Choi Sung-geon sighs, covering his face. Kang Woo-jin sits in the driver’s seat, blinking his eyes. What is it? What is it? This is not the situation Woo-jin expected.
Why do I feel sorry?
Was there such a thing? It would have been more natural to have gotten angry. Woojin was prepared to yell at me for deceiving him all this time.
However, Choi Sung-geon.
“Whew- You really······”
He looks at Kang Woo-jin with a little pity. Why on earth? So Woo-jin looked back at the situation from a little while ago.
‘No, I told you the truth, didn’t I?’
The answers he got were things like, “Have you been acting like you’re normal?” and “You’ve been using your life as acting practice.” Here, Woojin began to realize why he was in this situation.
‘······Mistake.’
This means that Choi Sung-geon understood Kang Woo-jin’s words on his own. He accepted Woo-jin’s past life of over 20 years, not just the past few months, as acting. If it weren’t for that, this kind of reaction wouldn’t have come out.
This is ridiculous.
Woojin almost burst out laughing. What followed was a bizarre scream. Of course, inwardly.
‘Why does this happen even if I tell the truth?! Why?? Why???’
It was unfair. There was no reason for it, but Woojin felt extremely aggrieved. It was so easy for the sincerity that he had spoken with great determination to be distorted. Soon, Kang Woojin tried to talk again to clear up the distorted misunderstanding.
“No, sir, what I just said is.”
“Oh, yeah.”
But as if he knew everything, Choi Sung-geon cut Woo-jin off by patting his shoulder.
“I’ll keep it to myself, so don’t tell anyone. How many years have I been a slacker? Don’t you know that?”
You don’t know, right now. You even misunderstood what I just said. Woojin felt frustrated. That feeling mixed with indifference and became extreme cynicism, and Choi Sunggeon, who met Woojin’s gaze, let out a long sigh again.
And then I recalled Kang Woo-jin’s words again.
‘Sir, actually, I’ve been doing concept… no, acting up until now.’
It was a line that made sense. Yes, that’s the kind of life you’ve lived. Choi Sung-geon felt sorry for Kang Woo-jin while also feeling tired of him.
‘Middle school, high school, college, and even work. If I had lived my life the way I am now, it would have been difficult to blend in.’
The current Kang Woo-jin is real, and even now, he is not normal. His personality is quite eccentric. If he didn’t have monstrous abilities, including acting skills, he would have become a loner a long time ago.
‘I might have been kicked out.’
Even now, Woojin’s appearance was said to be slightly irritated or cheerful.
“······”
If he hadn’t been living his life pretending to be ordinary, he would have been completely excluded from the world. In addition, Woojin has so much: not only acting skills, but also vocals that rival singers, a variety of language skills that will make your tongue stick out, and the creepy Midas eye.
This is beyond extraordinary, you’d believe it’s an alien.
What would the people around him say if they knew Kang Woo-jin’s extraordinary nature? In addition, his personality is extremely dark? People naturally see others as abnormal if they are different from themselves. Kang Woo-jin must have had to hide himself even more.
‘That’s why I’ve been acting like I’m ‘ordinary’… I would be the same.’
Most top actors take elite courses and receive acting training in a greenhouse. On the other hand, Kang Woo-jin has been learning acting through combat, literally dedicating his entire life to it. For over 20 years.
In a way, it was wild itself.
Here, Choi Sung-geon was able to understand why Kang Woo-jin was not excited by anything and was indifferent in any situation.
‘I’ve been out in the wild for over 20 years, what could I be afraid of?’
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There might be some reason why he was told not to ask about the past, Choi Sung-geon vaguely realized. Of course, it was just a wild guess. In any case, no one, no one, noticed that Woo-jin’s ordinariness was an act. That’s how perfect it was.
Soon, Choi Sung-geon finds himself immersed in a swamp of shabby illusions.
-Ugh.
