I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 46

On the big screen, their friend Kang Woo-jin appeared in the movie. What kind of crazy situation was this? Sometimes, when you’re too flustered, your actions and thoughts just freeze.

The trio watching ‘Errand Agency’ were exactly like that.

Starting with the burly Kim Dae-young.

‘Wait, Kang Woo-jin?! What are you doing there?! No, why are you there?! Damn it, what the hell is going on?!’

Lee Kyung-sung dropped the popcorn he was holding.

‘Crazy! Are my eyes playing tricks on me? They’re fine! Kang Woo-jin? Seriously, Kang Woo-jin?!’

Na Hyung-gu’s eyes widened, his mouth hanging open.

‘A d-dream??! Damn it, there’s no way it’s a dream?! Then, Woo-jin, what the hell are you doing there??’

It was as if the three childhood friends were going crazy inside, even though they weren’t moving. They were on the verge of losing it. If there weren’t people around, they would have been slapping each other’s cheeks repeatedly. That’s how shocking Kang Woo-jin’s face was on the giant screen.

‘Wow, I’m losing it!!’

‘Hey, Kang Woo-jin, answer me, you bastard!! What are you doing there?!’

‘Ah, right. It must be someone who looks like him? Yeah, it’s probably someone who looks like him. Yeah. No… is it really just someone who looks like him??’

It was a mental assault for the trio.

Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin, who was watching his childhood friends’ heads from behind, was…

‘Hah!’

He was desperately trying to hold back his laughter. He hadn’t intended to, but seeing them like that made it hard to resist.

The reason was simple.

His three friends right now were…

‘Are they meerkats? Oh, I’m dying.’

They looked like meerkats sitting there. They would crane their necks to look at the screen, then look left and right at each other’s faces. How could he not laugh? It was a crisis for Woo-jin.

‘I didn’t know the back of their heads could be this funny.’

Among the trio looking at the screen, Na Hyung-gu slowly lowered his head and whispered to Lee Kyung-sung next to him.

‘Hey… slap me once on the cheek.’

Lee Kyung-sung, still holding the popcorn container, frowned and whispered.

‘Shu… shut up. I’m not in the mood for that.’

‘It’s Kang Woo-jin, right?’

‘Does it not look like him? If that’s not Kang Woo-jin, then who is it?’

‘R-right?’

Kim Dae-young, who was slightly dazed, managed to say quietly.

‘W-wait a minute, guys, let’s calm down a bit.’

‘You calm down. Your eyes are about to pop out.’

The trio simultaneously looked back at the screen. Kang Woo-jin was still passionately acting as Kim Ryu-jin. Yes, that was definitely Kang Woo-jin. At first, they couldn’t believe it, but now the trio acknowledged that the person in the movie was Kang Woo-jin. No, they acknowledged it, but they couldn’t process it.

They were denying reality.

If a friend you’ve seen naked in the bathhouse suddenly appeared on a movie screen, anyone would react that way.

Soon, Kim Dae-young raised his burly arms and rubbed his eyes. The other friends also expressed their bewilderment in their own ways. From this point on, the trio began to mix the content of the short film ‘Errand Agency’ with Kang Woo-jin’s acting. Okay, let’s say he’s in the movie. But why is it only him?

Kim Dae-young, who was interested in acting, realized.

‘……He’s even the main character??’

That Kang Woo-jin in the movie was the main character, not a minor role. Even though ‘Errand Agency’ had been playing for over five minutes, only Kang Woo-jin kept appearing on the screen. ‘Errand Agency’ was a short film, not a commercial one. So, Kang Woo-jin, who was leading the story from the beginning, was definitely the male lead.

At this point.

‘Hey, hey.’

Na Hyung-gu, who was sitting at the end, lowered his voice and spoke to his friends.

‘Let’s go out first, and then call Kang Woo-jin or talk to him.’

He seemed unable to concentrate any longer due to the shock he had received. However, the remaining friends, Kim Dae-young and Lee Kyung-sung, shook their heads with stiff faces.

‘No. Let’s just watch. Let’s watch it all and then talk.’

‘Agreed.’

In the end, Na Hyung-gu, who had made the suggestion, followed his friends’ decision and looked back at the screen. At this time, Kang Woo-jin, or rather, Kim Ryu-jin, was in a car.

