Chapter 290: History (5)

Casting director Megan’s brow furrowed even more at the famous producer Joseph’s simple answer.

“I don’t understand.”

Joseph only gave ambiguous answers from start to finish. And that was something Megan didn’t like. Joseph Felton was always like that. He knew everything but gave no hints to others.

“Can’t you explain it more clearly?”

The giant Joseph shrugged his shoulders.

“Well. Just as you have a relationship with Kang Woojin, I also have a separate relationship with him.”

“……”

“Are you scared?”

“Of course not.”

Megan cleared her throat. At that sight, Joseph, who had a smile on his face, murmured softly.

“You’ll naturally come to know later.”

Megan let out a short sigh.

“Hah- Fine.”

She quickly changed the subject of conversation.

“Then how did the talks with the film company go? There must have been prior agreements. They told me I could use any actor regardless of nationality, but if the investment is already secured, it’s easy for words to change.”

“It’s always the case.”

“Do you think it’s possible to use an Asian actor?”

Joseph, who had been rubbing his chin, smiled broadly.

“I told you, I was looking for a project that would suit him well. Megan, don’t worry about other things and move freely. But there are definitely limits in reality. For example, while we know Kang Woojin, the people in this vast Hollywood don’t know him.”

“……It’s indeed difficult to use an unverified Korean actor as a main or supporting character.”

“Close to impossible.”

“Hmm. It’s tough.”

Megan, who had become serious, seemed to be filled with thoughts of Kang Woojin for some reason. It must be because Woojin’s performance had been so impressive. Joseph, who knew this, patted her on the shoulder.

“But if he makes a real splash at Cannes this year, the story changes. Though as a rookie, it might be hard to win an award, if he shows overwhelming acting at Cannes, it becomes easier to persuade. For now, let’s do our best professionally and look forward to Cannes.”

He showed a thumbs-up.

“Kang Woojin, he will surely show something.”

On the same day, early afternoon, Korea. Jeonju.

The filming site of ‘Leech’ was getting hotter as time went by. Here, they had reached the end of the tightrope. Therefore, around a hundred staff members, team members of actors, actors who had already finished their parts, and numerous ‘Leech’ related people besides reporters were all watching the two actors.

Kang Woojin and Jin Jae-jun.

The two were repeatedly reshooting near the end scene. It wasn’t because there was a problem. Director Ahn Ga-bok was shooting in short cuts by character and background, so it was slightly delayed.

Currently, the two actors were outside the shooting zone.

Jin Jae-jun was getting his makeup touched up, and Kang Woojin was gulping down a bottle of water handed by Han Ye-jung. His expression was indifferent, but inwardly he was feeling a bit tired.

‘Whew- it’s intense. But somehow today I want to finish with this feeling as it is.’

Due to the hectic filming, his frequency of entering the void space had significantly decreased. But today, he wanted to continue with this heavy feeling until the end.

Why?

It wasn’t clear. It might just be a whim.

Around this time.

“Standby! Standby!”

The assistant director, who had received instructions from Director Ahn Ga-bok, shouted. Kang Woojin moved first. Then Director Ahn Ga-bok, in front of the monitor, called him.

“Woojin-gun.”

Interestingly, he just showed his thumb without giving any specific direction. What is this? Woojin reacted calmly but was slightly puzzled inside. Well, it was a kind of cheer from the veteran Director Ahn Ga-bok.

Anyway, Kang Woojin walked. The destination was inside the set.

Cameras mounted on small cranes and on the shoulders of the filming team members captured Woojin. His face was incredibly stern.

Kang Woojin stopped.

Boom microphones, lights, and reflectors were set up around the set.

Kang Woojin took a small breath.

Jin Jae-jun, having finished his makeup touch-up, entered the set where Woojin was. The interior of the set where they stood was a luxurious office. Specifically, it was the vice chairman’s office of ‘Yoon Ja-ho’, the character played by Jin Jae-jun. A brown leather 5-seater sofa that looked expensive was placed there, and many documents were seen on the large desk. Various paintings adorned the walls, decorating the vice chairman’s office.

Kang Woojin commanded.

It was only natural that Woojin, who was casually scanning the set, called out ‘Park Ha-seong’. Although the current shooting sequence was the last, the scene was around the middle-to-late part of ‘Leech.’ Thus, Park Ha-seong’s mind was somewhat tainted. Although he was not aware he had Ripley syndrome, he was certainly faded and changed.

He had already crossed the line and cut off the ties.

