小火星

Startled by Hong Hye-yeon’s unexpected statement, the skinny team leader gazed at her in bewilderment for a moment.

“Huh?”

The reason was simple. She was a top-tier actress in the country, and she hadn’t really favored appearing on variety shows. In fact, she was more averse to it. Her aversion wasn’t because she looked down on variety shows but rather because she felt a bit burdened by them.

Many celebrities often suffered from stage fright in variety shows, knowing they weren’t good at speaking or being entertaining.

Hong Hye-yeon was one of them.

Naturally, due to her influence, she was flooded with offers for variety shows every year, but she almost always refused. If she did agree, it was usually a one-time appearance, like in ‘Sports Day.’ The team leader knew this all too well, which made him quite flustered.

“…You want to do PD Yoon’s variety show?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not talking the about ‘Sports Day’?”

“No, I mean the new one.”

The team leader’s eyes widened even further in surprise. In contrast, Hong Hye-yeon avoided his gaze. In a hushed tone, the team leader continued.

“You rarely do variety shows, right? I remember you even declined PD Yoon Byung-seon’s offer a year ago.”

That was true. But, brushing it off, Hong Hye-yeon, who had retied her long hair, shrugged.

“That time it was obviously an outdoor survival thing. I’m not great with that sort of stuff. But this time, it’s different, right?”

“It is, but… are you serious? This isn’t some kind of joke?”

“Team leader, when have you seen me joke about work?”

“No? No, of course not.”

The team leader quickly acknowledged, thinking of CEO Choi Sung-gun.

“Did you talk to the CEO about this?”

“I just thought of it.”

If Hong Hye-yeon was willing, there was no reason for Choi Sung-gun to object. Her influence within bw Entertainment was formidable, enhanced recently by Kang Woojin’s rise.

Then, scratching his chin with a puzzled expression, the team leader asked.

“Well, Hye-yeon, if you want to do it, it’s fine, but this is unexpected. Is there a particular reason you suddenly want to do a variety show?”

Crossing her slender legs, Hong Hye-yeon vaguely dodged the question, keeping her real thoughts hidden.

“Just because. The recent ‘Sports Day’ was fun, and after finishing my current project, I wanted to take a break. Dramas are great when they’re successful, but they’re exhausting, you know? In many ways.”

“True, it was quite intense. So, you’re going to do a variety show before your next drama?”

“I haven’t decided yet. PD Yoon might not choose me.”

“Hardly. They would jump at the chance if you’re willing.”

Smirking slightly, Hong Hye-yeon whispered.

“For now, arrange a meeting for me.”

Later that same night.

It was a little past 9 PM. A black van could be seen in the parking lot of a major hotel in Seoul. It was Kang Woojin’s team. Soon, Woojin, with an indifferent expression, got out of the van.

-Thunk!

Immediately, CEO Choi Sung-gun also stepped out from the passenger side. Turning to Jang Su-hwan and Han Ye-jung inside the car, he said,

“It might take a while, so you two go and have dinner.”

“Understood!”

“Contact us when you’re about to finish, and we’ll come.”

As the van smoothly exited the parking lot, Choi Sung-gun patted Woojin’s shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Woojin was dressed in a white shirt and jeans, but he had a full face of makeup on, probably from a photo shoot earlier in the day. Anyway, he put on a black mask and moved with Choi Sung-gun to the elevator.

His steps were calm, and the atmosphere was heavier than usual.

However, internally, he was thinking:

‘I’m craving pork feet with soju. And cold buckwheat noodles. The ‘Drug Dealer’ shooting is over; I’ll treat myself to pork feet when I get home. Wonder what time we’ll finish?’

He was thinking about a hearty late-night snack. Recently, Woojin had been dieting for the ‘Drug Dealer’ shoot, and with its conclusion, he had some leeway. Soon, as he entered the elevator, Woojin swallowed his saliva.

At that moment.

“Woojin.”

Leaning his shoulder against the elevator mirror, Choi Sung-gun asked a question.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

Choi Sung-gun’s face showed slight tension.

“We’re about to meet Director Kyotaro and Author Akari. Aren’t you too calm? They’re big shots. You met Director Kyotaro once, but Author Akari is a world-class artist.”

In response to Choi Sung-gun’s ramblings, Woojin replied succinctly.

“Not really. I feel okay.”

It was genuine. Woojin wasn’t feeling particularly nervous, genuinely. Why?

‘It’s just like meeting a Japanese ‘ajumma.’ (TL: Middle-aged woman or Aunt)

To Akari’s fans around the world, this would be a heart-pounding moment, but Woojin thought:

‘Not to me.’

Instead, Woojin was more interested in the upscale hotel, as it was his first time in such a lavish place. Choi Sung-gun chuckled, observing Woojin.

“You really are something. You should have become a celebrity long ago.”

At that moment, the elevator doors opened to the floor with the suites, and as Woojin and Choi Sung-gun exited the elevator, a few men approached to greet them.

