I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 95

The head manager of Kang Woo-jin’s official fan club, ‘Strong Heart,’ was nicknamed ‘Blood Relative Woman.’

Woo-jin had thought it was a strange name. But there was a twist. The nickname was literal. A real ‘Blood Relative Woman.’ Kang Woo-jin’s actual blood relative. His younger sister, Kang Hyun-ah, was smiling brightly in front of him.

Looking at her, Kang Woo-jin felt a surge of annoyance.

‘Stop grinning. Seriously, I want to give you a knuckle sandwich.’

Kang Woo-jin, who almost cursed aloud, barely managed to keep his mouth shut. At the same time, he was trying to figure out what was going on. It wasn’t that complicated.

‘No wonder she stopped calling me all the time.’

When was it? Ah, right. It was probably around the time ‘The Layabout’ started airing. After that, Kang Woo-jin’s official fan club was created. This damn sister must have made it. She couldn’t have done it alone.

With a blank expression, Woo-jin glanced at the group behind Kang Hyun-ah.

The women who seemed to be her friends were grinning, excitedly nudging each other. Then, Woo-jin turned his gaze back to Kang Hyun-ah and whispered softly.

“You little brat.”

No one could have heard him, but Kang Hyun-ah must have, as she shrugged as if it was nothing.

“I didn’t tell you separately because I thought our Oppa [a term used by younger females to refer to older males, often a brother or boyfriend] would be busy.”

What a load of crap. Kang Hyun-ah must have deliberately hidden it. Ah, I really want to smack that grinning blood relative’s forehead. However, Woo-jin was in full ‘concept’ mode [maintaining a specific public image], and there were hundreds of his fans here.

He had to endure it, no matter what.

It was then.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

Choi Sung-geon, who had been waiting in the back, approached and leaned down, sensing that something was off. Woo-jin, who flinched subtly, shook his head, trying to appear calm.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Choi Sung-geon, tilting his head, made eye contact with Kang Hyun-ah. He thought she looked pretty good. Long brown hair and a generally cat-like face.

‘She seems tall too. About 168? 170?’

This was a quick assessment as the representative of the entertainment company. Whatever the case, Choi Sung-geon smiled at Kang Hyun-ah.

“You must be the first one, right? The head manager of the fan club. Nickname ‘Blood Relative Woman.'”

Kang Hyun-ah exclaimed cheerfully.

“Yes! That’s me!”

“Haha, nice to meet you. I’m Woo-jin’s main manager and the representative of BW Entertainment.”

“Oh my! Nice to meet you!”

“Yeah, nice to meet you too. I should have thanked you sooner, but Woo-jin has been so busy, so we came together with the management team, right?”

“Yes! Over there in the back.”

As Kang Hyun-ah pointed to the back, the fan club’s management team, her friends, bowed their heads. Choi Sung-geon, who also bowed his head briefly, turned his gaze back to Kang Hyun-ah.

There was something strangely familiar about her.

“But it’s a bit strange. Why do I feel like I know ‘Blood Relative Woman’? Haha, is it because you look like an actress?”

“Really?”

Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin, who was signing autographs indifferently, muttered lowly.

“She’s my younger sister.”

Choi Sung-geon, who had heard it casually, clapped his hands.

“Ah! I see! So, it’s because she’s Woo-jin’s younger sister that she felt familiar… Huh? Wait a minute. Wait, wait, Woo-jin, what did you say?”

Kang Woo-jin handed the signed paper he had finished to Kang Hyun-ah and replied again. Without a hint of emotion.

“She’s my younger sister.”

Choi Sung-geon, his eyes wide, made eye contact with Kang Hyun-ah again. Kang Hyun-ah was smiling brightly.

“Hehe, hello, Representative. I’m Kang Woo-jin’s younger sister, Kang Hyun-ah.”

“······?”

Unlike the flustered Choi Sung-geon, Kang Woo-jin was calm. No, he had to be calm. Woo-jin, with a cold gaze, spoke to his younger sister.

“You. Step aside for now. We’ll talk later.”

Kang Hyun-ah, slightly intimidated, cleared her throat and moved away. Even so, she had a slight question in her mind.

‘But is it just me, or is Oppa acting a bit cool? Well, I guess it’s because there are so many people watching.’

Kang Hyun-ah scurried away. Choi Sung-geon, who had been watching her back, barely regained his senses. Then, he put his face close to Woo-jin’s ear.

