Megan Stone suddenly revealed something important over the phone. Joseph Felton immediately saw through her intention, but he stayed silent for a moment before leaning back comfortably on the sofa with a faint smile.
"Hmm, Megan, I'm not quite sure what you mean."
Megan responded right away.
"Are you pretending not to know?"
"I really don't know what you're referring to."
Joseph, who was Black, casually chose the green drink.
"I heard things got noisy because of that incident with Last Kill 3. But I'm not that free, you know? And you said you're in Japan."
"Japan is still quiet for now. But once the articles from Korea start coming in, it'll become a hot topic there as well. Kang Woojin's recognition in Japan is much higher than expected."
At her lightly amused tone, Joseph rested his chin on his hand.
"Oh, really?"
"Joseph, you already knew, didn't you? You requested a report on Kang Woojin, and after that, your team must have looked into him more thoroughly."
"Ha. Did I?"
"Of course. You could tell just by watching his acting. Kang Woojin is going to enter Hollywood soon."
"······"
Joseph's smile faded into silence, and Megan continued from the other end of the line.
"To be honest, at first I thought the leak about the Last Kill 3 screen test came from Kang Woojin's side. But after coming here, I realized his situation isn't that simple. There's no need for him to take that kind of risk."
"So?"
"After seeing his shocking performance and thinking it over, I realized the one who showed interest in him was you, Joseph. But as a capable producer, you wouldn't move without expecting something in return."
"······"
"Kang Woojin already has strong recognition in major Asian markets like Korea and Japan, and Last Kill 3 is planning releases in both countries. By revealing this information, the intention would be to raise the film's awareness and elevate Kang Woojin's image. It may not be a grand favor, but it could help create a positive atmosphere for future communication with him."
She was right.
As he poured his green drink, Joseph inwardly admired her. Megan Stone was no ordinary Hollywood casting director.
Still, Joseph pretended otherwise.
"Ha ha, Megan. Aren't you overthinking it? Would I really go that far over a Korean actor I've only seen once?"
"That's what most people would think. But I believe you saw considerable value in Kang Woojin."
"Considerable value… Anyway, Megan, it's a misunderstanding. You've got it wrong."
"I knew you wouldn't admit it so easily. It's all just my speculation anyway, and I don't have any proof. There's only one thing I wanted to say."
"And that is?"
"Whatever groundwork you planned for Kang Woojin, whatever script you prepared—it was all unnecessary."
"···Unnecessary?"
"Yes. Once you see Kang Woojin's acting for yourself, you'll feel the same. None of it matters. He doesn't need anyone's help. He's already carving his own path and moving forward at an incredible speed."
Joseph's expression grew slightly more serious.
But Megan's voice on the other end remained different.
"After meeting him in person, he didn't seem particularly grateful. He looked like he had already forgotten about Last Kill 3, and said that expressing his intention to join was something already settled. And when I asked him about the Last Kill 3 screen test footage…"
Her laughter deepened.
"Kang Woojin even made an annoyed expression."
──────────
Later.
Around 7 p.m. on the 24th, just a few hours before Sunday came to an end.
Among the many TV channels, a recently popular variety show was airing on the general channel HTBS.
-Our Dining Table
– Episode 1
The program, directed by PD Yoon Byungseon, recorded a 15.6% viewership rating for its first broadcast.
As a popular show, Our Dining Table was playing in many homes, restaurants, and bars, and the number of viewers made its popularity immediately clear.
[LOL it's finally starting!!]
[Finally, my healing show on Sundays!!]
[I've been waiting for this… my only Sunday comfort…]
[Are they starting in the U.S. from today?]
[Yeah, they're officially starting business in the U.S.]
Last week's episode had shown the basic plan, team formation, a one-day restaurant experience, and team practice. Today's Our Dining Table aired the members, including Kang Woojin, officially departing for the United States.
The pacing was fast.
While showing the chemistry between the members, they quickly arrived in the U.S. After that came brief impressions from the members, the reveal of the food truck they would operate, and introductions to both the truck's interior and their accommodations.
In the background—
[LOL Ahn Jonghak instantly turned into the nominal boss]
[Woojin has the least experience but suddenly became the leader LOL]
[But Kang Woojin really has leadership. He just gives orders regardless of hierarchy LOL]
[Kang Woojin chef]
As the main chef and leader, Kang Woojin held meetings with the members, selected the food truck menu, prepared for the business, and gathered ingredients. Of course, entertainment elements were woven in throughout. It was a production style fitting for PD Yoon Byungseon, a master of variety shows.
And so, the Our Dining Table team officially began their food truck business.
Their first location was near North Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.
On the TV screen, a wide view of the park appeared, along with an elderly couple holding hands. Both had white hair and gentle expressions. It was then that they noticed a food truck painted in red and blue.
