I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 408

When Kang Woo-jin first saw Maria Armas, it was more out of curiosity. Maria was in plain sight when Woo-jin had just arrived at the 50,000-pyeong [approximately 165 acres] super-large set, ‘SPT Studio.’ Choi Sung-gun was the first to react.

“Oh, that actress.”

Then, she came into Kang Woo-jin’s view. Of course, he didn’t remember her name. Like Chris Hartnett, he knew she was a Hollywood actress. However, one thing was certain.

‘Wow, she’s incredibly gorgeous. Her aura is something else.’

She definitely had a sophisticated aura. Especially her brown eyes were striking. Soon, Choi Sung-gun said her name.

“You know that actress, right? Maria Armas. She’s one of the candidates for the role of ‘Beauty Bella’ along with Miley Cara. Judging by her vibe, she’s often compared to Miley Cara.”

Maria Armas? Honestly, even after hearing it, the name didn’t immediately register. Anyway, Kang Woo-jin pretended to know her with a low tone.

“Yes, I’ve seen her.”

“She doesn’t do singing activities as openly as Cara, but she’s famous for her great singing ability in Hollywood. She’s also good at musicals. And her looks are said to be on par with Miley’s.”

“……”

Kang Woo-jin carefully observed Maria’s face a few steps away. Both of the mentioned actresses were exceptionally beautiful, but there was no need to compare them. It was a different kind of beauty, you could say? Of course, that was Kang Woo-jin’s thought. At this point, Choi Sung-gun nudged Woo-jin’s shoulder.

“Let’s go say hello.”

And then Kang Woo-jin heard it.

“I don’t like him.”

Maria’s Spanish backbiting about him. The timing was so absurd it was ridiculous. But there was no way Choi Sung-gun could understand Spanish.

“Huh—English suddenly turned into Spanish? It is Spanish, right?”

Only Woo-jin could understand her backbiting. It was as if he had gained Spanish while ‘reading’ (experiencing) ‘Jurassic Land 4’.

“He’s a little… lacking to be the ‘Beast.’ No, he doesn’t suit the ‘Prince’ more than the ‘Beast.’ The ‘Prince’ should be more handsome.”

‘Look at this? Is she dissing me? Is she saying that if you’re pretty, you can get away with anything?’ Kang Woo-jin’s no-backing-down nature was slowly rising. No, it wasn’t a situation that he could tolerate, whether it was from his concept or his actual personality, when someone was talking smack about him right in front of him. So, Kang Woo-jin blurted out. In Spanish, of course.

“You’re uglier than Miley Cara.”

Maria Armas was visibly flustered looking at Kang Woo-jin right in front of her. At the same time, her face slightly distorted. First of all, the fact that the Korean actor spoke Spanish like a native was unexpected.

‘What, what? Why does he know Spanish?’

This was not only for her, but also for the foreign staff and Choi Sung-gun there.

‘……S, Spanish??!’

Everyone looked at Woo-jin with wide eyes. Regardless, his expression remained indifferent. He was just staring at Maria, who was a step away. Around that time, Maria narrowed her brows.

“What—what did you just say?”

It was Spanish, as expected, and she put her pride first. It was a bit much to be backbitten, but the words Kang Woo-jin had said bothered her. ‘Am I uglier than anyone?’ However, Woo-jin had no intention of easing the atmosphere and repeated the same words nonchalantly.

“I said you’re uglier than Miley Cara.”

“……Hey.”

“There’s a saying in Korea. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

“???”

When a question mark appeared on Maria’s face, who was frowning, Woo-jin simply explained the meaning.

“It roughly means to pay back as you’ve been treated.”

“……”

Maria bit her lower lip slightly. In terms of personality, she wanted to snap back immediately, but since she had already done something wrong, she was forcibly suppressing her annoyance. Although her eyes were intense, Kang Woo-jin leisurely extended his hand to Maria.

-Swish.

This time, he spoke in English so that everyone could hear.

“I’m Kang Woo-jin, please take care of me today.”

Perhaps because of the surrounding gazes, Maria, who had been glaring at Woo-jin, had no choice but to take his hand.

“Yes. Nice to meet you.”

Kang Woo-jin, who briefly shook the hand he was holding a couple of times, moved first. Choi Sung-gun and the team members followed behind. Then, Choi Sung-gun glanced at Maria in the back and asked Woo-jin.

“What was that? What were you two talking about in Spanish?”

Kang Woo-jin’s answer, with a strong poker face, was concise.

“We were just complimenting each other’s looks.”

“…It didn’t seem like a complimenting atmosphere.”

“That can’t be.”

“Really? Hmm—No! More importantly. Hey Woo-jin, when did you learn Spanish…”

Choi Sung-gun, who was about to ask something, sighed softly and put on a fake smile.

