Chapter 301 - Autumn (2)

Translator: Dreamscribe

Around lunchtime.

At the time when the Hollywood stunt coordinator team, recruited by ‘Beneficial Evil’, set foot in Korea, for some reason, a massive crowd had gathered at COEX in Samseong-dong. It was always a busy place, but now it was several times more crowded.

So much so that passersby were astonished.

“Whoa—what’s going on here? There are so many people!”

“Wow! Look at the reporters staking out spots! Is some celebrity coming?”

Hundreds of people were clinging to the rope fence set up in the first-floor lobby, and in front of them were dozens of reporters with cameras that looked like cannons. It wasn’t just the first floor. The second and third floors, following the stairs, were also packed with people. The situation was being controlled by muscular security guards, while staff members wearing lanyards were frantically running around in between them.

All of the gathered crowd was holding up their phones in unison, and their phones were pointed toward the same spot as the cannon-like cameras of the dozens of reporters.

A podium was set up, and chairs and a desk were arranged on top of it.

Behind it hung a large poster of an actor currently shaking up South Korea.

It was Kang Woojin.

Of course, this event was a fan signing event hosted by a luxury brand for which Woojin was the main model. Therefore, around Woojin’s poster, the luxury brand’s logos were also prominently displayed.

In other words, all these people were desperately waiting for Kang Woojin.

The news had already broken.

However, the star of the show, Kang Woojin, was not yet in his seat.

So where was he at the moment?

Woojin could be found in a waiting room set aside for today’s event, a bit away from the lobby where the signing event would take place.

“Hmm—”

While it was noisy outside the waiting room with his team members bustling about, the waiting room Woojin was using alone was relatively quiet. Kang Woojin was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed. He looked his best. His black hair was naturally swept back, and he was dressed in a matching blazer and slacks, both in dark brown.

He was more than ready.

For some reason, Woojin was sitting there with wireless earphones in, eyes closed. His chin was slightly tilted down. He wasn’t sleeping because he had some spare time.

-♬♪

He was listening to music. It wasn’t even a Korean song. It was a foreign song. The reason was simple: the song Woojin was currently listening to was sent by Miley Cara. It wasn’t an officially released track; it was a guide track for her upcoming new album.

Woojin had to familiarize himself with this song to proceed with the work.

Of course, Miley Cara’s side had recently sent over various details about the new album. They said that the song Woojin would be working on was likely to be the title track. Along with this, they sent the concept of the song and the storyboard for the music video. Therefore, whenever Woojin had free time, he often listened to the song along with reading scripts like this.

‘The song—it’s good even though it’s just a guide version.’

Kang Woojin’s involvement in the song Cara sent was significant. It was closer to a featuring role, but it also included Woojin’s piano solo. This meant his contribution was substantial. When he first heard this, he acted cool on the outside but was deeply puzzled on the inside.

Why? Why would a global superstar like Miley Cara make such a decision?

But Kang Woojin soon stopped thinking much of it. Well, it’ll work out somehow. But since he had already agreed to do it, doing it half-heartedly didn’t fit his image. This was also part of Woojin’s original personality.

Whatever it was.

‘But damn, this is seriously awesome.’

As Woojin replayed the guide track again, he couldn’t help but smile unconsciously. Of course, it was inwardly.

‘Why am I listening to the guide track for a global ultra-superstar’s new album? And I’m even going to be a part of it.’

In a way, it was an unbelievable situation. Working with Miley Cara, who has massive influence even in Hollywood. At this moment, except for Miley Cara’s team, Kang Woojin was probably the first person on Earth listening to her new album’s track.

“Life really is unpredictable.”

Woojin, who was slightly shaking his head, moved his hand as he listened to the song. He picked up the tablet placed on the table in front of him. With two taps on the screen, the things he had been looking at earlier began to display. It was the music video storyboard sent by Cara’s team.

‘The concept is really unique too—a woman who’s half-crazy after being dumped.’

The music video concept was directly connected to the mood of the song. Heartbreak, obsession. On top of that, the outfits were brazenly sexy. But now, it added a touch of ‘madness’.

At that moment.

-Klunk.

The waiting room door opened, and Han Ye-jung, with her short blue hair, walked in. She looked at Woojin, who had his legs crossed, and spoke in her characteristic blunt voice.