-♬♪

A trot song [Korean pop music genre] echoed throughout the movie theater. Kim Ryu-jin naturally lowered the volume. Thanks to that, the characters’ lines became clearer.

[‘Can you kill those bastards? How much does it cost to kill them?’]

Kim Ryu-jin delivered the indifferent line to the angry client.

[‘500 million per head.’]

[‘That’s expensive.’]

[‘I’m kidding, pal. There’s no way I’d do something like that.’]

[‘Is there no discount? Like a telecom or credit card discount?’]

[‘Hey, are you listening to me? Do I look like someone who makes pizza or hamburgers?’]

Clearly, ‘Errand Agency’ had considerable quality for a short film. Above all, the sound was realistic and meticulous. The characters’ breaths, the sounds of touching objects, the dialogue, the sound effects. It was clear to anyone that they had put a lot of effort into the sound.

‘I’m going crazy, really.’

Among the trio, who were gradually getting drawn into the movie, Kim Dae-young, who had the most knowledge of acting, was becoming increasingly bewildered.

‘It’s crazy enough that Kang Woo-jin is there, but why is his acting so insane?? Why is he so good at acting?’

Kang Woo-jin’s acting as Kim Ryu-jin was absurd. It was almost an understatement to call it natural. There was no other way to describe Kang Woo-jin on the screen other than as Kim Ryu-jin. That’s how vivid his acting was.

But why? Why could Kang Woo-jin do such acting?

At that moment, a few past scenes with Kang Woo-jin flashed through Kim Dae-young’s mind. It started when they went to the ‘Super Actor’ audition together.

‘Yeah, come to think of it, he was a bit strange that day too.’

Woo-jin had been acting strangely since the end of the audition, and he had even become interested in scenarios and scripts, which he had never cared about before. A guy who didn’t even enjoy content.

‘Ah, right. That’s it! I even gave him the ‘Errand Agency’ scenario, didn’t I?’

The ‘Errand Agency’ scenario that had been passed on to Kang Woo-jin. After that, for some reason, Woo-jin had asked about various things related to short films. It was exactly from that time. That was when Kang Woo-jin had stopped showing his face, saying he was busy.

Kim Dae-young, who was staring intently at the screen, pieced together his own puzzle.

‘……So, what is it? He just looked at the scenario for a bit, auditioned, and got the main role? And all that time he said he was busy was for filming?’

Everything seemed to fit perfectly, but Kim Dae-young shook his head slightly. Regardless of the circumstances, it didn’t make sense.

‘A guy who’s been designing his whole life, doing acting overnight?’

However, no matter how much he denied it, reality didn’t change. Kang Woo-jin, still acting as Kim Ryu-jin, was passionately performing on the screen. Of course, Kang Woo-jin was also among the audience, not just on the screen.

‘At first, they were gaping like goldfish, but now they’re watching intently. It’s a bit embarrassing.’

Kang Woo-jin, who had covered his face with a hat and mask, chuckled quietly. It felt like he was watching a hidden camera show. Then, Woo-jin scratched his chin as he looked back and forth between the screen and the back of the trio’s heads.

‘Ah, well, it was a bit early to be revealed, honestly.’

The timing he had set to tell his friends was a bit later. Around the first broadcast of ‘Profiler Hanryang’. But suddenly, those three had appeared here. Kim Dae-young probably led the charge.

‘Hmm, in this case, I should at least tell them something today.’

The time had finally come. The time to make his friends understand.

‘What should I say? That I ended up acting by chance? Am I crazy? I wouldn’t believe it either if I were them.’

Well, leaving them aside. Suddenly, Kang Woo-jin looked at the screen in front of him. The impact of the large screen was enormous. It was truly amazing. The grandeur was on a different level from the test screening he had seen in the sound studio.

‘Ugh, it’s also that much more embarrassing, my face is so big.’

At that moment.

‘Isn’t it good?’

‘Yeah, yeah, it’s fun.’

The whispers of the couple next to him reached Woo-jin’s ears. Moreover, although Woo-jin didn’t know it, all 500 or so audience members, who had initially had no expectations, began to straighten their postures. ‘Errand Agency’ was more interesting than they had thought. The fact that it was a short film and they had no expectations also worked positively.

Although it was buried in the loud movie sound.

‘It’s fun?’

‘I know, the quality is good for a short film. Especially the sound.’

Audience members throughout the theater were murmuring.

‘It’s worth watching? It doesn’t feel like a short film?’