“No, never mind. Well, it’s probably amazing even if I hear it.”

And Maria, who was standing behind, still glaring at Kang Woo-jin’s back.

“Annoying.”

She felt a sense of defeat for the first time in a while.

“Why… why does he know Spanish?”

About 30 minutes later.

Kang Woo-jin, who had been here before, participated in the audition as the actor for the ‘Beast’ role, not as a candidate actor. The numerous chandeliers on the ceiling, the pillars with various patterns, and the marble floor with colorful paintings. The magnificent set banquet hall filled his eyes once again.

Woo-jin, already in a blue banquet suit, was among many foreign staff members.

He was talking with director Bill Lautner, who had a half-bald head.

“Mr. Woo-jin, you don’t have to overdo it. Just play the piano piece you played at the last audition with the feeling of the ‘Beast’.”

“Yes, director.”

“We won’t play the whole piece. First, we’ll look at the two-shot with the ‘Beast’, and then we’ll check the one-shots of the ‘Beauty Bella’ candidates.”

For reference, Kang Woo-jin, who participated in the ‘Beauty Bella’ audition today, was not doing it for free. Of course, there would be a corresponding price. It was a picture that was made after prior consultation between Choi Sung-gun and ‘World Disney Pictures’.

At that time.

-Swish.

A yellow dress-wearing actress appeared in the set banquet hall. It was Maria Armas, with her brown hair styled into a blonde look. As she appeared with a rather large gold necklace around her neck, director Bill Lautner, who was talking to Woo-jin, went to Maria. It was to explain about the audition, and Maria, who was listening to the briefing.

“……”

She kept glancing at Kang Woo-jin. He felt her gaze, but Woo-jin ignored it.

‘Is she a little intimidated??’

Ten minutes later. Several cameras and lights were set up, and many people other than director Bill Lautner and key staff members took their seats. It was when Kang Woo-jin was walking towards the golden piano placed in the set banquet hall.

“Ahem!”

A cough was heard from behind. Woo-jin, with a stiff expression, turned his head. Maria in a dress was behind him and spoke with a slightly sulky face. It was in Spanish.

“Earlier—”

Meanwhile, Maria was boiling inside.

‘Tsk, why did the situation turn out like this.’

But now, it was important to clean up the mess first.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean it.”

Kang Woo-jin also replied in a low voice in Spanish.

“It’s okay, I know you meant it.”

“Huh?”

“But it won’t have much of an impact on the audition. I’m a professional.”

Kang Woo-jin, who only said what he had to say, walked away briskly. Maria, who was staring blankly at his back. It was the first time she had been treated like this. Then she could feel it.

‘What, what kind of crazy guy is that!’

That Kang Woo-jin was more than just a weirdo.

Whatever the case, the audition proceeded without any problems, as Woo-jin had said.

-Swish.

The ‘Beast,’ or Kang Woo-jin, sat at the golden piano, and Maria in a dress stood in the center of the banquet hall. Soon, director Bill Lautner’s signal to start rang out. Soon, Woo-jin’s piano melody spread throughout the banquet hall.

-♬♪

During the audition, it started with the ‘Prince,’ but now it was a rough performance with the texture of the ‘Beast’.

Following that.

“!!!”

Maria’s eyes widened for a moment, as if surprised by Woo-jin’s piano skills. But soon.

“……”

Maria, catching her breath, opened her mouth. She started singing to the piano melody. Her usual blunt voice changed. What should I say, clear and pure? She had already started acting. She looked at Kang Woo-jin playing the piano as if he were the ‘Beast’ and continued to sing with difficulty. Director Bill Lautner, who was watching this scene on the monitor.

He stroked his chin as if judging the synchronization between the two.

‘Hmm—good.’

As expected, Maria, who was ranked first by the public as ‘Beauty Bella’, fit well into the picture, and after standing still and singing for a while, she now.

-Swish.

She started dancing alone to the piano melody.

How many tens of minutes had passed?

“Cut.”

Maria’s dance stopped at the director’s signal. Soon, Kang Woo-jin left the piano, and it was her turn for a solo performance. Woo-jin stood among the foreign staff and watched her performance.

‘She’s good.’

As expected, it wasn’t for nothing that she had become a top Hollywood actress. Maria’s acting was quite captivating. That’s how Maria Armas’ audition ended. She greeted the director and staff and was leaving the set banquet hall.

“……”

She made eye contact with Kang Woo-jin, but there was no particular reaction. Of course, Woo-jin was the same. They just exchanged strange glances before Maria disappeared.

Ten minutes later, the one who took over Maria’s baton was.

“Hello—”

It was a familiar voice, a blonde woman. Blonde hair down to her chest and blue eyes. It was Miley Cara. Unlike Maria earlier, she.

“Look at this.”

