Chapter 376: Overwhelm (5)

Translator: Dreamscribe

Kang Woojin, who was shaking his hands with a Hollywood top actor on par with Miley Cara in terms of recognition, or rather, half-forcefully not letting go, calmly uttered in English

“By the way, what’s your name?”

Thanks to that, the foreigners around them noticeably began to murmur. Both the 'Columbia Studios' employees and visitors to the film company, as well as the Hollywood top actor's team members. The dozens of people with eyes of various colors opened them wide.

“W-what did Kang Woojin just say?”

“Did he ask for his name?”

“My god, he doesn’t know who he is?”

“No, he must be joking.”

"No way- is this a power play?"

Of course, Choi Sung-gun standing next to Woojin, was a little surprised. But it felt refreshing too. He didn’t hear exactly what that Hollywood top actor whispered to Woojin, but the lines he uttered when he first extended his hand had slightly rubbed Choi Sung-gun the wrong way.

‘When did Woojin ever disregard the Academy Awards? And what? Confidence is good, but if it’s too much, it can seem excessive? This is ridiculous.'

That's why Choi Sung-gun didn't stop Woojin. It was the boldness that only Kang Woojin could show, and a situation that only he could create. The flow was strangely unfolding, but he felt it was fine to leave it be.

'...I wonder if I should mediate- no. This kind of thing can happen anytime in Hollywood, it might not be bad to experience it first now. Especially with an actor of his caliber.'

Since Kang Woojin was unknown here in Hollywood, similar incidents were bound to happen. Therefore, CEO Choi Sung-gun chose to be a bystander. However, the expressions of the Hollywood top actor's team members were severe. Their faces crumpled as soon as they heard Woojin's line. Among them, a fat man who seemed to be the main manager standing right behind the Hollywood actor stepped forward.

“H-hey. What did you just say-”

But.

-Swish.

The Hollywood top actor, still holding hands with Kang Woojin, turned to look at him. He didn’t say anything, but it carried the implicit message not to intervene. Soon, the manager shut his mouth, and the Hollywood actor, who turned his face back to Woojin, asked. His previously relaxed tone had changed 180 degrees.

“...What did you just say?”

It carried a sense of warning. But so what? Kang Woojin let go of his hand and immediately answered. It was a dry and firm voice.

“I asked for your name.”

“......”

The murmurs of the surrounding foreigners grew louder. But Woojin’s solemn English did not stop.

"You seem to know my name, but I don't know yours. I don't think that's polite."

A counterattack. Ignoring must be met with ignoring. And it was genuinely ‘no backing down’ attitude.

‘I really don’t know this ridiculously handsome guy’s name.’

Kang Woojin genuinely didn’t know his name. More precisely, he couldn’t remember it. Well, for the other person, it was undoubtedly baffling. After all, he was claiming not to know someone who was a monster of recognition not just here in Hollywood but across the entire United States, and furthermore in Korea and globally.

In other words, Kang Woojin was executing deliberate ignorance with sincerity mixed in.

And now with a 'Beastification' added to the concept.

Who could possibly see through Kang Woojin's true intentions? No one in the world could, and neither could the Hollywood actor standing across from Woojin. All he thought was that Woojin was attacking him because of what he said earlier.

"Woojin, were you uncomfortable with what I said?"

Woojin replied dryly.

"Not at all. I took it as advice, though I don't think it will be very helpful."

“......Then why are you acting this way?”

“Is it strange to ask for someone’s name?”

The Hollywood top actor fell into confusion. Clearly, Woojin was being aggressive, but there was no emotion in his eyes. It didn’t seem like a lie at all. But could he really not know me? He stared at Kang Woojin, whose face remained indifferent, for a brief moment.

‘I can’t read what he’s......thinking. But those eyes ,they look like they could pounce any second without warning.’

One thing was certain above all else- Woojin’s gaze was closer to dangerous than threatening. At that moment, the fat manager standing behind him whispered.

"The crowd's getting bigger, we should probably leave for now."

Indeed, the number of onlookers around them continued to increase. In Hollywood, where rumors spread faster than wildfire, this sort of thing could escalate within moments. Soon, the Hollywood actor let out a small breath, took a step down the stairs, and said to Kang Woojin.

“I’m Chris Hartnett.”

The moment he heard the name, Woojin exclaimed internally.

‘Ah! Right, Chris Hartnett!’

A Hollywood top actor he’d only seen in movies. Though the real person was standing in front of him, Kang Woojin maintained his cynicism.

“I’m Kang Woojin.”

Chris Hartnett stared at Woojin for a few seconds before letting out a faint laugh.