“Oppa, you can go out in five minutes.”

“Got it.”

Han Ye-jung, who was now looking down at the tablet Woojin had just shifted his gaze to with a nonchalant expression, asked.

“Ah—so you were looking at the music video concept from Miley Cara’s side.”

“Yeah.”

“I checked it out earlier because of the costume preparations. Oppa, are you really okay with this?”

“With what?”

“The music video seemed pretty intense. And they’re asking quite a lot from you too. The piano solo is short so that’s fine, but in the story, you’re the object of Cara’s obsession.”

Isn’t that the point, so what was the problem? In fact, Cara’s acting in the storyboard for the music video was an obsession-driven ‘love pursuit’ from beginning to end. However, the choreography was quite intense. While the sexy costumes of Cara and the dancers were the main focus, once Kang Woojin appeared, their pursuit of him began.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

There was a lot of skinship with close contact with Cara.

One of the scenes even included a cut where their lips were about to touch. It wasn’t confirmed, so it might be removed, but that’s how it was currently. Of course, Woojin wouldn’t be dancing or moving much, and Cara’s side had already communicated that they were willing to modify the storyboard if it became a problem or was too difficult.

Kang Woojin’s answer was OK.

He was sincere about it. It was just acting, after all. However, he also had this thought.

‘No, seriously, when else in life would I get to be courted by a global superstar like Miley Cara?’

Wouldn’t that be the dream of men around the world? But expressing this thought outright would be stupid. Woojin replied to Han Ye-jung in the calmest voice possible, cold and composed.

“It doesn’t matter, it’s just acting.”

Han Ye-jung then shook her head slightly, as if she was a bit exasperated.

“Whew, even though it’s Miley Cara we’re talking about, to you it’s just another job, oppa. It’s amazing, how are you so unshaken by anything?”

Kang Woojin, hiding his true feelings, faced the mild misconception confidently.

“Work is work.”

Later.

Kang Woojin, who had been in the waiting room, appeared at the fan signing event inside COEX. At the same time, a loud roar and screams erupted, and the flashlights from the cannon-like cameras of the dozens of reporters stationed in front of the rope fence went off madly.

-Pababababak!

-Pababababak!!

In contrast, Kang Woojin, thick with the concept, remained calm.

“……”

Having grown quite accustomed to such scenes, he moved composedly. He waved appropriately to the dozens of reporters and greeted the hundreds of gathered fans. Since everyone was holding up their phones, it almost looked like he was greeting phones instead of people. The crowd had doubled from the initial gathering. It was getting hard for the security guards to maintain control.

Thus, the fan signing event began.

The process of signing and talking with each person one by one was scheduled for about 2 hours, but due to the overwhelming number of fans, Woojin had to spend an additional 30 minutes. When Woojin finally boarded the van after wrapping up the fan signing event, Choi Sung-gun, who was sitting in the passenger seat, spoke up.

“Good job, Woojin.”

As he untied and retied his ponytail, he continued.

“We’ll do a few quick interviews, then head over to the action school for ‘Beneficial Evil’ this afternoon. That overseas stunt team has already joined up, apparently?”

“Yes, CEO~nim.”

Choi Sung-gun then briefed Woojin on the confirmed schedule.

“And regarding Miley Cara, we’ll be flying to LA on the morning of the 9th.”

That was about five days from today.

Meanwhile, at a large action school in Seoul.

The floor was covered entirely in gray mats, and the ceiling was lined with wires and various martial arts props at the action school. Of course, this was the main stage for the stunt team of ‘Beneficial Evil’, and dozens of stunt team members were present, along with several staff members from ‘Beneficial Evil’, including the PD Song Man-woo.

The martial arts team members were all busy in each section of the space.

The interesting thing was that there were actors gasping for breath among the stunt team members. They were unknown and rookie actors cast in ‘Beneficial Evil’. Among many actors, those who needed to perform martial arts had already started their training.

Some of the actors were familiar faces.

There was top actor Ha Gang-su, who had worked with Woojin on ‘Our Dining Table’, and Jo Moo-chan, who had a kind appearance but idolized Kang Woojin.

All of them were sweating profusely as they devoted themselves to martial arts practice.