“Hey, hey, Woo-jin. What’s going on? Is she really your younger sister?”

“Yes. I didn’t know she was the head of the fan club either.”

“Huh- well, let’s talk again after this is all over.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After speaking, Choi Sung-geon gestured to the staff. It meant to continue the autograph session.

‘Younger sister?’

He chuckled to himself as he stepped back. He knew that Kang Woo-jin had a sibling. Family information was basic. Still, it was a somewhat absurd situation.

‘Whatever the case, this matter needs to be kept secret for now.’

Not only was it Kang Woo-jin, but his younger sister and family might be harmed. Like reporters barging in. Fortunately, Choi Sung-geon was the only one who knew this fact, so hiding it wouldn’t be a problem.

Back to the front.

“Oh, Oppa! Hello!”

The fan signing event continued. The next in line were Kang Hyun-ah’s friends.

“I really, really wanted to see you!”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“We’ve known our Oppa since before his debut, you know?”

“Thank you.”

Kang Hyun-ah’s friends, who appeared one after another, were jumping up and down excitedly. Regardless, Woo-jin calmly proceeded with the autographs and conversations.

“You’re so handsome in person!”

“Thank you, what’s your name?”

“Yoo-jin! Kim Yoo-jin!”

“Yoo-jin, you’re pretty too.”

Although there was a rather chaotic incident from the beginning, fortunately, the autograph session went smoothly. Woo-jin made eye contact with the fans, exchanged conversations, and did his best while signing autographs.

“I’m sorry, but, can I, can I have a handshake?”

“Of course, I’ll just give you a hug.”

“Oh my!”

Kang Woo-jin, who seemed indifferent but was sweet, stood out. That’s why the autograph session was getting more and more heated. Like that, 30 people, 50 people, 100 people.

Around this point, Kang Woo-jin felt it.

‘Wow, this is really not an easy task.’

It was becoming increasingly overwhelming. Of course, it was a good thing that hundreds of fans had come, and it was amazing that an unimaginable situation was unfolding, but to put it bluntly, it was tough. Doing his best for each and every person in an unfamiliar environment was absolutely not easy. And on top of that, he had to maintain his concept.

Still, he couldn’t weaken. Kang Woo-jin had to grit his teeth and be composed.

‘I don’t know, I just have to do my best. I can rest in the subspace later.’

There was nothing easy on the path of an actor that Woo-jin, who was a commoner at heart, had started walking without any preparation.

‘If a fan signing is like this, then a fan meeting or something like that would be like collapsing.’

At the same time, at the set of ‘Profiler Layabout.’

A huge set complex in Ilsan. The main team and B team of Layabout were all gathered here. That’s why there seemed to be over 100 people.

And they, along with the set cameras and lighting.

“Action!!”

Everyone was looking at the filming zone, and baby-permed Ryu Jung-min was in the middle of a passionate performance.

“Cut! Okay!!”

The filming speed was fast. Above all, the general director, Song Man-woo PD, was working faster than ever.

“Let’s go to the next cut right away! Let’s finish before lunch!!”

Accordingly, the 100 or so staff members were also moving in an orderly fashion. What was unusual was.

“Wow, Song PD-nim is really putting in the effort today since it’s the last day of filming.”

“Isn’t it a bit of a spectacle? There are so many people when they’re all gathered in one place.”

“All the actors are here too. Except for Woo-jin, right?”

“I heard he couldn’t come today because of the fan signing event.”

That all the actors who participated in ‘Profiler Layabout’ were present. In addition.

“Oh! There’s Writer Park too!”

Writer Park Eun-mi, who was dressed to the nines, also appeared. In other words, everyone from Layabout, except for Kang Woo-jin, who had a schedule, was gathered. Among them, of course, was the female lead, Hong Hye-yeon, and next to her, the burly Kim Dae-young was busy looking around the filming set with fascination.

‘This is amazing. How many actors are there? Ryu Jung-min is really handsome.’

Kim Dae-young, who had recently joined as a trainee, had seen the B team, but this was his first time at the main team’s filming set for Layabout.

‘Kang Woo-jin, that bastard, filmed here?’

For some reason, Kim Dae-young thought that Kang Woo-jin was amazing. He was so nervous, but Woo-jin would have performed in front of everyone.

It was then.

“Cut! NG!”

Song Man-woo PD, with his stubble, shouted loudly into the megaphone. The current scene was the turn of the actor playing the final villain.

