kosaku, who plays the detective ‘Yoshizawa Mochio’ in ‘Bizarre Stranger’.”

The stage greeting proceeded as if nothing had happened. By this time, the hundreds of audience members were behaving completely differently than they had just a few minutes ago.

-Swish.

They were all busy taking out their phones and taking pictures of Kang Woo-jin.

About 30 minutes later.

The ‘Bizarre Stranger’ team, having finished their stage greeting at the audience preview, left the screening room. Soon, the Japanese actors swarmed Kang Woo-jin with questions, but Director Kyotaro intervened, and things calmed down a bit. Then, he asked Woo-jin.

“Woo-jin-ssi, are you alright? I heard your schedule was impossible, whether in Korea or overseas.”

Kang Woo-jin nodded silently and replied.

“It’s tight. I have to go back to Korea this afternoon.”

“So you came while filming ‘Beneficial Evil’?”

“Yes. But I got permission. If I make a quick and impactful appearance, there won’t be any problems.”

“Haha, thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I couldn’t just skip the stage greeting for ‘Bizarre Stranger’.”

“But why is the media so quiet even though Woo-jin-ssi came?”

“I came in secretly.”

As a result, Woo-jin decided to do stage greetings at a total of four screening rooms, including the one just before. After that, he would immediately go back to Korea without any time to rest. Right now, Kang Woo-jin probably saw Japan and Korea as being as close as Seoul and Gyeonggi Province [a province surrounding Seoul].

Around the time Kang Woo-jin was doing the stage greetings for ‘Bizarre Stranger’.

『Cannes Best Actor「Kang Woo-jin」, Makes Surprise Appearance at ‘Bizarre Stranger’ Preview Stage Greeting/Photo』

The Japanese media was frantically publishing articles after receiving the news. The audience members who had been in the previous screening room had already spread pictures of Kang Woo-jin on social media.

『「Kang Woo-jin」Surprise Visit to Japan, Did He Sneak In?』

『「Kang Woo-jin」Suddenly Appears at ‘Bizarre Stranger’ Preview Screening Room, Eyewitness Accounts Pile Up on Audience SNS』

『’Bizarre Stranger’ One Week Until Release, Was the Man of Cannes 「Kang Woo-jin」Also Concerned?』

It was a hectic half-day. After somehow completing all the stage greetings, Woo-jin moved to Haneda Airport without any time to spare that same afternoon. In the meantime, Kang Woo-jin called Choi Sung-gun in the van. Choi Sung-gun, who was handling the backlog of work in Korea, always answered Woo-jin’s calls, even when he was busy.

“Oh, Woo-jin. Did you finish your schedule in Japan? Ah, I should have gone with you.”

“It’s alright. I finished everything well, CEO.”

Kang Woo-jin, in a low voice, stated his decision.

“And I’m going to reject all the scripts and scenarios that came in from overseas this time.”

“…Okay. ‘Jurassic Land 4’ as well?”

“Yes. All of them.”

Kang Woo-jin turned down all the projects, including ‘Jurassic Land 4.’ Choi Sung-gun, on the other end of the phone, didn’t seem surprised either.

“Okay, I’ll take care of everything.”

Then, Kang Woo-jin arrived at Haneda Airport. His entry had been quiet because he had snuck in, but his departure was not.

-Flash! Flash!

-Flash! Flash!!

Hundreds of Japanese reporters, even more fans, and onlookers greeted Kang Woo-jin at the airport. But there was no time to linger. Woo-jin waved to them appropriately, completed the procedures, and entered the passage to the plane. What was unique here was Kang Woo-jin’s feelings. He had taken a regular plane when he entered Japan, but this time was different.

‘Woah—shit, crazy! Is that… a private jet??!’

Kang Woo-jin was beholding the private jet that was a gift from Chairman Hideki.

‘Damn!! My private jet??! Is this for real!’

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

At the same time, in Korea.

While Kang Woo-jin was causing a stir in Japan, Korea was buzzing with his issues. The aftermath of the ‘Cannes Film Festival’ and ‘Leech’ was still ongoing.

『’Leech,’ Confirmed for Release on October 27th, Movie Theaters Rush to Open Advance Booking Dates/Photo』

Overseas, ‘Leech’ was still being discussed, and the situation was no different domestically. On top of that, there were the consecutive incidents with Miley Cara and ‘Bizarre Stranger,’ and so on.

Currently, Kang Woo-jin’s brand power in Korea was at a supreme level.

So, naturally, various projects related to him also received attention.