He looked down at the transparent file in Woojin’s hand. The eyewitness accounts of the people who had been with him. Choi Sung-geon thought.
‘I suddenly saw the real Kang Woo-jin in the ordinary way… It’s only natural for people to say things like this.’
I made a living by acting until I worked at a design company, but now that I’m an actor whose main job is acting, I no longer need to act.
‘I’m back in my true form.’
Choi Sung-geon, who had been splashing around in the swamp, raised his eyes again. He saw Kang Woo-jin with an indifferent expression.
“Acting was your calling. You taught yourself acting. I really didn’t know you were self-taught in that sense. It’s so distant that I can’t really tell.”
As expected, it was a monster. Not an abnormal monster, but a monster that was purely admirable. Such emotions were in Choi Sung-geon’s eyes.
In those warm eyes.
‘······ah.’
Kang Woo-jin lost his will to fight.
Something flashed right before my eyes. I thought it was light, but it wasn’t. It was a snowball of illusion. It was too fast and too big to handle. At least that’s what Kang Woo-jin felt.
He gave up.
‘It’s a concept and a mistake, and even if I tell everything, no one will believe me.’
It was as if a god was controlling the situation by saying, “Yeah, no-” Woojin realized that confessing his true feelings was just a pain in the butt.
‘I don’t know, sir. Do whatever you want now.’
If it was the same picture, whether it was truth or concept, it might have been better to go harder. I mean, concept or illusion, etc. Let’s see how far I can go, just once. It was when Kang Woo-jin was making a firm promise to himself.
“Woojin.”
Choi Sung-geon, who seems slightly relieved, rests his head on the passenger seat and opens his mouth to the air.
“You put your life into it… Well, I don’t think that’s something the company should be talking about.”
“···Is that so?”
“Oh. It would be better to just leave it alone. Of course, I don’t care, and you shouldn’t go around telling people about it. That would be better for you too.”
Even if I tell them anyway, no one will believe me. As Woojin let out a small sigh, Choi Sung-geon, who had received the transparent file from his hand, opened his mouth.
“Most people who leave comments or posts like this are interested parties. They may be motivated by malice or jealousy. It’s a shame to even call these people acquaintances.”
Talking about people who have come into contact with Kang Woo-jin in the past.
“However, even if I don’t bring it up, I can’t stop this unspecified number of people. They might continue to increase.”
“I guess so.”
“If you keep growing, there’s a chance that the rags will smell you and come running to you, because you’re selling so well right now. You’re being talked about in movies, dramas, variety shows, and even in Japan. They’re probably looking into everything right now. It might be a needless worry, though.”
It was Kang Woo-jin who felt it once again. The entertainment world is so scary. Regardless, Choi Sung-geon took out his cell phone and continued talking.
“But in this world, when judgment is ambiguous, it’s better to just assume it will explode and prepare.”
“Could this turn into an incident?”
“No? It’s not an incident. The media or public opinion is just entertainment. The weight of the work is meaningless. Don’t incidents explode in this world every day?”
“······”
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“During the off-season, I just throw together some random issues or stimuli. The topic doesn’t matter, why would the word “Cardana” or “Jirashi” be used? I just grab a hot topic and put a title on it that I think will draw aggro.”
These are not guesses or predictions. They are all based on Choi Sung-geon’s experience.
“Let’s say there’s an article that says your past and present are completely different. That aggro will definitely expand because you’re selling well. Are you chewing up the top stars with your acting right now? Huh? This guy’s acting is good? Then, a title like ‘Kang Woo-jin’s past is all acting?’ would easily come out.”
“Maybe so.”
“Or maybe it’s a split personality. Whatever it is, if things get bigger with distorted articles like that, wouldn’t people be interested?”
I will, unconditionally. Kang Woo-jin especially sympathized with this part. He was still a petit bourgeois at heart. He too had clicked on articles after seeing provocative titles.