‘But is that male lead a rookie? He’s really good at acting.’

Gradually, the entire audience was getting immersed in ‘Errand Agency’. Little by little, like getting wet in a drizzle.

It was at this moment.

‘Huh??!!’

Among the trio, the burly Kim Dae-young was startled when he saw someone on the screen. As if infected, all three of them widened their eyes as if they were about to pop out.

‘Wow, damn it!!!’

‘Crazy! Kang Woo-jin, you bastard!!’

Because top actress Hong Hye-yeon had suddenly appeared on the screen.

The scene was when the main character Kim Ryu-jin started monitoring the client’s wife. In other words, it was the first appearance of Hong Hye-yeon, who played the wife. The screening of ‘Errand Agency’ at the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’ was today for the first time. Therefore, it was shocking not only for the trio but also for all 500 or so audience members.

‘What, what is it? Isn’t that Hong Hye-yeon?’

‘Was Hong Hye-yeon in this movie?’

‘Wow, Hong Hye-yeon. Amazing.’

The audience’s concentration skyrocketed in an instant.

At the same time, at GGO Entertainment in Nonhyeon-dong [neighborhood in Seoul].

CEO Seo Gu-seop was looking down at a tablet on the head seat of a five-person sofa in the spacious CEO’s office. As always, his serious demeanor resembled a bulldog. What he was looking at was, of course, related to the ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’, and a team leader-level employee sitting on the sofa next to him was reporting while looking at the same tablet.

‘The ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’ screening started an hour ago at 10 a.m., and the screening of Jung Hyuk’s ‘Mentor’ started today on a rotation basis.’

CEO Seo Gu-seop, who was slowly nodding, asked back.

‘Jung Hyuk’s is for two days starting today, right? There are no problems with the screening?’

‘Yes, CEO. According to the team on site, there are no problems.’

‘The ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’ seems to be getting a lot of attention, are a lot of people gathering?’

‘Yes. It’s definitely several times more than last year. The reporters are also showing more interest than usual. We often see BJs [Broadcast Jockeys] and YouTubers on site as well.’

‘Well, that’s good.’

Bulldog Seo Gu-seop lowered the tablet and showed a satisfied smile before stopping. He narrowed his brow slightly and changed the question.

‘Did you check on Shin Dong-chun’s?’

CEO Seo Gu-seop had dispatched an employee not only to Park Jung-hyuk’s work ‘Mentor’, which he was going to launder, but also to director Shin Dong-chun’s ‘Errand Agency’, which had criticized him. Therefore, the team leader-level employee’s answer was quick.

‘Yes, that side is at CCV COEX, and it started at the first time slot, just like ‘Mentor’.’

‘Who’s the male lead in ‘Errand Agency’?’

‘He’s an unknown actor. It seems like he’s a nobody.’

Seo Gu-seop snorted in disbelief at the answer.

‘What? Ha, damn it. What, not even B-grade, just a nobody? Isn’t Shin Dong-chun crazy? He dares to criticize me and Jung-hyuk by putting in a nobody? He’s a complete psycho.’

‘But… that nobody’s acting isn’t bad.’

‘So? Even if he’s amazing, a nobody is still a nobody. It’s fine, as long as his acting isn’t so good that he eats everything up, Jung-hyuk is guaranteed to win the award.’

Soon, CEO Seo Gu-seop, who picked up a pack of cigarettes placed on the table in front, continued.

‘From now on, don’t pay attention to that trash movie Shin Dong-chun made, and let’s start the media play as we prepared. Especially, mix the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’ with Park Jung-hyuk’s name, and tell the reporters we’ve bribed to keep releasing articles.’

‘Understood.’

‘All the resulting aggro should be used to boost Jung-hyuk, so pay attention. If the buzz explodes, keep the issue rolling until the awards ceremony. Huh? Anyway, if it’s just a bunch of nobodies, the reporters will only cover Jung-hyuk anyway.’

It was when the employee bowed his head deeply at the instruction.

-Knock knock, click!

The door to the CEO’s office opened urgently, and another employee rushed in. Seeing him, CEO Seo Gu-seop raised one eyebrow.

‘What is it? Manager Park.’

The employee called Manager Park was slightly out of breath and immediately got to the point.

‘C-CEO. Th-that… we just got a call from the ‘Errand Agency’ side.’

‘Ah, that trash movie is fine. Ignore it and focus on the media play.’

