Seo Guseop, the so-called bulldog CEO, quietly muttered numbers to himself—two hundred million, three hundred million. His first encounter with Kang Woojin had not been pleasant. With Woojin's sudden rise, it had felt as if everything tied to the Mise-en-scène Film Festival had slipped through his fingers.
Of course, that was only from Seo Guseop's perspective.
After that, Kang Woojin's career surged at a pace that could only be described as insane, and Seo Guseop, head of GGO Entertainment, could do nothing but watch from the sidelines.
'He shows up way too often. It's irritating.'
Even after the film festival, issues involving Kang Woojin kept surfacing one after another—starting with Profiler Hanryang, then Japan, and even the drug dealer project. Seo Guseop couldn't hide his shock and admitted that, even as a group chairman, he had never seen an actor like Kang Woojin before.
He was, above all, a businessman.
Someone who led a massive entertainment company in a jungle-like industry would naturally covet a figure like Kang Woojin rather than try to tear him down. The problem was that there had never been an opportunity.
Then something interesting happened.
'A one-year contract? This changes everything.'
An unexpected opening had appeared. Seo Guseop's mind quickly filled with a single idea—swallow Kang Woojin whole.
"The signing bonus alone is three hundred million dollars. On top of that, there are additional bonuses. That should be enough to get his attention."
For top stars, contracts usually ranged between five hundred million and one billion. A three hundred million signing bonus, with various incentives added, was considered a standard offer. It was an amount rookie actors couldn't even dream of.
Seo Guseop met the eyes of the executives seated before him.
"Do you all understand?"
"Pardon?"
"From his debut until now, there hasn't been a single thing Kang Woojin has touched that didn't succeed."
"Now that you mention it… that's true."
"His luck is unusually strong."
Seo Guseop's smile widened as he gave his order.
"With this kind of explosive popularity, agencies big and small will all rush toward him. He's on a completely different level from ordinary actors. Everywhere he goes, he creates massive impact. So keep a close eye on industry trends from here on out."
"Understood, sir!"
Greed and ambition thickened the air.
"This time, we must bring Kang Woojin in."
──────────
At that very moment, a white van sped down the road.
Inside, Hwarin was on her way to the salon, her face nearly bare of makeup. Even so, she kept staring at her phone.
What she was looking at was Kang Woojin's fan cafe—Kang's Heart.
[Welcome to Kang Woojin's official fan cafe 'Kang's Heart'!]
[Head manager: Blood Sister]
The cafe was far more active than usual.
'Why are posts coming in every second… I was shocked too when I saw the article about Woojin's one-year contract.'
Of course, it was because of the recent flood of news about Kang Woojin. Normally, a rookie's contract expiration wouldn't be big news, but this was Kang Woojin.
'But is it really true? Ugh, I'm so curious… but I can't just ask him directly.'
Even her own agency, JML Entertainment, had immediately begun moving to recruit Kang Woojin the moment the news broke. Across the industry, the issue of his contract expiration spread rapidly.
That left Hwarin feeling uneasy.
'If Woojin really joined our company, that would be amazing… but then there's Hyeyeon unnie… I don't even know anymore.'
Her fan heart would explode with excitement if they ended up in the same agency, but thinking of Hong Hyeyeon made things complicated.
Then—
♬♪
Her phone rang.
She blinked at the caller ID.
"What?"
It was CEO Choi Sunggeon.
Curious, Hwarin quickly steadied her voice and answered.
"Hello, sir."
Her voice caught the attention of the staff inside the van as Choi Sunggeon's calm tone came through the speaker.
"Hello, Hwarin. Is this a good time? You're not busy, are you?"
"No, it's fine. Please go ahead."
"It's nothing major. I just wanted to ask if you'd be interested in appearing on Woojin's 'Kang Woojin's Alter Ego' channel."
Hwarin's eyes lit up instantly.
"…Appearing? Like a duet cover or something?"
"No. It's still confidential, but we're planning to add new content to the channel."
"Not singing? Then what is it?"
"You probably remember from 'Our Table.' We're planning cooking content. Woojin personally recommended you as the first guest."
In that moment, Hwarin felt her chest swell.