“See you around.”

He quickly descended the stairs. His team followed suit, though they glared at Kang Woojin on their way out. Woojin, however, showed no change in expression. At this point, Choi Sung-gun nudged Woojin’s shoulder.

“Let’s go too. If we stay here longer, it’ll get troublesome.”

Thanks to the gathering crowd of spectators. Woojin and Choi Sung-gun climbed up the stairs, and by the time they reached the entrance-

“By the way, Woojin.”

Choi Sung-gun asked quietly.

"Did you really not know Chris Hartnett's name? No way, right?"

Woojin, mixing sincerity with nonchalance, replied cynically.

"I didn't know, and if I hadn't seen him today, it would've stayed that way."

A few dozen minutes later, inside a large van.

The van, carrying several foreigners, was cruising through downtown LA. For some reason, the people inside were in an angry state.

“Kang Woojin? It’s absurd. He’s so arrogant.”

“That’s what I’m saying. He must’ve grown conceited after winning Best Actor at Cannes.”

“Let’s just ignore him. If that’s all he’s got, he won’t survive in Hollywood.”

“But when he asked for Chris’s name, I nearly exploded with anger.”

The fat man turned to the person sitting by the window, a man with naturally swept-back brown hair.

“Chris, forget about that ridiculous guy.”

It was Hollywood’s first-tier top actor, Chris Hartnett, who had confronted Kang Woojin earlier. Leaning on his chin and staring out the window, Chris opened his mouth.

“Well. It wasn’t something so forgettable.”

“He’s just full of himself.”

“Hmm-I took a good hit.”

“What?”

“It’s been a while since I felt this way. Feels like fun.”

“......Fun?”

Chris had been in Hollywood as an actor for over a decade. Still staring out the window, Chris Hartnett met the fat manager’s gaze. A genuine sense of interest lingered on his face.

“Yes, fun. Honestly, I didn’t expect to get hit this hard. I’d heard rumors that he hadn’t been acting long, so I thought he’d be a little intimidated- haha, but what do you know? He bared his teeth like he didn’t care who I was.”

“You weren’t, uh, offended?”

“It’s fascinating. I’m torn between feelings, but I’m definitely fired up. I haven’t seen ‘Leech’, but with that level of guts, I’m curious about his acting. Well, Cannes must have seen something in him to make that choice.”

The fat manager shook his head, clearly displeased.

“He probably just got lucky. From what I saw today, he seemed dry, his emotions hard to read. His acting must be just as flat. I don’t know why he’s even a candidate for the lead role in 'Pierrot'.”

Chris Hartnett brushed his brown hair back and chuckled softly. He then recalled Kang Woojin’s expression from earlier.

“Didn’t anyone else see it?”

“Hm? See what?”

“Kang Woojin. At first, he was quiet, but the moment he heard my words, his eyes changed. Like......a beast? A predator? Whichever it was, it happened in an instant. That had to be intentional. He showed me emotions under perfect control.”

“I didn’t notice anything.”

Chris shrugged his shoulders.

“It wasn’t a verbal warning but an emotional one. Luck? No, regardless of his personality, he’s an exceptional actor. You rarely find someone in Hollywood with emotional switches that quick.”

Muttering to himself, he pulled out the stack of papers tucked to the side. On the cover, the title 'Pierrot' was printed in English. Soon, Chris Hartnett opened the script and murmured.

“If I let my guard down, I’ll take another hit. I’m actually looking forward to the audition.”

Meanwhile, in a medium-sized conference room at Columbia Studios.

In the conference room adorned with posters of past hit projects on the walls, Kang Woojin could be found sitting at the center of a ㄷ-shaped table. Naturally, Choi Sung-gun was seated beside him.

And then,

“I’ve been wanting to meet you, Woojin.”

Across from Kang Woojin, sitting with their backs to the window, were six foreigners and one Korean. Among them were Columbia Studios executives, the executive producer of 'Pierrot', members of the casting team, and Director Ahn Ga-bok.

Having already exchanged introductions, Kang Woojin responded appropriately.

"Nice to meet you."

The female producer replied with a slight smile.

“I heard you ran into Chris outside. He also had a preliminary meeting here earlier. But I heard there was an incident between the two of you before you came in?”

The rumor had already spread to this point. Woojin was surprised internally but thought to himself.

‘Wow- news spreads ridiculously fast here too.’

He nodded calmly.

“Incident might be too strong a word. We just exchanged a brief greeting.”

“A brief greeting? Did you really not know Chris’s name?”

“Yes, that’s why I asked.”

“......You’re certainly unique.”

