Kang Woojin's body stiffened the moment Jung Janghwan's ad-lib landed.
'Ah… damn. I need to do something.'
The stage was already set, and countless eyes were fixed on him. Getting up and leaving would feel off, but standing there doing nothing or pretending not to notice would look just as bad. His blank expression still looked intense, but inside, he was in trouble.
What should he do?
What was he supposed to do here?
His heart began to pound faster, and then something suddenly clicked.
'…Right. My character doesn't have any lines.'
The tension clouding his mind slowly cleared. The "mysterious man next door" he was playing had no dialogue. More precisely, he couldn't speak at all.
Which meant—
He didn't need to respond with words.
…This might actually work.
Still, that didn't solve everything. Acting wasn't just about speaking.
That was when sign language came to mind.
'My gestures, my expression… everything has to be stronger than usual.'
Since he had no dialogue, he had to push everything else further. In this moment, he couldn't rely on the void space. He had to respond as Kang Woojin himself—the one who had learned sign language.
And somehow—
'I can't explain it… but it feels like I can pull this off.'
As his thoughts settled, a strange confidence rose inside him. Even Jung Janghwan's ad-lib didn't feel overwhelming anymore. Whether it was instinct, numbness, or recklessness, he couldn't tell.
But he moved.
Woojin met Janghwan's eyes and adjusted his expression, thinking about what sign to use. The answer came quickly.
'Something unexpected… yeah, that's better.'
The "mysterious man next door" was meant to trigger a change in Song Taehyung. In this situation, an ad-lib that would leave him speechless was the right choice. Right now, Song Taehyung didn't know who he was, and his feelings weren't good.
Woojin slowly raised his hand.
He had already decided most of it. The sign itself would be precise. What mattered now was the delivery.
He moved.
His hand formed a tight fist and rose near his nose.
'I like you.'
His expression followed.
A smile.
To make that meaning clear, it had to be obvious. Woojin slowly lifted the corners of his lips and searched for something to anchor it.
His first job. The moment the void space appeared. The first time he met Hong Hyeyeon. The last day of filming The Private Investigator. His old car. His first kiss scene.
Any of it worked.
Kang Woojin simply chose the feeling and let it show.
The smile settled cleanly, without strain or hesitation. It held, natural and complete, carrying the emotion without breaking.
In that moment, his acting stood on its own.
Stable. Controlled. Complete.
Perfect.
That was all.
This time, he wasn't relying on the void space. He carried the scene himself, and it worked.
Afterward, he tried to retrace what he had just done, but everything blurred together. The moment had passed too quickly to break apart.
'Is it because I've been acting longer now? Or because everything I've learned has started to stack up?'
Maybe it was just coincidence.
It was too early to decide.
Still—
'…I've definitely changed.'
The Kang Woojin from a few months ago and the one standing here now didn't feel the same. What looked like a coincidence wasn't. He had made that choice himself.
And the result—
[Online reactions]
He's good, but the way his expression changes so fast is kind of unsettling.
I don't know sign language, but it doesn't feel awkward at all.
Look at that smile. With a close-up and sound, that's a perfect film shot.
No wonder they call him a monster rookie.
A heavy tension settled over the room.
It pressed down on the actors gathered there.
Especially Jung Janghwan.
'Forget curiosity. This is about pride.'
His thoughts faltered.
'…My next line. What was it?'
At that moment, writer Lee Wolsun, who had been scanning the entire room, realized something.
'Ah… this is it. This atmosphere.'
Now she understood why Kang Woojin had to be included in the reading. The mood had shifted completely. Postures straightened, and every face turned serious.
There was no comparison.
'He draws attention just by being there.'
Lee Wolsun smiled faintly.
'No matter the role, no matter the project… he leaves a mark. That's what makes a true top actor.'
She quietly asked the sign language expert beside her.
"What do you think of Woojin's signing?"
"As I said before, it's impressive. There's nothing to criticize."
The expert spoke calmly.
"I don't know much about acting, so at first I was worried about his blank expression. But the moment he started acting, he became a completely different person."
Lee Wolsun felt that deeply. The expert, now slightly excited, continued.
"Did you see his eyes? That sense of thought and hesitation. His movements are incredibly smooth. His expressions shift naturally with each gesture, showing different emotions. Honestly… it feels like he's even better than me."