‘No, I don’t think we can do that.’

‘What?’

Manager Park continued his report with difficulty to CEO Seo Gu-seop, who asked back coldly.

‘Hong Hye-yeon appeared in ‘Errand Agency’.’

A moment of silence. After glaring at the employee for about 5 seconds, CEO Seo Gu-seop jumped up.

‘What?! Hong Hye-yeon? Hong Hye-yeon appeared in ‘Errand Agency’??!’

‘Yes.’

‘No, damn it! What kind of dogshit is that! Hong Hye-yeon is in Song PD’s drama right now?! But what do you mean Hong Hye-yeon is in ‘Errand Agency’??!’

‘S-she appeared as a main or supporting role just now.’

‘……’

In an instant, Bulldog CEO Seo Gu-seop had a headache. Hong Hye-yeon had appeared? If it was true, all the media play he had prepared to launder Park Jung-hyuk might be in vain. Hong Hye-yeon was one of the top actresses in the country.

They couldn’t compete with her in terms of buzz.

CEO Seo Gu-seop, who was grinding his teeth, slammed the pack of cigarettes he was holding onto the floor. Then, he recalled the face of the man with the ponytail.

‘……Choi Sung-gun, that bastard, was the investor.’

Around noon on the same day.

While the ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’ was in full swing, the ‘Profiler Hanryang’ team made a move. They uploaded a video to their YouTube channel, other video platforms, and their official website.

-[15-second Official 1st Teaser] He was a slacker, but he was a genius! First broadcast on 5/15 (Fri)! | Profiler Hanryang

-[SBC]/ENG SUB

-2020. 5. 2

It was the official first teaser trailer for ‘Profiler Hanryang’. It was the real deal, with the content of the drama inserted, not just the teasers that had been released so far. Unfortunately, it was only 15 seconds long, so the running time wasn’t long, but it included the key content.

The narration was by Ryu Jung-min.

The teaser, which began with his atmospheric voice, quickly showed various characters as the scenes alternated. Yoo Ji-hyung squatting at a murder scene, Jung Yeon-hee chasing someone, the urgency of various main and supporting characters, a huge car explosion, and so on. As it went on, numerous scenes changed rapidly. The background music also sped up.

Finally, at the end of the teaser, the screen turned black, and Ryu Jung-min’s narration echoed softly.

[‘Everything.’]

At the same time, a cruel smile of a man whose face was covered above his nose filled the screen.

[‘Started from this twisted smile.’]

A bizarre smile. The viewers didn’t know, but the actors of ‘Profiler Hanryang’ would recognize it immediately.

It was Park’s.

As soon as this teaser was uploaded, the first comment was posted immediately.

-Crazy… who is the actor smiling at the end? He only appeared for a moment, but the impact is amazing….

And four girls gathered at a university cafeteria. One of them was excited after watching this teaser. She even showed the teaser to her friends sitting around her.

‘Look at this! The teaser quality is insane?! Wow, who is the actor smiling at the end?? It’s so creepy!’

It was Kang Woo-jin’s younger sister, Kang Hyun-ah.

‘Aaaah! I want to see it soon!’

Meanwhile, in a park about 10 minutes away from COEX.

In a common park that can be seen if you go through an alleyway past the crowded streets.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin, who had just arrived, was visible. He was still wearing the black denim jacket and hat, but he had taken off his mask. His expression was quite determined. He had just finished watching ‘Errand Agency’ and had moved here immediately.

Anyway, Woo-jin glanced over the park beyond the flower bed.

‘There they are, those guys.’

The familiar trio was sitting on a wooden bench. They were the friends who had watched Kang Woo-jin on the screen a few tens of minutes ago. As soon as ‘Errand Agency’ ended, Kim Dae-young had called Kang Woo-jin, and Woo-jin, who had no intention of postponing things, had made an appointment with them right away.

Soon.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin, who had been scratching his chin, decided to go for it and stepped into the park entrance.

At that moment.

‘Hey!! Crazy! Kang Woo-jin!’

‘That bastard!!!’

‘Damn it! Catch him, catch him!!’

All three of the waiting trio discovered Woo-jin.

-Whoosh!

They suddenly rushed towards him. Their momentum was like bulls. If you were hit by them, you would break at least one arm. Thanks to that, for some reason, Kang Woo-jin also turned around and ran.

‘Ah, damn it!’

It was a chase.