The problem was that the actor was making consecutive NGs [No Good, a term used in filming to indicate a take that needs to be redone].

Starting with Kang Woo-jin’s Park Dae-ri, there were a total of four villains in Layabout. However, after Park Dae-ri, the intensity was a bit lacking. Still, the actors who played the villains did their best.

“Cut, cut! Okay, Su-hyung! The lines are a bit fast right now, so let’s take a moment to adjust!”

“Yes, PD-nim!”

Kim Dae-young, who was watching it, was puzzled. In his opinion, the actor’s acting was good enough. However, the staff around him expressed their disappointment.

“Another NG. Su-hyung seems too nervous?”

“It’s understandable. Our Layabout is confirmed for Netflix in Japan, right? I heard they’re also negotiating to sell the rights to several other countries besides Japan.”

“Well, he’s the last of the villains, and above all, Park Dae-ri was such a huge hit, so it must be a lot of pressure.”

“I heard Su-hyung monitors Park Dae-ri a lot. Honestly, I think the PD-nim’s standards have also risen? Since it started with Woo-jin.”

“Park Dae-ri… honestly, the impact was huge. It was legendary. The villains after him are just having a hard time.”

Kim Dae-young, who was listening to the staff’s chatter, exclaimed inwardly.

‘Wow, Kang Woo-jin has a lot of prestige here?’

He had felt it since earlier, but Kang Woo-jin was treated almost like a god on the set of Layabout. Well, it was true that he had achieved great results, but Kim Dae-young, who was his childhood friend, felt it was somewhat unfamiliar.

Here.

“Cut! Hmm- this won’t do. Let’s take a short break!”

Song Man-woo PD gave a break time and patted the last villain actor. Then, with a troubled look on his face, Song Man-woo PD approached the actors.

“Hong Star.”

The one he called was Hong Hye-yeon.

“Yes, PD-nim. Ah- please stop calling me Hong Star.”

“You are, aren’t you? Anyway, Su-hyung’s condition is a bit off, so I think it would be better to start with Hong Star’s cut first.”

“Okay.”

Hong Hye-yeon, who was tying up her long hair, got up from her chair and suddenly said.

“Ah, right.”

She pointed to the burly Kim Dae-young among her team.

“Song PD-nim. Don’t you remember this person?”

“Huh? Do I know him?”

“You know, the one who came with Woo-jin during ‘Super Actor’ before.”

Song Man-woo PD, who was looking at the awkward Kim Dae-young for a moment, clapped his hands.

“Oh, oh! That’s right! Woo-jin’s friend! Oh my? But why are you here?”

“Hello, PD-nim! I’m Kim Dae-young! I’ve joined the company recently.”

“At BW Entertainment?”

“Yep!”

“Wow- nice to meet you! Did you join BW Entertainment following Woo-jin? Haha, you followed your friend to Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul]?? But didn’t you also act back then, Dae-young? Suddenly a manager?”

What was unusual was.

“Oh my, you’re Woo-jin’s friend?”

From Park Eun-mi, who had suddenly joined, to the lighting director, the filming director, and many other staff members, they all gathered around. Of course, it was because they heard the words ‘Kang Woo-jin’s friend.’

“When? How long have you been friends?”

“…Yes? Ah- it’s been a while.”

Questions poured out.

“So Woo-jin does have friends! Let’s see, when did Woo-jin start acting so well?”

“If he’s a friend, is he a friend from overseas? Or not? Since he came to Korea?”

“Hahaha, have you ever traveled overseas with Woo-jin? Was it comfortable? Woo-jin is so good at English and Japanese, you know.”

What is all this? Kim Dae-young was clearly flustered. Wasn’t he just maintaining a cool concept? What was this about self-taught acting and overseas?

‘Good at English and Japanese? What the hell is this?’

Soon, Kim Dae-young began to get confused. Since he had become friends with Kang Woo-jin in middle school, was it possible before that? Whatever the case, Kim Dae-young realized that Woo-jin’s situation was dozens of times more bizarre than he thought.

But for now, he played along.

“Well… he has definitely become more outgoing, but it’s a bit difficult for me to explain everything-”

“Who? You’re saying Woo-jin has become more outgoing?”

“Is that a change in him?”

“No way.”

It was Song Man-woo PD who organized the chaotic situation.

