I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 49

What truly began to fluster Kang Woo-jin, who was somewhat adjusting to the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival,’ started the moment Hong Hye-yeon returned to her seat.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

“…Congratulations.”

Woo-jin was already puzzled that she had received the Best Actress award. He had thought she would definitely win the Grand Prize. Not only was her acting exceptional, but her experience and reputation were also undeniable. Yet, Hong Hye-yeon received the Best Actress award.

“Thank you. Though it feels like I’m forcing it on you.”

“But why are you congratulating me in advance?”

“Why pretend you don’t know? If I got Best Actress, the answer is obvious, right? Don’t try to be humble when it doesn’t suit you.”

“……”

“Well, I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you. I’m not upset at all that I got Best Actress. I acknowledge it.”

Meanwhile.

-Swoosh.

Choi Seong-geon, with his ponytail, who had arrived late to the awards ceremony due to a scheduling conflict, arrived. He bent down and slid into the seats next to Director Shin Dong-chun and Hong Hye-yeon during the ceremony.

Choi Seong-geon, in his suit, immediately gave Hong Hye-yeon a thumbs up.

“Sorry, Director. I’m a bit late. Wow, Hye-yeon already got an award? What did you get?”

“Best Actress.”

“Well done, well done. We need to prepare for the media blitz.”

The head of the agency didn’t seem surprised at all that Hong Hye-yeon had won Best Actress. Seeing the two of them, Kang Woo-jin got up from his seat. He was being polite amidst the chaos.

‘It’s a bit cramped in front.’

Choi Seong-geon was going to sit in the empty seat to Woo-jin’s right, so he was making space to pass. Because of this, both Choi Seong-geon and Hong Hye-yeon’s eyes were on Kang Woo-jin, who had suddenly stood up.

At that moment.

“Grand Prize for Acting… Congratulations, actor Kang Woo-jin of ‘Errand Agency’!”

Suddenly, Kang Woo-jin’s name was loudly announced as the Grand Prize winner from the stage, and for a moment, Woo-jin stared blankly towards the main stage.

At this, Hong Hye-yeon next to him chuckled.

“Look at that. You stood up even before they called your name. You were sure you’d get the Grand Prize.”

Choi Seong-geon also smiled and patted Kang Woo-jin’s shoulder.

“I like that confidence of yours. Congratulations, go get your award.”

Director Shin Dong-chun, sitting to Hong Hye-yeon’s left, also offered his congratulations. Even in this moment, small misunderstandings piled up, but Woo-jin had no time to react.

“……”

He was too busy organizing his breathing and thoughts. Something about the air in the hall had changed. It felt thick yet weightless. It was like being slightly drunk. He felt like he would collapse if he lost his focus even for a moment. It was an emotion close to a thrill, but Kang Woo-jin didn’t have time to recognize it.

-Tap, tap, tap.

He had to walk to the stage with all his might.

Kang Woo-jin couldn’t hear the reactions of the dozens of people murmuring, nor did he feel the soft applause. The only award he had ever received in his life was a silver medal for hang gliding in elementary school. But this time, he had won the Grand Prize, beating out top actors.

It wasn’t strange that Kang Woo-jin’s soul felt like it was leaving his body.

The pressure of the first experience, regardless of his skill. From here, Woo-jin’s reason faded, and his instincts took over his body. In other words, the concept that maintained his ego became stronger. Around this time, Kang Woo-jin went up on stage. His mind was still blank, but his expression was clear.

Then, he heard Japanese.

“Congratulations. Your work was truly amazing.”

It was Director Kyotaro. However, the Japanese he had just heard didn’t feel foreign to Woo-jin. It felt like Korean. Perhaps that’s why his response came out so naturally. As if it were Korean.

“ありがとうございます, 監督.(Thank you, director.)”

It wasn’t intentional, but it came across that way.

“It’s an honor that you liked ‘Errand Agency.’”

At the same time, the audience seats near the stage began to murmur. Director Kyotaro, with his large nose, also widened his eyes slightly. Of course, so did the interpreter standing next to him.

Therefore, the interpreter asked Woo-jin. This time in Korean.

“You’re good at Japanese?”

It was a question the surprised interpreter blurted out. It was then that Kang Woo-jin’s floating reason slowly returned.

‘…Ah. Huh? Japanese? Did I just answer in Japanese?’

Kang Woo-jin’s narrow vision began to widen. Because of that, the tension that had been enveloping his whole body slowly faded.

“No, I’m just a little bit capable.”

By the time he answered the interpreter, Kang Woo-jin had completely regained his reason. It was a place where many big names were watching. He couldn’t make even the slightest mistake in what could be his first public appearance. It was after this that Director Kyotaro spoke.

Of course, it was in Japanese.

“Have you lived in Japan? It doesn’t sound like a pronunciation that comes from studying.”

Kang Woo-jin, holding the trophy and bouquet in both hands, met Director Kyotaro’s gaze. His eyes were sparkling. Was it because of the lighting? Whatever it was, should he try speaking some Japanese? Kang Woo-jin replied in a moderately low tone in Japanese.

“Thank you for the compliment, but it’s not a skill to boast about. It’s just enough to communicate.”

