PAID

Episode 473: The Monster (Part 1)

The moment the Hollywood actress on TV called his name—

-["And Kang Woojin."]

Kang Woojin, unable to suppress his true feelings, almost screamed. Something like, “Woooaaahh!!” The excitement and thrill surging from deep within him were indescribable. If that actress, whom he didn't even know, were standing in front of him, he might have hugged her and danced in celebration.

It wasn’t strange at all.

After all, right now, Woojin was—

"I’m… I’m nominated for Best Actor? At the Academy Awards?!"

He had secured a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards, the dream stage for filmmakers around the world. Sure, he had poured his heart and soul into acting. He had relentlessly thrown himself into his projects, even enduring harsh criticism from the public. Yet—

"…But I never thought something like this would actually happen."

The Academy Awards. The place where countless actors, from Hollywood and beyond, give their all, pushing themselves to the limit. Just being nominated was a massive honor, instantly catapulting an actor’s career. There were only five spots for Best Actor, and Kang Woojin had just been named.

At this moment, Woojin couldn’t do anything.

He simply stared blankly at the TV.

It wasn’t about keeping up a facade or maintaining a dignified appearance. He was genuinely in shock. A flood of memories flashed through his mind like a panorama. Yes, Cannes. His journey to the Academy Awards had started there. Back then, he had only been shooting Leech, but people around him had been talking about Cannes being the stepping stone to the Oscars.

But everything had now become a reality.

"Wow—seriously, this is really happening?"

With this, it was confirmed that Cannes was indeed the stepping stone, and the Emmys had been a side dish to the main course.

Woojin’s world was full of misconceptions and misunderstandings. But time and again, he had turned those misconceptions into reality. This time was no different. Woojin, as the Joker, had turned all those misunderstandings into a miracle.

At that moment—

Swoosh.

Woojin’s senses slowly returned. The first thing he noticed was someone else’s breathing—Miley Cara’s. She was right next to him, jumping up and down, hugging him tightly, her face beaming with joy.

“Woojin!! Congratulations!! Really, really, congratulations! This is unbelievable!”

“…”

Let’s goooooo!!!!!!!!

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

Whoosh.