“Okay, everyone, let’s stop and get ready! Dae-young, let’s talk a bit later.”

“Yes? Ah- I understand.”

Then, the staff members, with regretful faces, scattered, and Hong Hye-yeon, who was about to move to the filming zone, suddenly asked Kim Dae-young in a low tone.

“You know, is Woo-jin not really interested in women?”

Kim Dae-young, who was slightly distracted, recalled the past. He wasn’t exactly a womanizer, but he wasn’t exactly uninterested either?

‘Ah- well, he didn’t watch TV much, and he wasn’t very interested in girl groups or anything like that.’

Childhood friend Kim Dae-young gave an answer that would protect Kang Woo-jin’s coolness.

“Hmm, he usually sees women as if they were stones.”

“Ah-”

About three hours later.

“Cutt!!!”

With Song Man-woo PD’s shout.

“Okay!! Everyone, you’ve worked hard!”

All the filming schedules for ‘Profiler Layabout’ were over.

Back at Kang Woo-jin’s fan signing event.

The situation had already surpassed 300 people. It had already been over three hours since the signing event started. Fortunately, the end was beginning to appear. From here, Woo-jin didn’t know, but the situation of the fan signing event was spreading on the internet.

Articles shot by invited reporters.

『’Monster Rookie’ Kang Woo-jin’s Fan Signing Event is Packed/Photos』

SNS shared by attending fans, or the ‘Strong Heart’ fan cafe, and various communities.

-Kang Woo-jin (Fan Signing Event) Real Life.jpg

Well, as expected, the reaction was hot. Especially the photos of Kang Woo-jin’s real-time appearance were a hit. Meanwhile, at the venue, Kang Woo-jin was giving his closing remarks, signaling the end of the signing event. It was past 4 PM.

It was more delayed than expected, but Kang Woo-jin, who was standing in the center of the stage, showed no signs of exhaustion. Or rather, he pretended not to.

“Thank you so much for coming today.”

Then, Kang Woo-jin bowed to the half of the 400 fans who remained.

“There will be a fan meeting soon, so I hope to see you then too. Please be careful on your way home, and make sure to take your gifts when you leave.”

Woo-jin, who raised his head, made eye contact with his blood relative in the front row.

“······”

Kang Hyun-ah was waving her hand with a smile.

Several tens of minutes later.

After the signing event ended and they were in the middle of cleaning up, Kang Woo-jin was in the waiting room of the hall. However, he wasn’t alone. Kang Hyun-ah and Choi Sung-geon were also included.

Of course, Kang Woo-jin’s heart was pounding like crazy.

‘If Kang Hyun-ah says something stupid, I’m screwed.’

Woo-jin wanted to tape Kang Hyun-ah’s mouth shut, but for now, getting through this embarrassing crisis was the priority.

‘The only way is to stop her like crazy when she seems like she’s going to say something stupid.’

It wasn’t a situation that could be glossed over. Woo-jin focused all his attention on his younger sister, and Choi Sung-geon glanced at the hallway outside the waiting room, confirmed that no one was there, and closed the door.

-Swoosh.

He made eye contact with Kang Hyun-ah, who was standing next to Woo-jin. At the same time, Kang Hyun-ah suddenly opened her mouth.

“Representative! Your hairstyle is stylish and cool!”

Kang Woo-jin let out a deep sigh inwardly.

‘Ha- please just shut your mouth.’

On the other hand, Choi Sung-geon’s smile deepened, as if he wasn’t in a bad mood.

“Haha, thank you. Blood relative… no, what did you say your younger sister’s name was?”

“Kang Hyun-ah!”

“Okay, Kang Hyun-ah. Well, let’s start by hearing what happened?”

Kang Hyun-ah, nodding vigorously, briefly explained the situation so far. But there was nothing particularly great to say. Just that she was surprised that her brother suddenly debuted as an actor and the circumstances of how she and her friends created the fan club. Up to this point, there was nothing that Woo-jin could particularly stop.

In fact, Choi Sung-geon didn’t think it was strange either. He was just thinking simply while looking at Woo-jin.

‘This guy Woo-jin. Did he not tell his family that he was becoming an actor? Or did he only hide it from his younger sister? Well, he’s such a stoic guy, so it’s possible.’

But the crisis came in an instant.

“But Representative! I saw the ‘Sports Day’ episode of Layabout. Oppa’s image is a bit-”

Of course, from Kang Hyun-ah’s mouth.

End