『[Star Talk] ‘Kang Woo-jin’s’ ‘Beneficial Evil,’ Interest Increases Worldwide After Cannes Film Festival↑』

『Netflix Also Benefiting from Kang Woo-jin’s Power… Will They Properly Support ‘Beneficial Evil’ Launching ‘Worldwide’?』

Major and medium-sized media outlets in Korea were also on edge, paying close attention to Kang Woo-jin, who was their best-selling subject. Among them, the major media outlet ‘Power Patch,’ which had a past connection with Woo-jin, was no different. The editor-in-chief, with a wide face, entered the entertainment news office, which resembled a flea market.

-Swish.

The editor-in-chief, unfazed by the noisy chatter of the reporters, immediately tapped the shoulder of a reporter with dark circles and square glasses, who was sitting close to his office, and gestured.

“Come in here.”

The reporter, slightly grumbling, followed the editor-in-chief. The reporter with square glasses had also attended the Cannes Film Festival and had secured an interview with Kang Woo-jin. Then, as he entered the editor-in-chief’s office, the wide-faced editor-in-chief, who was sitting on the edge of his desk, said.

“Hey, have you seen this?”

The editor-in-chief held out his phone. A photo of what seemed to be a filming set was displayed on the screen, and the reporter with square glasses, tilting his head, replied.

“What is this?”

“I got it from Bangkok, don’t you know?”

“I don’t.”

“Hmm—it seems to be spreading little by little on Bangkok’s SNS and communities? I also got it through someone I know in Bangkok.”

“Yes. But so what?”

“No, you idiot. Look at the picture carefully.”

The reporter, scratching his chin, put his face close to the editor-in-chief’s phone. There were several cameras and filming equipment, and dozens of staff. It was clearly a filming set. It was a slightly wide shot taken from the back. The editor-in-chief pointed at one man with his index finger.

“Don’t you know who this is?”

The reporter, looking closely, exclaimed and replied.

“Kang Woo-jin?”

“Yes. Kang Woo-jin.”

“……”

The reporter paused for a moment and then clapped his hands.

“This is a location shot from ‘Beneficial Evil.’ Right? ‘Beneficial Evil’ went to Bangkok this time.”

“That’s right.”

“So? If we wait a bit, ‘Beneficial Evil’ will release these kinds of shots on their own. It doesn’t seem that important. Well, it could be useful for attracting attention beforehand.”

“Listen to the end.”

The editor-in-chief’s index finger, with narrowed brows, moved. A woman standing slightly away from Kang Woo-jin in the phone screen.

“This blonde woman. Who do you think she is?”

“……Wait a minute.”

The reporter’s face became serious as he put his face even closer to the phone. It was a bit blurry, and it wasn’t a full frontal view of the woman, but her silhouette and atmosphere, along with her distinct blonde hair, were quite familiar.

After staring intently at the woman for a while, the reporter with square glasses uttered the name that came to his mind in a low voice.

“Could it be Miley… Cara?”

Meanwhile, in LA.

It was early afternoon in Japan and Korea, but it was late at night in LA. Nevertheless, the lights of downtown LA were dazzling, and two large vans were driving along the road. In the front van sat a familiar blonde-haired woman. It was Miley Cara, who had been incredibly busy with the release of her new album recently.

“……”

With her blonde hair down, she was heading to the recording studio after completing her packed schedule for the day. She was currently sitting by the window, silently looking down at her phone. Then, Cara looked up and smiled slightly. She was looking at Jonathan, who had a buzz cut, sitting across from her.

“300 million views.”

Cara murmured and held up her phone to show Jonathan. Her phone screen displayed the music video of her new song uploaded on her YouTube channel.

-【alcoholism(feat. WooJin)】｜Miley Cara

-300 million views

Jonathan also grinned and gave a thumbs up.

“It was 290 million views around lunchtime. Congratulations, Cara.”

“We should all be congratulated. Besides, isn’t it quite rare to surpass hundreds of millions of views in such a short period?”

“Yeah, about 5 years. It’s a collaboration between you and Kang Woo-jin.”

“The gifts won’t be enough for his house. Anyway, I should send him a DM [Direct Message].”

As she lowered her head to her phone again, Jonathan, with his arms crossed, asked something else.

“But are you really not going to read any of the projects that are coming in?”

Cara, with her eyes on her phone, brushed her blonde hair and replied.

“Yeah. I’ll wait for Joseph. It would be a waste if I read something else and it was interesting. It’s better not to look at them at all.”

“Hmm—”

At that moment, Miley Cara showed her phone to Jonathan again.

“Do you think Kang Woo-jin will react a bit if he sees this?”

“Probably. His overseas recognition and your YouTube and SNS will explode even more, 100%.”

“He’s a man who doesn’t show his emotions very well.”

Cara’s phone displayed the new Billboard chart that had been updated this week.

[Billboard Hot 100]

-1. alcoholism(feat. WooJin)/ Miley Cara (New this week!)

·

·

·

Kang Woo-jin’s name was at the top of the Billboard chart.

End