“Whether a person gets hit with a rock and bleeds or not, this world is all about interest. The same goes for the people who wrote about you. If you were to hook up so hotly for a while and then the arrows go to the media, do you know what they’ll say?”
When Kang Woo-jin chooses silence, Choi Sung-geon snorts.
“happening”
“ah.”
“It’s a magical word that’s both annoying and annoying. If you just say, ‘It was just a thing,’ most things will be resolved. Then, when interest wanes, you turn your attention to something else. Repeat.”
“I got hit by a rock and am receiving treatment.”
Choi Sung-geon, who had been nodding slowly, suddenly smiled faintly.
“Well, I just said it to tell you to be on your toes or to be aware of it. You never know what might happen.”
He tapped himself on the head.
“But if something happens, just focus on acting and leave everything to me. While we were talking, I thought of a solution.”
“···What method.”
“It’s a long story. You hide your past while maximizing the issues that are scheduled. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”
Choi Sung-geon rubbed his hands together with a deep smile.
“Since ancient times, it is best to cover up an issue with another issue.”
The next day.
Japan, where the popularity of the gangsters is still hot, was abuzz from early morning. The reason was simple.
『「Director Kyotaro Tanokuchi X Writer Akari Takikawa」Meeting as Director and Original Author』
The new work of the master director Kyotaro, who has been keeping quiet for a long time, has been officially announced. Of course, there were already rumors that he would release a new work. The key here was the world-famous author Akari.
『Takikawa Akari’s bestseller to be completed by director Tanokuchi Kyotaro』
A collaboration between director Kyotaro and writer Akari. They even announced the title.
『「The Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger」Film adaptation』
However, that was it. The cast was still a secret. In any case, ‘The Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ was already a bestseller. It was enough to shake up all of Japan.
Indeed, thanks to the power of the two giants, this news quickly made its way onto Japanese portal sites.
The public’s firepower was also considerable. SNS was instantly ablaze with their stories. In particular, fans of author Akari were in an uproar.
Anticipation or worry or blame.
There were many people who watched ‘The Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ and there were many fans of author Akari. In fact, there were more worries and criticisms than expectations.
Something about ruining the original.
However, Director Kyotaro’s recognition and reputation were also high in Japan. As a result, a sharp dispute broke out with numerous opinions. That atmosphere continued at least until lunchtime. The more it happened, the more interest in ‘The Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ soared.
This means that it is imprinted in the minds of the Japanese public.
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It was so noisy, and director Kyotaro and writer Akari were well known in Korea as well.
『[Overseas] Akari’s ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ movie to be made, directed by Japanese master Tanokuchi Kyotaro』
This news was also reported in Korea. Of course, it was not as much as the storm in Japan, but there were some articles. However, except for those who knew the two big names, most of the Korean public reacted indifferently. It was just, ‘Oh, really?’
Instead, Korea was focused on other things.
-I’ve been waiting for PD Yoon’s new variety showㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅠㅠ
It was about PD Yoon Byung-sun’s new work. While Japan announced ‘The Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ in the morning, at the same time in Korea, PD Yoon Byung-sun’s new entertainment show was properly unveiled.
『’Yoon PD’s new variety show title has been revealed, the title is ‘Our Table’』
The title is ‘Our Table’. It even includes the exact planning intention. The official article has a long explanation, but to summarize, it is ‘Introducing Korean food’. Not in Korea, but overseas.
And around the afternoon of the same day.
『[Hot Issue] ‘Our Table’ Lineup Announced – Ahn Jong-hak, Ha Kang-soo, Yeon Baek-kwang, Hong Hye-yeon, Hwa-rin, and Kang Woo-jin』
‘Our Table’ has released a confirmed lineup of cast members. It was enough to make the public’s mouths drop open.
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋAn Jong-hakㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ At this point, it’s clear that he’s a civil servant on Yoon PD’s sideㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Wow… but the lineup is really messy… .?