The female producer, maintaining a faint smile, seemed to take a liking to Kang Woojin. On the other hand, Columbia Studios executives furrowed their brows. First impressions, after all, would vary. Soon, a male member of the 'Pierrot' casting team seated next to the executives chimed in.

“By the way, Woojin, this must be your first time in such a setting, but you don’t seem nervous at all.”

The indifferent Kang Woojin looked at him and responded in English right away.

“Do I need to be nervous?”

“...No, it’s not that, I just wondered if you had visited any other Hollywood studios before coming here.”

“This is my first.”

“Ah- I see. How are you feeling about it?”

“It doesn’t feel any different than usual.”

Kang Woojin answered immediately, without even a second’s hesitation. In truth, he had already decided to approach this meeting head-on before coming here. Choi Sung-gun had mentioned that this preliminary meeting could influence the auditions and screen tests scheduled for January of next month.

‘Since I have zero experience with Hollywood preliminary meetings anyway, overthinking things will only make it worse. Yep, I’ll just do what I always do. But still, man, I am a bit nervous, fuck.’

With no prior experience in Hollywood, Woojin decided to keep his thoughts simple.

On the other hand, the casting team member who had posed the question looked slightly flustered.

‘W-what’s with him? Why is he so calm?’

There wasn’t even the slightest hint of nervousness. In fact, the male casting team member had been asking a predetermined set of questions. He had asked the same ones to Chris Hartnett, Woojin’s predecessor in this meeting. Though ordinary, the answers often gave insight into the person’s current state of mind.

But Kang Woojin, how should one put it,

‘...Chris seemed confident, but there was a slight undercurrent of unease. But this guy, I don’t know? There’s nothing to see.’

No nervousness, no anxiety, no excitement, nothing was showing. The casting team member turned his gaze to the Columbia Studios executives and the female producer. They, too, were silently observing Kang Woojin.

Their expressions were all different.

Particularly, the Columbia Studios executives’ faces were a sight to see. They were filled with disbelief and awkwardness at encountering such a character for the first time.

‘Confidence? No, arrogance? No matter how impressive his achievement at Cannes was......his vibe is just too straightforward.’

To their eyes, the Korean actor Kang Woojin was nothing short of eccentric. No matter how much he was a candidate for the lead role in 'Pierrot', failing to pass this preliminary meeting would mean he wouldn’t reach the final screen test. In some ways, this was akin to a final interview for the audition.

Yet, Kang Woojin showed no sign of concern.

Sure, they knew he turned Cannes upside down by winning Best Actor and that he was soaring as an actor in Korea with an unprecedented filmography. But in Hollywood, Woojin was a complete unknown. Moreover, the place he was sitting now was Columbia Studios, one of the most prominent Hollywood film companies, where even top actors line up for opportunities. So why was this Korean actor acting so indifferent?

‘It’s like he doesn’t care whether he works with us or not.’

Of course, they didn’t know about the Hollywood offers Kang Woojin had received, whether it was from Joseph Felton’s side or 'World Disney Pictures'. However, even if they did know, Woojin’s attitude now would still be difficult to understand. Soon, the executives furrowed their brows and muttered internally.

‘Nervous? He doesn’t even seem remotely nervous, he looks almost disinterested.’

‘......There doesn’t seem to be any pressure. He actually looks comfortable.’

All of the executives subtly glanced at Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had been quiet since earlier. They recalled what he had said about Woojin.

‘An weirdo. Kang Woojin is an weirdo.’

An weirdo. Yes, this Korean actor was, quite literally, an weirdo. But wasn’t this a bit much? And yet, the executives felt slightly offended. His bland demeanor didn’t seem to display much ambition.

‘Does he lack desire? Or does he have other offers from other studios? No way, this isn’t some form of disrespect, is it?’

At this point,

“Kang Woojin.”

The female producer, her legs crossed, asked a question.

“You gave your answer right after Director Ahn Ga-bok handed you the 'Pierrot' script. What made you decide so quickly?”

Woojin answered in a low tone.

“I had a good feeling.”

“...Excuse me? A feeling?”

“Yes.”

For a moment, Director Ahn Ga-bok coughed awkwardly, lowering his head. He was hiding a laugh.

‘He’s throwing it out exactly as he told me before, with no embellishment.’

The female producer, oblivious to this, stared blankly for a second before speaking again.

“You really don’t seem to have any hesitation. As you know, this preliminary meeting could result in you being excluded as a candidate for the role. You won’t...regret it?”

After staring at the female producer for a moment, Woojin replied dryly.

“I don’t mind, but 'Pierrot' will regret it.”

In other words, it’s not him but them who would regret it.