“Hello, we’ve been waiting for you.”

Men in suits. They were agency employees, and under their guidance, Woojin entered the suite. The moment he saw the interior, Kang Woojin almost lost his composure. He barely held back an exclamation.

‘Woah- Is this for real?’

The suite was indeed astonishing. It was not only spacious, but from the floor to the ceiling, the furniture, and everything else, it simply felt like a palace. And then, from the central sofa, he heard Japanese being spoken.

“Are you here? This way.”

It was Director Kyotaro with his graying hair. And next to him stood a middle-aged woman with glasses perched on her nose. As soon as Woojin saw her, he had an inkling.

‘That ajumma. Is she the Author Akari?’

As if confirming his suspicion, Choi Sung-gun approached the two and spoke in somewhat awkward Japanese.

“Hello, I’m CEO Choi Sung-gun. It’s an honor to meet both of you.”

He must have practiced that. Kang Woojin thought to himself. Once Choi Sung-gun finished shaking hands with them, an interpreter stood by his side, as Woojin couldn’t possibly translate everything.

Then,

– Swoosh.

Woojin greeted Director Kyotaro and Author Akari. Unlike Choi Sung-gun, Woojin spoke fluent Japanese.

“Hello, I’m Kang Woojin.”

With a pleasant smile, Director Kyotaro replied.

“Welcome. You look different today than when I saw you during the shooting of ‘Drug Dealer.’ I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“I heard you came to see it, thank you.”

“No, I wanted to be there. I would’ve regretted it if I hadn’t.”

At this point, Author Akari, who had been observing Woojin, then chimed in.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Akari Takikawa.”

Woojin responded calmly, showing no sign of nervousness.

“Yes, it’s an honor, Author.”

“I was really impressed by your acting.”

Lip service? Then He shall also return the favor.

“Thank you. I’m also a fan of your work.”

“Oh, really? By the way, your Japanese is really good. If you were to start shooting immediately, I don’t think you’d stand out at all.”

“No, I’m just moderately skilled.”

All of them, now seated on the sofa, exchanged pleasantries for a brief moment. Meanwhile, the expressionless Woojin sipped his tea and marveled.

‘Oh- This tastes expensive. How much does it cost?’

Author Akari observed Woojin from across the table. His movements, expressions, and tone of voice. Was this her habit?

‘He’s not excessive, nor overly somber; just the right amount of reticence. But that nonchalant composure is quite something. He doesn’t look like he’s drinking tea because he’s nervous. He’s natural.’

Having interacted with many characters in her work, Akari had developed a habit of scanning people’s personalities upon meeting.

‘Newbies usually show some nervousness, but he shows no sign of being shaken. No gaps. It must be an attitude honed over time. A tough type to read.’

At that moment,

– Swoosh.

Director Kyotaro placed a stack of papers on the table. Of course, it was the script for ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger.’

“Woojin, have you read the entire script?”

Setting down his tea cup, Woojin nodded calmly.

“Yes, Director. I’ve read it.”

“How did you find it?”

It’s top-notch. Since he couldn’t say that, Woojin mixed a little praise with his honest feedback.

“It was a tightly woven storyline. Quite remarkable.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I was so engrossed that I lost track of time. Author Akari’s narrative was evident, and the pacing and immersion were excellent. The adaptation seemed to be done very well.”

Having finished his speech, Woojin mentally patted himself on the back.

‘That was a good comment. Well done.’

It was a prepared statement. His experience handling clients in a design company had paid off. He blended his own feelings with the contents of the articles he read. That’s what social interaction is all about. Whether it hit the mark, Director Kyotaro and Author Akari exchanged smiles.

Suddenly, Director Kyotaro’s expression became serious.

“In that case, I’d like to formally propose. Would you like to work with me on this project?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Woojin, including Choi Sung-gun, who had been observing the conversation the entire time. However, Woojin did not immediately reply, just staring at the scenario on the table. It wasn’t hesitation, but rather a surge of excitement.

‘Damn. If I respond now, does it mean I’m really making a debut in Japan? For real?’

Just a few months after his debut, the possibility of venturing beyond domestic borders to truly go international was right in front of him. He was witnessing a reality that he’d only read about in articles about top actors. The scale of his life was exponentially expanding.

‘If I work with this famous Japanese director, I’ll probably mingle with popular Japanese actors, right? I might become friends with top Japanese actors, chat, shoot scenes, maybe even exchange numbers?’

This was beyond any movie. The life of an influencer. Right now, Woojin’s life itself was a drama. However, he wasn’t panicked. At the moment, the reverse gear was broken for Kang Woojin.

‘It’s going to get hectic, but either way, it’ll be super fun.’

He simply charged forward.

“Director.”

Slowly lifting his head, Woojin looked straight into Director Kyotaro’s eyes and spoke in low Japanese.

