Hong Hyeyeon stood a few steps away from the white van, watching Kang Woojin.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
He was smiling in front of the van.
Her expression immediately hardened.
"...What's wrong with him? What is he doing?"
Her outfit made the seriousness even more noticeable.
She was dressed as Detective Jung Hyunhee.
From inside the van, Woojin's voice sounded muffled.
"Haha… I shouldn't be like this, but I keep thinking about it…"
In truth, it was a playful laugh.
Something Kang Woojin would never normally show.
Because of that—
Thud!
Hong Hyeyeon suddenly moved.
She ripped the pink eye mask off her forehead.
Swoosh.
She threw open the van door and ran straight toward Kang Woojin.
"Woojin!"
At that moment, Kang Woojin's laughter stopped.
His face went blank.
No—he was startled.
Considering the situation, there was a very high chance Hong Hyeyeon had just seen his real self.
Woojin froze.
Even when she called his name, he only stared blankly at the car window.
But then—
"Kang Woojin!"
Hong Hyeyeon finally lost her patience.
Standing right behind him, she grabbed his shoulder and spun him around.
Her face entered his view.
With her long hair tied back, she looked extremely serious.
Kang Woojin instantly felt awkward.
No.
This was a serious crisis.
Silence fell.
The two simply stared at each other.
Then Kang Woojin spoke first.
His voice was careful and low.
"…How long have you been here?"
"From the beginning."
Kang Woojin's stiff face twitched slightly.
Then he let out a faint sigh.
"A sigh…"
It carried resignation.
And despair.
Then it happened.
Whip!
Hong Hyeyeon suddenly grabbed both of Kang Woojin's shoulders.
She shook him violently.
"You can't do this!"
Woojin's eyes trembled.
But Hong Hyeyeon didn't stop.
She suddenly thrust her face right in front of his.
Way too close.
Woojin instinctively pulled his head back.
But Hong Hyeyeon stared straight into his eyes with deadly seriousness.
One second.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Then—
"Get a grip!"
She shook his shoulders again.
Right then—
"What's going on?! What happened?!"
Choi Sunggeon came running from the distance.
Behind him, the massive Jang Suhwan followed.
Even worse, more people began gathering.
Choi Sunggeon, who knew both Kang Woojin and Hong Hyeyeon well, shouted.
"Hey, hey! Wait a second!"
He rushed over and separated them.
"Are you two fighting?!"
Somehow, a misunderstanding had formed.
Hong Hyeyeon grabbed Choi Sunggeon's shoulder and pointed at Woojin.
"No! Woojin just now was—"
"Woojin was what?! What happened?!"
"Woojin was giggling to himself! He was laughing like 'kihihihi'!"
Choi Sunggeon blinked.
"…What? Woojin laughed?"
"I've never seen him laugh. Have you, hyung?"
Choi Sunggeon took it seriously.
"Woojin was giggling by himself?"
Everyone's gaze turned toward Kang Woojin.
Still expressionless.
Hong Hyeyeon continued.
"Earlier he was giggling and muttering to himself. He was completely different from how he normally is."
Then she suddenly shouted.
"Get a grip! Don't let Assistant Manager Park control you! You're not a psychopath or a sociopath, Woojin!"
Huh?
Kang Woojin froze.
But Hong Hyeyeon kept going.
"Sure, that laugh sounded even more artificial than Assistant Manager Park's laugh… but that made it even scarier. Filming is over, right? Were you too immersed in the role? Can't you come back out of it?"
Choi Sunggeon studied Woojin's face carefully.
"Really? Is that what happened? Aren't you having a hard time? Should we book you a psychiatrist? It's okay—lots of actors get counseling."
"…No."
"Method actors need to be careful! Alright, let's start from there."
At that moment, Kang Woojin's mind exploded with thoughts.
Psychiatric treatment?
That had never crossed his mind in his entire life.
He desperately searched for a way out.
Then—
Ah.
An idea flashed through his head.
Woojin immediately delivered the excuse in his usual cynical tone.
"No. That wasn't Assistant Manager Park."
Hong Hyeyeon frowned.
"…It wasn't? Then what was it?"
"I was testing a character from the script The Island of the Missing."
"The Island of the Missing? What's that?"
"Director Kwon Gitaek's script."
Immediately Choi Sunggeon reacted.
"Ah!"
He turned to Hong Hyeyeon.
"So that's what it was? You really scared me. I didn't say anything because nothing was confirmed yet, but The Island of the Missing is Director Kwon Gitaek's next project."
Hong Hyeyeon blinked.
"…Woojin got Director Kwon Gitaek's script?"
"Yes."
"Really? Doesn't Director Kwon usually make actors audition? And I haven't even heard anything about his next film."