Such Park Ha-seong was transmitted through Woojin’s veins and spread throughout his body.

“……”

In an instant, subtle emotions blossomed in Kang Woojin’s heart. It was neither desire nor greed. It was not something he longed for or took away.

‘Mine, it’s mine.’

It was close to establishment. The pretense of recognizing a different version of himself in his brain had already disappeared. It was definitive and certain. I exist in this world and have assimilated. It’s not your world.

It is our world.

At that moment.

“Hi-”

Director Ahn Ga-bok’s signal came through the loudspeaker. Simultaneously, Woojin not only brought out ‘Park Ha-seong’ but also performed additional work. This was something that had occasionally done during the filming of ‘Leech’—the ‘freedom of the role’.

“Action.”

With permission to spread his wings, the filth that spread in Woojin’s chest became even thicker. Every lie that came from his mouth and every action shown by his body was the truth.

‘What was my past like? I can’t remember. No, maybe it didn’t exist. Because I have always been here.’

Cutting the long film of life, the current short piece became all of Park Ha-seong.

-Swoosh.

Kang Woojin’s face, somewhere between indifference and boredom, entered the vice chairman’s office. Two cameras were filming him from the side and the front. Kang Woojin or Park Ha-seong looked around the spacious vice chairman’s office.

“Hmm-”

And then he lightly broke the frame of ‘Leech’. According to the original script, Woojin should have immediately sat on the sofa. However, the current Kang Woojin touched the desk while chewing his lips or inhaled the overall air of the vice chairman’s office.

“Hoo- hoo.”

Now, Kang Woojin kept the fundamental of ‘Leech’s script but moved freely without hesitation. There was no need to be confined to the script. However, it was neither excessive nor unnecessary. The current freedom Woojin displayed made Park Ha-seong’s color several times richer.

Director Ahn Ga-bok, watching on the monitor, smacked his lips.

‘He touches everything and even breathes in the air. The psychology of wanting to possess everything and the unhesitant actions are three-dimensional compared to the beginning. Yes, this is the picture I had in mind for Park Ha-seong.’

Actors like Sim Han-ho and Oh Hee-ryung, who had already read the script thoroughly, couldn’t take their eyes off him.

‘Every movement is light, but the expression on his face is deep. It feels repulsive.’

‘Recently, his acting has been top-notch. It’s become a bit more delicate? His creativity is also remarkable.’

Kang Woojin, who was taking deep breaths, coughed lightly a few times.

“It stinks.”

It was because the air in the vice chairman’s office contained the foul taste of tobacco. The scent of the diffuser and the smell of cigarettes mixed to create an uncomfortable odor.

However, Park Ha-seong laughed.

The camera zoomed in on his face.

“Not bad, it feels familiar because it’s similar to me.”

The mixed scent was not unfamiliar. It was just comfortable. It was understandable. Although Woojin was not aware, the mixed smell of fragrance and stench was a roundabout way of expressing his own situation. Veteran actor Sim Han-ho immediately grasped the hidden meaning in Woojin’s acting.

‘……Their world is fragrant, and his world is stinking. The nauseating smell of the two mixed together is Park Ha-seong’s current scent. Damn, it’s meticulous.’

At this point.

“Cut.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok cut the scene. Of course, it wasn’t an NG. The same scene had been repeated several times. Although Kang Woojin’s acting was impressive.

“Let’s continue with the last one as a bust shot.”

“Yes, Director~nim.”

It was to change the viewing angle.

Next scene.

Woojin or Park Ha-seong sat on the 5-seater sofa. Before long, a faint smile spread across his face. He brushed the armrest of the sofa lightly. The texture felt good. The corners of his mouth lifted even more.

-Clunk!

Suddenly, the vice chairman’s office door opened and Yoon Ja-ho, in a full suit, entered. His face was full of annoyance. The camera captured both of them in a two-shot, and Yoon Ja-ho, glancing at Park Ha-seong sitting on the sofa, clenched his teeth.

His anger grew stronger.

“You fucking bastard……”

In his heart, he wanted to twist his neck, but Yoon Ja-ho forcibly held back. He thought of his mother’s face. Love? No, it wasn’t love. It was a lust for power. It would be troublesome to fall out of his mother’s favor at this point, and unfortunately, that idiot was favored by her.

Yoon Ja-ho was angry, Park Ha-seong was calm.

The difference between the two was vividly captured by the camera. While loosening his tight tie, Yoon Ja-ho picked up the pack of cigarettes on the desk.