Overseeing it all was the martial arts director, and beside him, with his arms crossed, stood PD Song Man-woo, observing the scene. The test camera and the making-of team were also busy filming, not forgetting any detail. By the way, PD Song Man-woo was scheduled to leave for Bangkok, Thailand in a few days. There was much to organize, including location scouting for confirmed overseas location shoots.

Meanwhile.

“Hey—”

A few of the martial arts team members, panting and gulping down water, whispered to each other as they looked at a group of foreigners gathered behind PD Song Man-woo.

“They definitely have a different aura, don’t they?”

“Right. To be honest, it’s my first time seeing a stunt team from Hollywood.”

“Hey, hey, in Hollywood, they don’t call them a stunt team, they’re called stunt coordinators or something like that.”

“Whoa—look at that guy’s build. His arm is as thick as my thigh.”

“Different genes, man.”

The group of foreigners was the Hollywood stunt coordinator team that ‘Beneficial Evil’ had recruited, who had arrived in Korea today. The five-member team had settled in one corner of the action school. Some were observing the ‘Beneficial Evil’ stunt team, while others were chatting among themselves. Although a translator was with them, they didn’t seem to be communicating directly with PD Song Man-woo or the martial arts director at the moment.

It felt like they were just taking in the atmosphere for now.

Because of that, the foreigner group seemed relaxed, not paying much attention to the stunt team. On the other hand, the entire ‘Beneficial Evil’ stunt team was noticeably conscious of them.

“What’s the Hollywood movie that team worked on again? There was a really famous one, right?”

“Man, how did they even manage to recruit them? Did they pour in a ton of money into it?”

“They sure have an air of superiority. But why aren’t they doing anything?”

Both the members resting and those engrossed in practice kept glancing at the group of foreigners.

“They’re probably just supposed to acclimate for now. Besides, they were specifically recruited for ‘CQC’, so it’s not like it’s any of our business.”

“Ah—so they’re exclusively for Kang Woojin?”

“Of course. After all, ‘Beneficial Evil’ is basically a one-man show for Kang Woojin.”

“It looks like Kang Woojin is coming. But today’s atmosphere seems like he’ll just briefly greet and that’s it? The director said something like that earlier.”

“What would they do on the first day?”

The conversation also brought up Kang Woojin quite a bit.

“Wow—still, Kang Woojin’s going to have a tough time this round, don’t you think? Just look at their aura. Those guys who fly around doing martial arts in Hollywood aren’t going to go easy.”

“He’s 100% going to be wiped out. I’ve heard of ‘CQC’ before, but I didn’t know much about it, so I looked it up. It’s an ultra-advanced combat technique. It’s definitely not something you can learn in just a few months.”

“They’ll probably just want him to create the posture somehow. Phew- No matter how good Kang Woojin is, how can he easily learn something like ‘CQC’?”

Sensing that the atmosphere was getting a bit rowdy, the martial arts director shouted.

“Why are you guys not focusing?!! What are you all chattering about!”

Instantly, the entire stunt team clamped their mouths shut. Still, the muscular martial arts director clicked his tongue, seeming slightly displeased.

“Tsk, I’ve told you a hundred times—if you lose focus, you’ll get hurt.”

Standing with his arms crossed, PD Song Man-woo glanced back and smiled subtly.

“They’re probably curious about the Hollywood stunt team. So, have you talked with them?”

“Yeah, we did. It wasn’t easy since we had to go through a translator, but it wasn’t bad.”

“How do they seem?”

“Well, the level is definitely higher. As soon as they saw the martial arts storyboard, they immediately pointed out the awkward parts. You can really tell they’ve got that Hollywood experience.”

“They should be different, considering how much that team costs. Anyway, if you can revise the martial arts storyboard based on their input, do it. I’m all for anything that raises the quality.”

“I know, the quality will definitely be upgraded. We’ve brought in experts after all.”

The martial arts director, mumbling to himself, checked his wristwatch.

“When is Woojin-ssi arriving? He said he’d drop by briefly to meet the stunt coordinator team.”

PD Song Man-woo, who nodded his head, answered immediately.

“I just talked to him, and he said he’s almost here.”

A few dozen minutes later.

A black van carrying Kang Woojin stopped in the parking lot outside the action school. Naturally, Kang Woojin stepped out of the van. He was dressed in the same blazer he had worn at the fan signing event. Of course, this was expected since he was only supposed to make a brief greeting.