Korean Food
Our Dining Table
["Looks like a food truck selling Korean food."]
["Seems like it. I wonder what they're selling."]
In the end, the elderly couple became the first customers of Our Dining Table. Their appearance stirred some excitement in the live chat.
[I'm suddenly reminded of my grandparents ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[Doesn't that grandpa have some kind of aura?? LOL he's not ordinary]
[Americans really compliment Korean skin a lot LOL same here]
[I'm curious how they'll react after eating Korean food!!]
The couple on screen continued their conversation.
["It's a Korean TV show."]
"Oh, I see. So everyone working here is basically a celebrity? I'm not expecting much from the food."
Ahn Jonghak greeted them briefly and handed over the menu. After hearing an explanation of the program, the couple chose two dishes.
"I'll have the bulgogi rice bowl. What about you?"
["This one… kim…"]
["It's called gimjaban makguksu."]
["Ah, I'll have that."]
After ordering, the couple glanced at Kang Woojin inside the food truck. He seemed like the central figure.
["That cook must also be an actor."]
["Yes, he's handsome."]
"We should've just had tacos. Food on shows like this is usually not that good."
"You're too picky. A chef should experience and taste a variety of cuisines."
"I've already tried a lot of Korean food. Have you had gochujang? It's so good I've been thinking about how to incorporate it into my own restaurant."
The viewers picked up on something from their conversation and grew curious.
[Oh??? His restaurant?? That grandpa must be a real chef LOL]
[Please fall in love with Korean food ㅠㅠㅠ]
[Could that grandpa actually be a famous chef?? Did the production team cast him??]
Meanwhile, Ahn Jonghak, the nominal boss, served the bulgogi rice bowl and Woojin's original dish, gimjaban makguksu. The elderly couple looked at the food with curiosity. After Ahn Jonghak briefly explained how to eat it and stepped back, they examined the smell and appearance before finally taking a bite.
A caption appeared at the bottom of the screen.
– Unique atmosphere
At that moment—
["Hello."]
The camera suddenly cut to an interview with the elderly couple. It was their introduction segment.
As it turned out, the elderly man was the owner and chef of a Michelin one-star restaurant.
[Whoa LOL that's insane]
[Of course LOL he had that aura]
[That restaurant is going to be packed with Koreans now LOL]
[Wow… Michelin one star…]
[But did Kang Woojin really create that gimjaban makguksu?]
[Yeah, he made it before coming to the U.S.]
The scene shifted again.
The elderly couple finally tasted the food.
First was the grandfather, who kept sniffing the gimjaban makguksu.
"The broth is brown, and the noodles are brown too. The smell is nutty, not bad. It's similar to Japanese ramen, but definitely different… a bit unfamiliar. Those black things floating in the broth—are they seaweed?"
A brief explanation of the dish followed, accompanied by footage of the makguksu.
Then, the grandfather, who had not looked particularly pleased, carefully took a spoonful of the broth.
His expression stiffened.
[What?? What is that?? Is it bad?? Please no…]
[It actually looks really good…]
Without saying a word, he scooped up more broth. Once. Twice. Three times.
Then he lifted the noodles.
The screen showed the tense atmosphere of Our Dining Table, then cut back to the couple.
The grandmother asked,
["How do those brown noodles taste?"]
The grandfather chewed slowly, his expression firm, and spoke decisively.
["We were wrong."]
["Hmm? Not good?"]
"The person who made this isn't an actor. He's a real chef."
At that moment, the live chat exploded.
[LOOOOOOOOOOOL]
[No way LOL actor grandpa LOL]
[Wait… so even that chef got confused? That means it's insanely good. I want to try gimjaban makguksu.]
[This is crazy LOL Kang Woojin just became a chef LOL]
[I'm drooling… where can I eat this??]
[I really want to try it ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
Most people now desperately wanted to try gimjaban makguksu.
──────────
After the weekend ended, Monday arrived.
The first episode of Our Dining Table that aired the day before showed the elderly couple praising Korean food, their conversation with Chef Kang Woojin, and crowds of foreigners gathering in front of the food truck. At the end of the broadcast, it even teased a long line of foreigners forming in front of the truck the next day.
The live chat was buzzing with curiosity.
Anyway, the ratings for episode one of Our Dining Table were announced Monday morning.
『[Official] A weekend hit, Our Dining Table Episode 1 records 17.5% total viewership!』
The rating had risen by 2% from the previous week, approaching 20%. Articles began pouring out immediately.
『Will it surpass 20%? Our Dining Table becomes a massive hit!』
『[Notable] Kang Woojin's gimjaban makguksu shocks local chefs with its heavenly taste?』
『A hit overseas… Americans captivated by Hong Hyeyeon and Hwarin's visuals / Photo』
『Our Dining Table launches food truck business in the U.S.… Americans fall for Kang Woojin's cooking / Photo』
『"I want to try gimjaban makguksu too!!" 17.5% of viewers react』
As interest in Kang Woojin's possible Hollywood debut grew, articles about him flooded in, mixed with rumors.