She gave Kang Woo-jin a faint smile and treated him very kindly.

“I told you, right? That you would play the piano for my audition. I already said it, but congratulations on the ‘Beast’ role.”

In the relaxed atmosphere, Woo-jin internally let out a sigh of relief, like ‘as expected,’ while also.

‘Miley Cara is the real deal!’

On the outside, he amplified his concept.

“Please take care of me.”

“Is this the second time you’ve seen my dress? Please take care of me too.”

It was 15 minutes later that Miley Cara reappeared in the set banquet hall wearing a pale yellow dress. Kang Woo-jin was already in front of the golden piano. The composition was the same as with Maria before. Woo-jin, sitting at the piano, glanced at Cara standing in the center of the banquet hall. Even though it was the same dress, the atmosphere was completely different.

‘Is it because she’s a proper blonde? The dress seems to suit her better.’

This was the same for director Bill Lautner, who was watching the monitor. Certainly, Maria was also good, but it was hard to take his eyes off Miley Cara’s figure now.

‘The picture is several times better. It’s not a difference in looks or appearance, it’s her unique characteristic. It’s energy.’

More than anything.

‘The two-shot with Kang Woo-jin is also…’

Whether on the monitor or in reality, the two actors in the set banquet hall were a perfect match. This was director Bill Lautner’s first impression.

Soon.

“You can start when you’re ready.”

At the director’s signal, the piano performance of ‘Beast’ Kang Woo-jin in a blue banquet suit began again, and Cara, who had entered the ‘Beauty Bella’ performance, glanced at Woo-jin with difficulty and opened her mouth. She was looking at the ‘Beast’.

-♬♪

It was neat, but the end of Cara’s pitch trembled slightly. A mistake? But in the eyes of director Bill Lautner, who witnessed this scene on the monitor, this place was no longer a set banquet hall. It was the real castle of the ‘Beast’, filled with coldness.

‘……This is.’

Director Bill Lautner was now watching ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

Late afternoon on the same day.

Time flew by quickly. Kang Woo-jin, who had finished the ‘Beauty Bella’ audition, had already arrived at ‘World Disney Pictures’. Of course, director Bill Lautner was also with him. And Kang Woo-jin had to hear the meeting content that made his jaw drop again. The amount to be specified in the contract. In other words, Kang Woo-jin’s value.

‘Crazy!!!’

Thanks to his concept, he barely managed to hold it in, but the situation where money beyond imagination was being exchanged was still unfamiliar to Woo-jin. ‘Does that much money even exist in the world??’ He asked himself internally, but the negotiations taking place in front of him were real.

The meeting lasted about 2 hours.

Although everything was not finalized this time, many things were adjusted, and the next destination was ‘Columbia Studio’. It was like flashing east and west in Hollywood. During the move, Kang Woo-jin had to make several fixes regarding the work that Choi Sung-gun was throwing at him.

“Woo-jin, after ‘Jamie Show’, the offers are exploding, exploding.”

Offers were pouring in from numerous places other than American media companies and broadcasting companies. Even from super-large YouTube channels. But it was impossible to handle them all.

‘There’s no need to go on all of them.’

Kang Woo-jin decided that there was no need to overexpose his image now. Even if he stayed still, they would suck up to him, so why bother running around in a hurry? It was a rough thought, but it was close to the answer.

Currently, articles covering Kang Woo-jin in foreign media were exploding every day.

『LA TIME/The world’s media is buzzing over the news of Kang Woo-jin’s confirmation for the ‘Beast’ role』

『BBX/Kang Woo-jin, the man of Columbia and Disney, explosive interest from the world’s public amid mixed reactions』

『CNM/”It’s okay to criticize after watching the work” Kang Woo-jin’s remarks, confidence or arrogance?』

A few days later, in the morning, Choi Sung-gun and the team members gathered at Kang Woo-jin’s house. While having a simple meal with bread, Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail, closed the diary he had opened and said.

“It’s time to start planning our return to Korea.”

It meant that the rather long schedule in LA was coming to an end. As expected, the solemn Woo-jin nodded his head. At that moment.

-Vvvv, Vvvv.

His cell phone vibrated long. It was a call, and when he looked at the caller, it was Miley Cara. Woo-jin, who had asked for Choi Sung-gun’s understanding, put his cell phone to his ear and lowered his voice.

“Yes, hello.”

On the other hand, Cara’s voice on the other end of the phone was slightly excited.

“Yes, good morning, ‘Beast’ Mr. I’m calling as ‘Beauty Bella’ now.”

And at the same time, there was an official announcement from ‘World Disney Pictures’.

『CNM/’World Disney Pictures’ announces ‘Beauty Bella’ role following ‘Beast’ Kang Woo-jin, “Beauty Bella is Miley Cara”』

It was the moment when ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was completed.