-Swish.

Woojin, with his poker face on, looked at the large action school.

‘So, the overseas stunt team has arrived?’

He didn’t feel particularly nervous. He had met Hollywood staff several times before. As soon as Choi Sung-gun and Woojin’s team joined him, Kang Woojin began to move. With firm strides, he walked straight ahead without any hesitation and opened the door to the action school. Nearby, the assistant director from ‘Beneficial Evil’, who had been waiting, immediately shouted out.

“Sunbae! Woojin-ssi has arrived!!”

With this shout, every eye in the action school turned to Kang Woojin. Among the actors, Ha Gang-su smiled slightly, and Jo Moo-chan’s eyes sparkled. PD Song Man-woo and the martial arts director quickly rushed over to Woojin. It was PD Song Man-woo who spoke first.

“You’re here. Did the fan signing event go well this morning?”

Woojin, who was greeting the nearby staff, answered calmly.

“Yes, PD-nim.”

The muscular martial arts director joined in with a laugh.

“Wow—Woojin-ssi is really looking sharp today! Haha, is it because I haven’t seen you dressed up like this often?”

As they exchanged brief greetings, PD Song Man-woo called over the assistant director and gave him some instructions. Soon, the assistant director nodded and quickly ran off. It was towards the Hollywood stunt coordinator team, who had been watching Kang Woojin’s entrance intently.

Soon, the foreigners group, accompanied by a translator, approached.

Their imposing presence didn’t cause much change in Woojin’s expression. He was already used to how huge these foreigners were.

‘Yeah, they’re huge as expected. I figured as much.’

One of the foreigners, who had the big nose and seemed to be the leader, stepped forward and extended his hand to Kang Woojin. Naturally, he spoke in English.

“Kang Woojin? Nice to meet you, I’m Ethan Smith, the leader of the team.”

The translator was about to relay the message to Woojin, but Woojin, with his indifferent expression, had already extended his hand to him.

“Hello, I’m Kang Woojin.”

Ethan Smith, who introduced himself as the team leader, seemed slightly surprised.

“I’d heard about it, but your English is really good.”

“I can manage.”

“That’s a relief. There won’t be any communication problems. Communication is the most important thing in our work.”

The translator, now with nothing to do, blinked his eyes. Then, realizing the situation, he quickly moved over to PD Song Man-woo and translated the conversation between the two, after which PD Song Man-woo nodded and began to speak, pointing to Woojin.

“He’s the main male lead of our project, and despite having a busy schedule today, he took the time to come here. For today, let’s keep it simple with introductions and discuss our future plans.”

These words were conveyed through the translator. Upon hearing them, Ethan Smith’s gaze returned to Kang Woojin. Woojin was dressed in a blazer and slacks—certainly not in attire for physical activity. But without hesitation, Ethan directly addressed Woojin without any roundabout words.

“I’d like to check your current condition. Although we’ve received videos of your martial arts practice beforehand, it’s difficult to make a judgment based on those alone. If possible, I’d like to see you perform one of the martial arts cuts related to ‘CQC’. Would that be difficult?”

The translator, with slightly widened eyes, relayed this to PD Song Man-woo and the martial arts director. Immediately, Choi Sung-gun and the martial arts director were flustered. Of course, PD Song Man-woo was just as surprised, and he quickly stepped forward, waving his hand.

“Ah, no. That wasn’t discussed beforehand. Woojin-ssi hasn’t formally learned ‘CQC’ yet. Moreover, springing this on him all of a sudden would be too much for him.”

However.

-Swish.

PD Song Man-woo’s words were cut off by Kang Woojin’s movement. Woojin had suddenly taken off his blazer he was wearing, drawing the attention of everyone in the action school, including Ethan Smith.

Woojin casually tossed his blazer to the side and spoke to Ethan Smith.

“Have you familiarized yourself with our added ‘CQC’ sequences for ‘Beneficial Evil’?”

Ethan Smith nodded.

“Yes, we have.”

Kang Woojin, who had been scanning the large-built stunt team including Ethan, responded in a very low-toned English.

“Let’s do it then, but with a cut that includes all of your team members.”

He was essentially telling them, “All of you, come at me.”

****