“If you give me the opportunity, I’d really like to try.”

Once again, smiles spread across the faces of Director Kyotaro and Author Akari, and upon hearing the interpretation, Choi Sung-gun secretly clenched his fist. He felt like it was settled. At the same time, Director Kyotaro continued.

“Haha, every time. I’ve made over ten films, but this moment always resonates with me. Woojin, I have high expectations for you.”

“I will do my best.”

“Oh, by the way, ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ is set to be released in both Korea and Japan. A simultaneous release might be difficult though.”

At this point, Choi Sung-gun was slightly surprised internally.

‘So that’s it. Director Kyotaro came to Korea to negotiate distribution?’

Director Kyotaro spread the script for ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ on the table and pushed it toward Kang Woojin.

“This is the first role we’re offering for ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’. We would like you to take on the role of ‘Kiyoshi’.”

The role of Kiyoshi? Kang Woojin, who had already read the script, internally raised an eyebrow.

‘…That’s the main role, isn’t it? It’s clearly the main lead!’

Kang Woojin, struggling to stay calm, asked,

“If it’s the role of Kiyoshi-”

Director Kyotaro cut him off.

“Yes, it is the lead role that drives the story.”

“……..”

Kang Woojin was so shocked that he was rendered speechless. To Author Akari, he appeared to be quite composed.

“Were you expecting a role of this caliber? The director and I both had the same role in mind for you: the role of Kiyoshi.”

“···No, I didn’t expect it.”

“Also, there will be some adjustments made to the ‘Kiyoshi’ character to better suit you, like adding a touch of Korean essence.”

At this point, Choi Sung-gun, who had been listening to all of this, unknowingly opened his mouth wide.

‘What? What?! They’re giving him the lead role??! This is insane!’

Director Kyotaro then asked Woojin,

“Can you take on the role of ‘Kiyoshi’?”

Kang Woojin, suppressing his shock, finally replied with determination,

“No problem.”

A little later.

The meeting with Director Kyotaro concluded with a preliminary agreement. The other aspects would be finalized between the companies. Regardless, Kang Woojin was confirmed for ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’. He was the first and only Korean actor on board.

Thus, the van carrying Kang Woojin was filled with excitement.

The whole team, including Choi Sung-gun, chatted non-stop. However, Kang Woojin just looked out the window, appearing filled with melancholy but actually in a daze.

“……..”

Suddenly, he picked up ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ script next to him and discreetly tapped the black square attached to it.

Upon entering the void space, Kang Woojin wondered,

“What happens if I’m the lead?”

He quickly navigated to the place with white rectangles and checked the information for ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’.

Interestingly,

“Oh?”

As soon as he saw the white rectangle, his eyes widened slightly. The reason was simple.

-[7/Scenario (Title: The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger), Grade A+]

The grade, which had been A, had now changed to A+.

“Did it increase?”

The only change in the work so far was Kang Woojin’s participation.

“······Is it because of me? But why? It’s a Japanese film, isn’t it?”

The next day at lunch, Tuesday the 16th, at a design company during lunchtime.

It was a familiar place. It was the design company Kang Woojin had worked at. Another person now occupied Woojin’s seat. And…

“Did you see Woojin in episode 3 of ‘Sports Day’? It was hilarious.”

A few male and female employees with coffee cups in their hands gathered in the lounge, chatting about Kang Woojin. Of course, they were employees who had known Woojin in the past.

“Oh! Is it out? I haven’t seen it yet! I need to watch it during lunch.”

“Yeah, you should. Woojin has a lot of screen time this episode.”

“Ah, I haven’t seen it yet, but the views already surpassed 2 million. Wow, Woojin is doing so well.”

“He’s awesome now. I heard he got a lead role in a film by Director Kwon Ki-taek? Every time I see him, I’m amazed.”

“I was really shocked when I first read the news. Just a few months ago, he was sitting right behind me. Oh, but don’t mention it in front of Boss Toad. That guy is really down because of Woojin’s success.”

Employees quickly hushed their voices.

“But doesn’t Woojin seem a bit off in ‘Sports Day’?”

“Yeah, I noticed that too. He seems kind of grim. He wasn’t talkative when working, but he wasn’t like this.”

“Maybe it’s an image makeover? That’s common for celebrities.”

“When I watch the videos, it does seem strange. Feels like his personality has completely changed rather than an image makeover. If you read the comments, quite a few people who know Woojin are making appearances? There are many saying he’s different.”

At that moment,

“Oh!”

One of the female employees, looking at her phone, exclaimed in surprise.

The reason was simple.

“Whoa! Looks like Woojin will be on a variety show by PD Yoon Byung-seon!”

『[Exclusive] ‘Entertainment industry titan’ PD Yoon Byung-seon confirms rising star ‘Kang Woojin’ for his variety show』

The booster of PD Yoon Byung-seon had begun.

Wishing you all a Happy Halloween!

*****