'This is insane.'
Back during the one-day restaurant shoot for Our Table, she had tasted Woojin's cooking and fallen completely for it. The thought of experiencing that again, up close, made her want to jump out of her seat.
Still, she forced herself to stay calm.
"Really? Could you tell me a bit more about it?"
"Of course."
Choi Sunggeon explained the concept—one-on-one conversation, Woojin cooking personally, and even sharing a meal together.
'T-this is basically a date…!'
For someone with such intense fan feelings, it felt like a blessing.
Her pupils trembled slightly as she answered immediately.
"I'll do it."
The chubby manager in the passenger seat mouthed silently.
'What? What did she just agree to?'
Ignoring him, Hwarin continued.
"I'll be entering a break period soon, so I should be available."
"Haha, thank you. Then may we adjust the schedule according to Woojin's availability?"
"I'll need to confirm with my company, but it should be possible."
"Great. I'll contact you again regarding the schedule. For now, I just wanted to confirm your interest."
"Thank you for inviting me to a five-million-subscriber channel."
"Then, I'll see you at the shooting range—"
"Yes, sir."
She ended the call and slowly lowered her phone.
Her manager immediately leaned in.
"Hey, what schedule did you just agree to?"
Hwarin didn't answer. Instead, her excitement exploded internally.
'Ahhh!! No way!! This is insane!! Woojin's going to cook just for me?! What should I eat?!'
──────────
Meanwhile—
Two days after the news of Kang Woojin's contract expiration broke, it spread rapidly across the entire entertainment industry.
『Kang Woojin, a one-year contract? Sudden news shakes the Korean entertainment scene』
『[Star Issue] Rumors of Kang Woojin's one-year contract spread rapidly, contract details revealed?』
At first, the media had been skeptical. But soon, they began publishing articles filled with near certainty.
『Monster rookie Kang Woojin leaves BW Entertainment? Agency remains silent』
The situation quickly grew complicated. His influence was enormous, and the phrase "one-year contract" felt fresh and provocative.
Speculation, sensational articles, and rumors inflated the situation further.
『[Issue Check] Kang Woojin's contract expiration draws attention to his future in next year's free agency market』
Another "first" was added to his name. A one-year contract was unheard of in the industry, and because it involved someone already as famous as Kang Woojin, it only amplified the buzz.
The topic spread across the internet.
On YouTube, issue-focused creators exaggerated tabloid stories, while communities and social media fueled baseless claims.
[Online reactions]
[User1: What???]
[User2: LOL a one-year contract?? Definitely a rumor]
[User3: Don't rookies usually sign at least five years??]
[User4: BW isn't stupid, they've got Hong Hyeyeon lol]
[User5: Him again??]
[User6: If this is real, every agency in Korea will go after him]
[User7: This guy never has a quiet day]
[User8: Maybe this was leaked on purpose]
[User9: Kang Woojin is basically the hottest commodity right now]
More intense than the public or the media, however, were the entertainment companies themselves.
"Can we verify the terms Choi Sunggeon offered when he first signed Kang Woojin?"
"That's difficult."
"Then we'll have to estimate and make an offer. Is the market valuation ready?"
"Yes, sir. Based on this year alone, he should be considered top-tier. His achievements since his Japanese debut are beyond expectation."
"Everyone around him is high-profile. Without at least hundreds of millions, he won't even look our way."
"Most likely."
"And we still don't have his contact information?"
From large corporations to small agencies, everyone was moving.
"Why is it so hard to estimate Kang Woojin's appearance fee?!"
"His rise was too fast. We don't have enough data."
"There must be rumors! Look into something like 'Island of the Missing'! Even rough numbers will do!"
"I'll check immediately!"
Every meeting inevitably led back to Kang Woojin.
"Why is finding his contact taking so long?!"
"Information on him is extremely limited!"
"Then dig through every project he's been in! Staff, actors—anyone connected to him!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Hurry! Other agencies may have already reached out!"
The same atmosphere spread throughout the industry. Film companies, broadcasters—everyone was talking about him.
"Agencies are going crazy trying to sign Kang Woojin."