Hearing that, Lee Wolsun turned her gaze back to Woojin.
"…Who exactly is he?"
Since when had he reached a level where even experts praised him so openly?
Kang Woojin always seemed to possess exactly what directors and writers wanted.
The problem was—
That shouldn't have been easy.
"It doesn't even look like he's trying to learn it. It just feels natural."
She looked back at the expert.
"If viewers saw this scene, what would they think?"
"They'd be surprised. And grateful. Even with such a short role, you can feel how much effort went into it."
"Right. It's brief, but it leaves a strong impression."
Lee Wolsun could already imagine it.
'They'll be shocked every time he shows a different face in each project.'
And Kang Woojin had more projects lined up, including Frozen love.
A chill ran down her arms.
'Korea is too small for him now. Expanding to Japan was inevitable.'
No matter the size of the role, this monster rookie always appeared in top form and captured the audience.
'A man with a thousand faces.'
As an actor, his range felt limitless.
──────────
Lee Wolsun turned slightly and whispered to the directing PD. The PD cleared his throat.
"Everyone, excuse me."
The reading stopped. All eyes turned toward them.
Lee Wolsun spoke, her tone calm but firm.
"Some of you may know this, some may not. I usually observe at the beginning of script readings. I want to see how actors interpret the script. Ad-libs are fine."
Her gaze shifted.
"Janghwan."
"…Yes."
"The ad-lib just now wasn't bad."
A brief pause.
"But it didn't feel like it came from the character."
The room went quiet.
"It felt like your personal curiosity."
Her words landed cleanly.
"Was that really something Song Taehyung would say?"
Silence deepened.
Woojin remained still.
'…That got serious fast.'
Lee Wolsun gestured lightly toward him.
"I'm asking whether that line came from the role—or from your interest in him."
Janghwan's jaw tightened.
"…I went too far."
"You did."
Her tone didn't soften.
"A veteran actor doesn't need to take that kind of risk."
She turned to everyone.
"Woojin didn't have to be here. He chose to be here."
Her gaze swept across the room.
"I understand curiosity. But there's a line."
A steady pause.
"If it turns into something else, it becomes a problem."
Janghwan exhaled quietly.
'…There was curiosity. And something else.'
He looked at Woojin.
"I'm sorry. I pushed too far."
"It's fine. It was interesting."
Janghwan almost laughed.
'…He really wasn't shaken at all.'
Woojin kept his expression steady as his heartbeat slowed.
'That could've gone worse.'
Lee Wolsun called out to him.
"Woojin."
"Yes."
"About that moment."
She leaned slightly forward.
"Even if we adjust the context, the situation stays the same. Song Taehyung doesn't know, and your character doesn't understand him."
A brief pause.
"I'd like to use that sign—'I like you'—to clearly show that disconnect."
She watched him.
"What do you think?"
It was a direct suggestion to include his ad-lib in the script.
Woojin answered calmly.
"If you want it, I'll follow."
──────────
The next morning, August 22.
BW Entertainment.
Inside the CEO's office, Choi Sunggeon sat across from Kang Woojin with several staff members. They were reviewing upcoming schedules, including a planned trip to Japan.
Midway through, Choi Sunggeon recalled a conversation from the previous day with Director Kim Dohee.
"So the blind screening means editing is done?"
"Not completely. About ninety percent."
The director's voice had been steady.
"It's watchable. Only minor parts like sound and credits are left."
Production had started in June.
Reaching that point already was fast.
"That's quicker than expected."
"The release will be earlier too. Around mid to late October."
Then—
"Ah, right. Tell Woojin congratulations."
A light laugh followed.
"A Japanese debut already, and as a lead under Director Kyotaro? That's not normal."
"I'll pass it along."
"Our whole team was surprised. People are starting to talk. Expectations for Drug Dealer will only grow."
The memory faded.
Back in the present, Choi Sunggeon looked at Woojin.
Boy Friend had also finished filming. With editing and promotion, the release timing would overlap.
"Woojin."
"Yes."
"Boy Friend and Drug Dealer will likely release around the same time."
Two completely different roles.
Two completely different tones.
And both arriving at once.
TL Note:
Cold vs hot bath refers to contrasting roles—romantic versus darker or villain-type performances.