“Haha, that can’t be true. That level of Japanese is native-level. I was a bit surprised.”

“What surprised you?”

“…With such absurd acting skills and fluency in a foreign language, why are you still working in short films? Are there many actors like you in Korea?”

Working in short films? What was he talking about? Kang Woo-jin paused slightly. Meanwhile, the interpreter was contemplating. Should he translate these conversations?

That’s because.

“What, is he? Was he Japanese?”

“No, he wasn’t. He spoke Korean well too.”

“Or did he learn it beforehand?”

At this moment, about a hundred people in the audience were all tilting their heads. It was already strange that an unknown actor had received the Grand Prize for acting, but that unknown actor was casually conversing with a Japanese master director on stage.

“Kang Woo-jin, was it? His Japanese is top-notch? Ah, I guess he was active in Japan.”

“Maybe he’s a Korean-Japanese? Is that why he knows Director Kyotaro?”

“Is he quite famous in Japan? Korean-Japanese people have separate Japanese names.”

“He’s a peculiar fellow.”

Anyone would think it was strange. If this was the reaction of people who didn’t know Kang Woo-jin, what about those who did?

Especially.

“…Japanese?”

Director Kwon Ki-taek from the judging panel.

‘What’s going on? Was his overseas experience not just in English-speaking countries? Did he go through Japan too? Has he been building his acting skills in both places?’

Hong Hye-yeon, Choi Seong-geon, and Director Shin Dong-chun, with their mouths slightly open.

‘He can even speak Japanese? And he’s fluent in Japanese too? What is he, is he actually living his second life?! It doesn’t make sense… Why does he keep being a mystery no matter how much I try to figure him out!’

‘……So he could speak Japanese too. What kind of past has that guy lived?’

‘Oh, I see, Woo-jin lived in Japan.’

Of course, even writer Park Eun-mi. She was so surprised that she covered her mouth with both hands.

‘Insane acting skills, totem [a reference to a previous scene], English, Japanese… I might really have to start a religion.’

The hall with a hundred people was relatively quiet, but a gentle typhoon was raging. A typhoon filled with misunderstandings and errors. But Kang Woo-jin, the eye of that storm, was completely unaware of the situation.

He was just looking solemnly at Director Kyotaro.

At that moment.

-Swoosh.

A staff member of the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’ below the stage waved his finger at Kang Woo-jin. It was a signal to proceed with the acceptance speech. Indeed, the chat on stage had been a bit long. Noticing this, the interpreter gave up on translating and gestured to Woo-jin.

“Please give your speech first.”

Director Kyotaro, understanding the situation, immediately apologized to Woo-jin in Japanese.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I interrupted the proceedings.”

Soon, Kang Woo-jin stood in front of the standing microphone. He could see all the hundred or so big names at a glance. It wasn’t that all the 300+ seats were filled, but this situation itself was grand enough for Woo-jin, who was experiencing it for the first time.

“……”

Woo-jin swallowed subtly. It was the moment of truth. Acceptance speech? What should he say? It had to be as weighty as possible while being polite. Around that time, the reporters positioned around the stage awkwardly raised their cameras towards Kang Woo-jin.

“I don’t know who he is, but we should take pictures.”

“He beat Hong Hye-yeon and Park Jung-hyuk, so we have to.”

“What was his name again?”

“Kang Woo-jin, Kang Woo-jin.”

Quite a dazzling flash of light poured onto the indifferent Kang Woo-jin on stage. This forced Kang Woo-jin to narrow his eyes. It was like lightning was striking right in front of him.

‘Ugh, damn it. I don’t know. Let’s just do it and get out of here.’

His mind was so scattered that Kang Woo-jin decided to just say whatever came to mind. Of course, in a low voice.

“Thank you. The hard times were quite long, but now I have many good people around me. I won’t make my speech long. I will consider this glorious award as a whip and strive harder than now, without stopping. Thank you.”

As Kang Woo-jin’s speech ended, moderate applause broke out. Meanwhile, Director Kwon Ki-taek chuckled.

“Strive harder than now without stopping? That’s scary.”

Kang Woo-jin, maintaining a poker face that was firmer than ever, came down from the stage. Meanwhile, the reporters’ flashes didn’t stop, and the eyes of the hundred or so people followed Kang Woo-jin.

As soon as Kang Woo-jin arrived back at his seat, the ‘Errand Agency’ team offered their congratulations.

But Kang Woo-jin, still distracted, thanked them appropriately and sat down. Then, he looked down at the trophy in his hand. The sense of accomplishment was incredibly high.

‘Ah, my lips keep curving up. Hold it in, hold it in.’

It was an award that recognized him as the best in acting at a film festival, even if it was a short film. Kang Woo-jin wondered where he should display this award at home.

At that moment.

“Grand Prize for Best Film! This year, it’s here! Congratulations! ‘Errand Agency’!!”

Suddenly, ‘Errand Agency’ was called from the stage. At the same time, Director Shin Dong-chun, with his square jaw and teary eyes, stood up.

In other words, ‘Errand Agency’ had swept three awards at the ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’.

“Thank you, thank you everyone!”