"Woojin auditioned. And the project is still under wraps."
"Then is Woojin the only one who received the script?"
Choi Sunggeon glanced at Woojin.
"The production company did send scripts to a few actors… but judging by the silence, Woojin might be the only one."
Hong Hyeyeon stared at Woojin.
"…So right after filming PD Song Manwoo's project, you're moving straight to Director Kwon Gitaek's?"
"Nothing is confirmed yet."
"But the moment Assistant Manager Park filming ended, you immediately started practicing Director Kwon's character? Without even resting?"
"It's too much to call it practice. I just tried it because I was bored."
"What kind of character is it?"
"A split personality. I can't say more."
Hong Hyeyeon nodded slowly.
"Ah… that's why the laugh sounded even more unnatural than Assistant Manager Park's."
At this point, the place felt less like The Island of the Missing…
and more like the Island of Misunderstanding.
Woojin felt deep relief.
He cleared his throat.
"Even if it came from a misunderstanding… thank you for worrying about me."
Inside, he made a firm vow.
Damn it.
I really can't lower my guard anymore.
Later—
After the Island of Misunderstanding incident was mostly settled, Hong Hyeyeon returned to the filming set to practice her lines.
Meanwhile, many actors came out to see Kang Woojin off.
Including Ryu Jungmin and the cast who had filmed that day.
"Woojin, I heard The Private Investigator reached the finals of the Mise-en-scène Film Festival. Congratulations."
"Since the sponsor changed, interest in the festival is way higher this year. I was invited too. If I can, I'm thinking of going. Apparently a lot of big-name Directors from Korea and overseas were invited."
"A lot of actors attend the Mise-en-scène Festival, right? The awards ceremony is May 7."
"If he wins something and it becomes a hot topic, people will connect it to our drama."
"If the festival goes well and our ratings explode… Woojin could become the breakout star of the year."
The actors were clearly interested in Woojin's participation in the festival.
Of course, none of them knew Hong Hyeyeon appeared in The Private Investigator.
That was still a secret.
Then Jang Taesan casually spoke.
"By the way, I heard they added a Best Actor award to the Mise-en-scène Festival this year. Park Junghyuk is also participating. If things line up, you two might compete for it. If that happens, I'll be rooting for you."
The lively farewell lasted about thirty minutes.
Soon the van carrying Kang Woojin departed.
Inside, the atmosphere was quiet.
Stylist Han Yejung was dozing off.
Even the normally noisy road manager Jang Suhwan was silently driving.
Choi Sunggeon sat in the passenger seat, scrolling through his phone.
Meanwhile, Kang Woojin stared out the dark window.
Something feels strange.
He no longer had to return to the hellish filming set of Profiler Hanryang.
Aside from the premiere party, he likely wouldn't see the cast or staff again.
This feeling…
Parting with people I struggled together with.
It feels like getting discharged from the military.
I guess actors have to get used to saying goodbye.
Yes.
The day he finished his military service.
Woojin's current mood felt very similar.
Then—
"Woojin."
Choi Sunggeon turned around.
"You're really okay, right? If you need a psychiatrist, tell me anytime."
No way.
I'm never going.
Woojin answered calmly.
"Don't worry. I'm completely fine."
Choi Sunggeon nodded and opened his planner.
"You worked hard filming. From tomorrow until the 30th, we'll handle post-production things like revising your Profiler Hanryang profile. Friday through Sunday, take it easy."
"As for the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival, you can start preparing around May 4."
Woojin quickly calculated the dates in his head.
"Yes, CEO."
At last—
Kang Woojin reached his first real break.
A few days later.
April ended.
May arrived.
Saturday, May 2.
For most people, it was just another weekend morning.
But the film industry was different.
[The Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival grandly opened on April 30]
The heavily promoted festival had opened two days earlier.
Screenings would run for six days.
The closing ceremony and awards would take place on the seventh day.
And then—
"It's been a while since I came to COEX."
Kang Woojin had arrived at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival.
The event was being held at a large theater inside CCV COEX.
It started at 9:30 a.m.
"Wow… there are way more people than I expected."
Woojin was surprised.
A huge crowd had gathered this early.
Surely they hadn't all come just for the festival?
He checked the time.
It starts at 10.
His outfit was a little strange.
Black jacket.
Jeans.
Black cap.
A mask.
He looked like a celebrity trying to hide their identity.
Of course he was an actor.
But he still hadn't officially debuted.
The disguise was Choi Sunggeon's advice.
"You're going to watch The Private Investigator yourself? That's fine, but cover your face."
Thinking about it, it made sense.
If someone recognized Kang Woojin watching his own film in the audience, it could cause problems.
"As long as my face is covered, it's fine. No one will recognize me anyway."