『Our Dining Table's main chef, a future Hollywood actor? What audition did Kang Woojin take?』
It was like a tsunami.
The Korean media rushed to publish endless articles about the trending topic, while PD Yoon Byungseon and the Our Dining Table team pushed promotions by releasing various clips.
The attention surrounding Kang Woojin grew beyond control.
However—
『Amid Hollywood debut rumors, Kang Woojin remains silent』
Kang Woojin himself showed no particular reaction.
As Monday passed and Tuesday arrived, the many stories that had been trending in Korea finally spread to Japan as well, where Kang Woojin was filming The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice.
『Kang Woojin of Strange Sacrifice becomes a hot topic in Korea over possible Hollywood debut』
『YouTube videos about Kang Woojin's Hollywood prospects go viral in Korea』
Because of this, the filming set of The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice became noisy.
Not only the actors, but over a hundred staff members were all talking about Kang Woojin.
"Did you see the article? They're saying Woojin is going to Hollywood."
"But wasn't that just a screen test?"
"No, they're saying it's confirmed."
"Huh? I read it was just a test."
These speculations grew even more after foreigners had recently been spotted at the set.
"Oh! Those foreigners! They must've been from Hollywood!"
"What? I thought they were from the special effects team?"
Baseless rumors spread quickly.
"I heard Woojin's heading straight to Hollywood after this project ends."
"That's incredible. How can an actor grow that fast in just one year? There's no one like that in Japan or Korea. Not even in Hollywood, right?"
"But doesn't it make sense? You've seen Woojin's acting."
The cast of The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice looked at Woojin with curiosity or envy. In particular, Yasutaro, who played Kinjo, seemed especially eager to talk to him.
But no one directly asked Kang Woojin about it.
Part of it was typical Japanese restraint, and part of it was because Director Kyotaro had specifically instructed everyone not to disrupt the atmosphere on set.
Meanwhile, filming continued, and they were rushing to wrap up the high school scenes.
Watching Woojin through the monitor, Director Kyotaro was puzzled.
'Was Megan Stone involved because of the screen test… or is she from a completely different team?'
Even so, Kang Woojin maintained his calm expression and focused on filming. As Tuesday came to an end, both Korea and Japan buzzed with excitement.
──────────
Then Wednesday, the 27th.
From early morning, the production team of The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice was already on standby. Over a hundred staff and actors had gathered at the high school set from dawn, and that day marked the completion of the school filming.
In other words, all past timeline scenes would be wrapped up by the morning.
The first scene began with Kang Woojin, as Kiyoshi, observing the nine members one by one as they worked on their assignments. The relationships and conflicts between the characters were portrayed naturally. Around 11 a.m., in the middle of filming, a short break was given, and they had about two to three hours left to finish the remaining scenes.
Staff members ran back and forth through the classrooms and hallways.
"Set up another camera in the hallway!!"
"Check the classroom props first!"
"Did we get the desks?!"
It was chaotic.
Meanwhile, the actors were scattered around, discussing the script and doing light rehearsals. Some were in classrooms, others in the hallway, and some near the restrooms—each at the location of their respective scenes.
At that moment, Kang Woojin, dressed in a school uniform, stood at the end of the hallway with an expressionless face. The shooting location was near the stairs, and although he looked like he was seriously reading his script, his mind was elsewhere.
'I'm so hungry. I really want tteok-bulgogi.'
'Should I suggest going to a Korean restaurant tonight to the CEO?'
As Woojin turned his head, he noticed a classroom right in front of him.
But looking closer—
'A music room?'
Reading the Japanese sign in his head, Woojin glanced inside. Chairs were arranged in the center of the spacious room, and various instruments lined the windows.
'Ah… this brings back memories.'
Recalling his school days, Woojin casually looked around before opening the door to the music room. A faint sound accompanied it, and the distinct scent of wood drifted into his nose.
Meanwhile, Uramatsu Mifuyu, the actress playing Horinochi Amie in The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice, known for her large eyes and full lips, glanced toward Woojin at the end of the hallway while talking with the other actors.
'Woojin? Where is he going?'
Right then, Director Kyotaro, with his white hair, appeared and looked around the hallway while speaking with the assistant director.
"Where is Woojin?"
Mifuyu pointed toward the end of the hallway.
"Over there."
Meanwhile, the moment Kang Woojin stepped into the music room, he stopped.
A large black object sitting on the platform at the front of the room caught his eye. After staring at it for a moment, Woojin slowly walked closer, brushed off the dust on the cover, and lifted it.
Soon, black and white keys were revealed.
"Hmm."
It was a piano.