It meant that ‘Errand Agency’ had swept the awards.

About an hour later, a large cafe in Seoul.

It was a franchise cafe that looked quite spacious. Around the counter, cups and bags with the cafe logo were displayed, and the tables around were so full that there were no empty seats. There were an incredible number of customers.

Everyone was busy doing something.

Some were chatting, some were studying, and some were looking at their phones. Many customers were busy doing their own things amidst the loud noise. Among those customers, three familiar women were sitting at a table by the window with drinks.

They looked to be in their early twenties.

They had the faces of typical college students. They had already been chatting for quite a while, so there wasn’t much conversation. One was working on something with a laptop she had brought, and the other two were looking at their phones.

Then.

“Huh?”

The woman in the white shirt tilted her head as she looked at something on her phone.

“Oh, I’ve heard this name somewhere before?”

Her friends reacted to her words.

“What is it? Who is it?”

“It’s another guy.”

“No, it’s not!”

The woman in the shirt, slightly grumbling, quickly showed her phone to her friends. An article was displayed on the phone.

“Look! This name! Doesn’t it sound familiar?”

Her friends quickly focused on the phone.

“Hmm, it does? It’s familiar? But it’s a pretty common name. Isn’t it one of the guys you were seeing?”

“No, it’s not!”

“But is this guy an actor? He’s pictured with Hong Hye-yeon? Was there some kind of awards ceremony?”

“I don’t know. I was just scrolling through entertainment news and it caught my eye.”

“Kang Woo-jin, Kang Woo-jin. Hmm. Where have I heard that before?”

“But he’s kind of handsome. I guess he’s a rookie.”

It was then.

“What are you all looking at?”

A woman with long brown hair and a hat appeared behind the three women. Her hands were wet, so it seemed she had just come from the bathroom. A question mark was immediately sent to her.

“Hyun-ah! Do you remember the name Kang Woo-jin?”

The woman in the hat shrugged as if she knew it, of course. The reason was simple.

“I remember it, and I told you he was my brother.”

She was Kang Hyun-ah, Kang Woo-jin’s younger sister. In other words, the three women sitting here were her friends. Then, one of her friends clapped her hands.

“Ah!! That’s right! Hyun-ah’s brother… Huh? Brother? Brother?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Wow, Hyun-ah, you said your brother wasn’t an actor?”

Kang Hyun-ah, who was sitting down, frowned.

“What? Why are you suddenly like this? Why were you talking about my brother?”

“No! Wow! Hyun-ah, your brother is in the news right now?”

“…What are you talking about? It’s been two months since he declared he was going to be an actor.”

“It’s true!”

One of her friends pushed her phone towards Kang Hyun-ah.

“He even appeared with Hong Hye-yeon! It seems he won an award! Wow! Your brother is so handsome!”

“???”

Kang Hyun-ah scanned her friends with sparkling eyes and then looked at the phone.

At the same time.

“…Huh?”

Her eyes widened. Clearly, her own flesh and blood was pictured in the article. And he was with top actress Hong Hye-yeon.

“Huh???”

Meanwhile, in Jinju, Gyeongnam [a province in South Korea].

Near the Jinju Bus Terminal. There were many people on the street where numerous buses still came and went. People were either getting on or just getting off the bus. Perhaps because of the crowds, there were many shops around the bus terminal.

Among them, a porridge shop could be seen.

It was a porridge shop that seemed to have fewer customers than convenience stores or gimbap [Korean seaweed rice roll] shops. The interior was calm, as it was a porridge shop, and the owners seemed to be a married couple. The husband was looking at a monitor at the counter, and the wife was taking a breather on a stool next to the counter.

The couple both looked young.

The husband was quite tall with strong features, and the wife was of average height but had good skin. The problem was.

“Ha-”

The wife was letting out a long sigh, as if she had a worry.

“I’m worried, I’m worried.”

Then, the husband, who was clicking the mouse, asked while keeping his eyes on the monitor.

“Why?”

“Aren’t you worried? You don’t care about our son.”

“Hyun-mi. You worry too much. He’ll take care of himself, let’s just wait and see.”

The wife grumbled quietly at her husband’s answer. Around this time, a customer entered, and the wife naturally greeted them. Then, after taking the order, she returned to the counter.

“Vegetable porridge, pumpkin porridge.”

“……”

But there was no answer from her husband. Feeling something was off, the wife nudged her husband’s shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

It was then that the husband, who had suddenly come to his senses, turned the monitor he was looking at towards his wife.

“…Hyun-mi. I clicked on it because the name caught my eye. But why is our son taking pictures with these people?”

The wife, with a small frown, said something like ‘What are you talking about’ and glued her eyes to the monitor. But she too quickly opened her mouth wide.

It was natural.

“Huh? That’s… Woo-jin?”

“Yeah, Woo-jin. But why is our son in the news?”

For the couple. No, for Kang Woo-jin’s parents.

『[Film Festival] ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’ Actors Take a Photo Together! Hong Hye-yeon Wins ‘Best Actress,’ Rookie Kang Woo-jin Wins ‘Grand Prize’ / Photo』

It was a huge shock.

End