Woojin entered the massive COEX building.
Soon he reached the CCV COEX theater.
The festival wasn't being held in the normal screening area.
A special hall had been prepared.
Festival staff.
Promotional displays.
Information boards.
The atmosphere was unmistakable.
Most importantly—
"What? That many people came?"
A huge crowd had gathered.
More than a hundred people already filled the lobby.
Reporters.
BJs.
YouTubers holding selfie sticks.
Because of that, Woojin felt slightly tense.
This is really happening.
The festival wasn't limited to this one theater.
Around thirty short films were being screened.
Ten per day.
Across three theaters.
Today was the first day The Private Investigator would be shown.
Click.
Woojin picked up a festival guide booklet.
Inside were schedules and event information.
Soon he found it.
The Private Investigator.
First screening.
10:00 a.m.
Since it was a short film festival, even watching all ten films would take only about three hours.
The Private Investigator was first because it had the longest runtime.
Woojin collected his ticket.
Then—
He entered the special screening hall.
The interior resembled a normal theater.
But larger.
Lights were still on.
Around 80% of the roughly 500 seats were already filled.
The audience ranged widely in age.
Individuals.
Couples.
Friends.
Even elderly viewers.
Conversations buzzed throughout the hall.
No one paid attention to Woojin.
A few glanced his way because of the mask.
He didn't care.
He simply took his assigned seat.
The very last seat near the entrance.
Woojin silenced his phone and took a slow breath.
Seeing his own face on a giant screen felt strange.
Whew…
I've only watched famous actors on a screen that big.
Never imagined my own face would appear there.
He was nervous.
Very nervous.
And—
"With a live audience… their reactions will be immediate."
Hundreds of people would watch his acting.
Woojin's heart began racing.
Then—
"We're in the right place."
"Oh really?"
"Stop talking and find your seats."
Voices echoed near the entrance.
Familiar voices.
Woojin slowly turned his head.
Three men stood there.
The moment he saw them—
he instantly lowered his head.
Why are those lunatics here?!
They were his closest friends.
Kim Daeyoung.
Lee Kyungseong.
Na Hyunggu.
The four of them—including Woojin—had always been inseparable.
Woojin desperately hid his face.
For some reason, it felt absolutely necessary.
Fortunately, his friends didn't notice him.
They walked past while chatting.
Kim Daeyoung led the group.
"Ah, our seats are in the very front."
Lee Kyungseong spoke while holding popcorn.
"Won't our necks hurt watching from there?"
Na Hyunggu nodded.
"Yeah, definitely."
Despite complaining, they sat in the front row.
Kim Daeyoung silenced his phone.
"These were the only three seats left together."
Lee Kyungseong chewed popcorn.
"Kang Woojin not showing up on weekends anymore? He definitely has a girlfriend."
"Just leave him alone. He's always been popular."
"Still annoying that he hides it."
"If he told you, you'd beg him to introduce her."
Right then—
Whirr.
The theater lights dimmed.
Instant silence filled the hall.
The film was about to start.
♬♪
A promotional video for the Mise-en-scène Film Festival played.
Five minutes later—
The screen went dark.
Then the title appeared.
—The Private Investigator
Five seconds later—
Creak.
The sound of a window opening echoed through the theater.
The film had begun.
Kim Daeyoung and his friends stared at the screen.
So did the hundreds of audience members.
Then—
the first scene appeared.
Kim Ryujin climbed through a worn window.
"Hoo—"
With empty eyes and a blank expression, he exhaled cigarette smoke.
Then—
"Should I go meet the client?"
He crushed the cigarette against the window frame.
And in that moment—
"…?"
"?!"
"???"
Kim Daeyoung.
Lee Kyungseong.
Na Hyunggu.
All three froze.
Their eyes locked on the screen.
Kim Daeyoung blinked repeatedly.
Lee Kyungseong stopped mid-bite with popcorn in hand.
Na Hyunggu furrowed his brows.
Because—
their best friend Kang Woojin was moving on the giant screen.
What?
What the hell was going on?
This went far beyond surprise.
It felt like seeing a ghost.
It wasn't someone who looked similar.
It was definitely Kang Woojin.
Then—
Whip.
The three friends lowered their gazes at the same time.
They stared at each other in shock.
Eyes wide.
Mouths open.
Their expressions said the same thing.
Is this real?
Then they turned back toward the screen.
Kim Ryujin was still there.
And at almost the exact same moment—
all three exploded internally.
Damn it!!
Why are you up there?!
That crazy bastard!!
Why are you pretending to be an actor?!
What the hell is this?!
Am I dreaming?!
Kang Woojin's closest friends had just witnessed his very first debut performance.
With their own eyes.
TL Note:
COEX: Convention and Exhibition Center.