-Ahn Jong-hak is like that, but what about Ha Kang-soo, Hong Hye-yeon, Hwa-rin, and Yeon Baek-kwang?? But now, they’ve thrown Kang Woo-jin in
-Hong Hye-yeon and Hwa-rin? They said they were originally close.
– Seriously, now we can’t just look at Kang Woo-jin as a rookieㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He’s taking over dramas, movies, and even variety showsㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-I knew Kang Woojin was there, but it’s still so new that he’s mixed in there. Why?
-ㅜㅡㅜㅡㅠㅜㅠㅜThe lineup is the best! I had a hard time because I had nothing to watch after workㅜㅡㅜㅠㅠ
-I’m really curious to see how the cast’s chemistry and PD Yoon’s variety show will mix together…
The cast of ‘Our Table’ is a mix of ‘expected’ and ‘unexpected’. Kang Woo-jin’s name in particular caught the public’s attention even though it had already been announced before.
Anyway, the expectations for Star PD Yoon Byung-sun’s ‘Our Table’ were the highest.
『[Star Pick] Bulldozer Rookie ‘Kang Woo-jin’, what kind of charm will he show in PD Yoon Byung-sun’s entertainment show?』
Due to this, Kang Woo-jin’s reputation has risen even higher.
And at this moment, a domestic media outlet.
In the middle of a Busan-style press office, a reporter was seen reading an article on ‘Our Table’ with his chin propped up on his hand. His face looked like it was sticking out.
“Hmm- the lineup is good. Isn’t this Hong Hye-yeon’s first time working with PD Yoon? Kang Woo-jin just chews up everything here and there.”
At this moment, an old man passing by shouted at him.
“Playing again?!”
“What are you talking about? Aren’t you searching for an article right now?”
“Don’t search for articles, write them. You’re a reporter too, huh? Post something today, okay?!”
“Yes, yes.”
The reporter, who had been breathing heavily, scratched his chin and moved the mouse. He had accessed SNS. It was routine. No, perhaps most domestic entertainment reporters would do the same. However, the reporter changed the destination because he had nothing better to do.
The places that changed were various communities.
This wasn’t strange. Many reporters, including him, search for news stories in the community. Click, click. He goes straight to the entertainment section. However, there was nothing to see here either, so the reporter clicked his tongue.
“Tsk.”
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That was when.
“hmm?”
The reporter’s eyes lit up at one post.
-[I went to the same high school as Kang Woojin, but his personality then and now is completely different.]
Then his fingers get faster.
“What is this?”
Late afternoon of the same day.
A high-end Korean restaurant in Cheongdam-dong. About four or five people are sitting in the VIP room of the Korean restaurant with a garden. The funny thing is that they are speaking Japanese.
“Good, here.”
“That’s right. But PD, is it okay to come to a meeting and eat such expensive food?”
“······You invited me here.”
It was natural. They were the production staff of Japan’s national talk show, ‘Ame Talk Show!’. They had arrived in Korea yesterday for a meeting.
Around here.
“Interpreter.”
A skinny PD from the production team spoke to the interpreter.
“I will take my time during the meeting, so please tell me as much detail as possible.”
“all right.”
It was when the interpreter nodded.
-Knock knock, knock.
The door to the room opened sideways and the actor they were waiting for appeared. It was Kang Woo-jin, wearing a thin shirt. As soon as they saw him, the production staff of ‘Ametalk Show!’ all stood up, and Woo-jin, with an indifferent expression, stood in front of the table and greeted them in a low tone.
“Hello, this is Kang Woo-jin. I’m sorry, the staff member gave you the wrong room number.”
At the same time, the eyes of the female writers and interpreters widen. The PD, who is as skinny as an infectious disease, opens his mouth slightly and looks embarrassed.
‘What, what?! Wasn’t that a Korean actor? Why does his Japanese sound so natural?!’
The ‘Ametalk Show!’ team hit with a twist from the start.