"I would too. I read he's expected to win multiple awards by the end of the year."
"Then why did Choi Sunggeon only sign him for one year?"
"Who knows. But at this rate, big agencies will pour money in, and he'll probably move next year."
There was no bigger headline.
From his family to colleagues, to industry veterans—everyone was watching.
Actors who knew him were especially curious.
"Hyung, have you heard anything from Woojin? You're close, right?"
"Whether we're close or not, he's not the type to share personal matters."
"Still, a one-year contract is extreme. Our company's even considering approaching him."
As things escalated, small misunderstandings snowballed.
"With the media making this much noise, shouldn't Woojin say something?"
"There's no point. This is the time when his value is being reassessed. Staying quiet is the best move."
Even top actors spoke like experts.
"Ah, I see. His value spikes when the offers come in."
"Once the stage is set, your worth naturally rises."
Even Japan took notice.
『'Boy Friend' actor Kang Woojin's one-year contract sparks heightened interest in Korea』
But Kang Woojin himself showed no reaction.
──────────
Morning of the 14th. Buyeo.
At the massive set of Island of the Missing, domestic filming had begun in full swing after overseas shoots. The parking lot was packed with vans and minibuses, including Kang Woojin's.
Inside one of them—
"Hmm."
Wearing a military uniform, Kang Woojin sat alone.
He was scheduled for the first shoot of the day and was waiting while preparations were underway.
He leaned back in his seat, scrolling through his phone.
Recently, he had developed a habit of searching his own name whenever he got bored. Watching the endless results felt strangely entertaining.
The article he opened was, unsurprisingly, about the ongoing issue.
『Kang Woojin's contract expiration? While agencies panic, he remains calm—strategy to raise his value?』
Woojin scoffed inwardly.
'Raise my value? That's ridiculous. I'm not thinking about that at all.'
It was the truth.
While everything around him was chaotic, he remained calm. For him, this was his first experience with contract renewal.
And he was the only one who knew that.
Choi Sunggeon had only said, "Think about it—we'll talk soon," but Woojin didn't need time.
He had already decided.
'Whatever. It'll die down on its own.'
Besides, he had too much to do.
Today was a full day of filming, and in exactly two days, on the 16th, he would be heading back to Japan.
For the script reading of The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice.
After filming wrapped, he would head straight there and stay for about three days.
'Do they usually hold script readings in luxury hotels? The place sounds huge. Still… I'll finally meet Japanese actors.'
His heart began to beat faintly.
At the same time, a strange sense of ease settled in. The unfamiliar environment felt oddly comfortable.
Still—
acting alongside them made him nervous.
'What kind of actors are they? Probably different from Korean actors… What will they think of me? Are they good? Famous?'
He had heard rumors, but didn't know much about overseas actors.
'Whatever. I'll find out when I get there.'
He put his phone down and picked up the script beside him.
It was Leech, given to him a few days ago by Director Ahn Gabok.
He flipped it open.
Flap.
He had already read about thirty percent of it in his spare time.
Then—
Bzzz.
His phone vibrated.
Without looking away from the script, he checked the message.
An unknown number.
He frowned slightly.
"What is this?"
The message read:
"Hello, Mr. Kang Woojin. This is Kim Namtae, CEO of BHM Entertainment. I apologize for contacting you so suddenly, but I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet…"
A request for a meeting.
Woojin blinked.
"How did they even get my number?"
Then—
Bzzz.
Another message.
"Mr. Kang Woojin! Hello! This is JML Entertainment! Would you be available for a call?"
More messages followed.
Bzz.
Bzz.
Not just texts—chat notifications flooded in.
At least five had arrived in an instant.
Woojin recalled something similar.
"Ah… right. The Hanryang script reading."
He remembered the stack of business cards he had received that day.
Then—
Bzzz. Bzzz.
A call this time.
Another unknown number.
After a brief hesitation, he answered.
"Hello?"
A confident male voice came through.
"Ah, Mr. Kang Woojin. Nice to meet you. This is Seo Guseop from GGO Entertainment. Do you have a moment?"
Woojin's voice turned low and cold.
"No."
He didn't seem to remember Seo Guseop at all.