-Swoosh.

Blowing out a long puff of smoke, Yoon Ja-ho walked to the 5-seater sofa.

He stared at Park Ha-seong, who sat demurely on the sofa. Jin Jae-jun, or Yoon Ja-ho, sat on the armrest of the main seat of the 5-seater sofa.

“Whew-”

He spoke to Kang Woojin along with the cigarette smoke. His voice was filled with coldness.

“You, hey? I’m talking to you. You, you’ll die if you keep this up.”

It was a threat mixed with impatience and anger. He was subtly checking the surroundings. No, to be precise, he was looking out for the eyes of the mother behind this guy.

But he couldn’t lose his authority.

On the other hand, Park Ha-seong quietly looked up at Yoon Ja-ho. Or rather, Kang Woojin’s expression didn’t change. Such a faint smile made Yoon Ja-ho boil over even more.

“Don’t laugh, before I shove this cigarette down your throat.”

“Hyung.”

“This fucking bastard! What? Hyung??!”

Yoon Ja-ho threw the cigarette he was holding at Park Ha-seong’s body. The smoking cigarette fell to the floor with a thud, and as the residual smoke brushed his face, Park Ha-seong, or Woojin, covered his nose with his hand. Then he looked back up at Jin Jae-jun.

“Why are you so wary of me?”

Biting the filter of a new cigarette, Jin Jae-jun answered while chewing it.

“You think I’m wary of someone like you? You’re completely out of your mind.”

“Ah- is that so? I think I understand.”

Kang Woojin stood up. This was also different from the script. Originally, he was supposed to sit on the sofa and murmur, “Because Mother only listens to me,” without stopping. But Woojin looked at Jin Jae-jun who had furrowed his brows.

“Mother.”

He inserted a pause in the dialogue. He was spreading his wings freely. While maintaining the essence of ‘Park Ha-seong’. Woojin, who paused for a moment, stepped out of the sofa and said softly.

“Only listens to me.”

“……What?”

Leaving Jin Jae-jun’s question behind, Kang Woojin strolled around the vice chairman’s office. He was truly free. He followed the script but acted as Park Ha-seong wanted.

The camera followed him.

With a face halfway between a smile and a sneer, Woojin looked out the window.

“Ah- is that not it?”

Then.

-Swoosh.

Woojin, who murmured softly, turned his head to the left. Among the various items on the shelf, a medium-sized picture frame caught his eye. It was a family photo. It included the mother, Yoon Ja-ho behind her, and Chairman Yoon Jung-bae. It was a family photo with everyone in it.

Only one person was missing.

“Mother could only hear the words I say.”

Here, the cut was supposed to happen. According to the script, it was. But Director Ahn Ga-bok, who was watching the monitor.

“……”

He didn’t open his mouth. Instead, he gulped. That guy, that monster had something in mind. The intensity and rhythm had changed, but the lines were the same. However, Woojin’s movements were not in the script and seemed to have a certain intention. Everyone on the set was staring at Kang Woojin, and Director Ahn Ga-bok was fixated on the monitor.

At this moment.

-Swoosh.

Kang Woojin’s gaze, which had been on Jin Jae-jun, shifted back to the family photo frame. Then, slowly, ever so slightly, he moved his face. The camera director, noticing Woojin’s movement, captured the frame from behind Woojin’s head.

It soon became visible.

“This is how it should be.”

In the glass of the family photo frame, Kang Woojin’s—no, Park Ha-seong’s—face was gradually being reflected.

The camera director, with widened eyes, immediately filled the frame with the reflection. Park Ha-seong or Woojin’s face, with a faintly twisted smile, was mirrored in the family photo frame.

At this moment, Director Ahn Ga-bok gave the signal.

He was already smiling a wrinkled smile. His dilated pupils were filled with joy. Kang Woojin’s ad-lib was.

“……Cut.”

Perfect as the last filming scene of ‘Leech’.

*****

Translator’s Note:

Manhwa for this novel was released recently, you can check it out on the given links below. But I would not recommend to read it right now at least before completing the novel as the quality is not what I expected. Aside from that as with every adaptation it might/will change, modify amd remove parts from the novels to make it more readable for manhwa format. But I had hoped to get a better quality adaptation because of how popular it was when it was ongoing on Korean publishing website. Anyway, enjoy!!!

Korean version link – /webtoon/list?titleId=830008

English translated version link – /manga/i-was-mistaken-as-a-monstrous-genius-actor/

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