"Korea… huh?"
Joseph frowned at Miley Cara's answer over the phone.
"Cara, what are you talking about all of a sudden? It's been a while since you went to Korea for promotions."
Across from him, the bald Robert and the rest of the foreign team tilted their heads in confusion at Joseph's reaction. It was surprising enough that a sudden call had come in from the global star Cara, but hearing that she was currently in Korea was even more unexpected.
On the other end of the call, Cara's distinctly cool voice remained unchanged.
"That was quite a while ago. The film promotions are already over, and I've started working on my album now."
"Then what is this supposed to mean? Are you joking?"
"Joseph, do you really think I have nothing better to do than call you just to joke around?"
She was serious. Joseph, who had been suspicious, suddenly grew serious as well.
"Wait. You're really in Korea right now?"
"Yes."
"When did you arrive?"
"Two hours ago."
"…You came in so quietly. There wasn't even a whisper about it in the news."
"Of course. I moved in secret and entered quietly. Other than my own staff, probably no one knows. To keep it that way, I'm going to a rental house instead of a hotel. Joseph, you have to pretend you know nothing."
Miley Cara had entered Korea in secret?
Why?
His curiosity sparked, Joseph rose from the sofa. His massive frame immediately drew everyone's attention. He pressed the phone closer to his ear and asked again,
"Did you come to Korea for the album? Is it because of K-pop?"
"No. Joseph, are you at the hotel right now?"
"Yes."
"I heard you're going to the first shoot for the film Leech on the 8th. Two days from now."
Joseph, who had been staring out the window with one hand in his pocket, frowned again.
"How did you… find that out? What is this, Cara? Are you investigating me?"
Cara let out a low laugh over the line before answering.
"Not at all. It was purely a coincidence. I contacted the Leech team, and they mistook us for your team. That's how I found out. But why are you going to the Leech set?"
"Well, I'm a producer. That's part of my job. Isn't it stranger that you're interested in that movie?"
"To be precise, it isn't because of Leech. It's because of one of the actors in it."
At that moment, something flashed through Joseph's mind.
"...No way. Kang Woojin?"
"So you do know the name. Then you're going there to see that actor too, aren't you? And the article that came out recently about Kang Woojin's Hollywood screen test—is that connected to you as well?"
"Well, there are a lot of talented actors on the Leech set. It would be hard to say I'm only interested in Kang Woojin."
"Either way, it doesn't matter. The more important thing is this, Joseph. Let's go to the filming location together on the 8th."
"You're really planning to go?"
"Otherwise, there'd be no reason for me to come to Korea. Of course, it's not only because of the movie. Anyway, how about it? If we go together, it probably won't draw as much attention."
Joseph let out an empty laugh. Even so, his thoughts remained calculating.
'Whether I understand the situation or not, it wouldn't be a bad thing to owe Cara a personal favor.'
Having reached a conclusion, Joseph nodded.
"Fine. Let's go together on the 8th. But Cara, did you really come all the way to Korea because of a single actor named Kang Woojin?"
"I told you already. I have other business too. I'll see you on the 8th, then."
"…All right."
A click sounded.
The call ended.
Joseph Felton slowly lowered the phone from his ear. Soon after, Robert, the bald man standing behind him, asked quietly,
"Is Miley Cara really in Korea right now?"
Joseph slipped his phone into his pants pocket and answered in English with a grin.
"Looks like it."
"What does it mean that Miley Cara came to Korea because of Leech? And what's all this about Kang Woojin?"
"I can't say for sure. She's always been unpredictable. But I can make a guess. When she came to Korea before for film promotions, she probably noticed something special about Kang Woojin."
"Like what?"
"Maybe she saw something in Kang Woojin that reminded her of herself."
"Even so, that's interesting. Miley Cara is known in Hollywood for being pretty cold, isn't she?"
"I don't know exactly what she wants from Kang Woojin, but there does seem to be some kind of energy about him that even a Hollywood star like Cara can't ignore."
A trace of bewilderment appeared on Robert's face. In contrast, the large-framed Joseph folded his arms and looked genuinely intrigued.
"Kang Woojin is drawing far more interest from Hollywood people than I expected."
Meanwhile, at the same time.
Inside a large van with heavily tinted windows moving through Seoul's crowded streets, there were quite a few foreigners riding together. Among them, one woman with her blonde hair tied back and sunglasses on sat by the window, looking down at her phone.
It was Miley Cara.
"Just as I thought, Joseph Felton is interested in Kang Woojin."
The one who responded to her murmur was the short-haired foreign man seated right beside her. He was Cara's manager, Jonathan.
"Are you really sure? There are so many Hollywood actors around Joseph Felton. Why would he be interested in a Korean actor?"
"I can't be one hundred percent certain, but I think so. The Hollywood project Kang Woojin screen-tested for is very likely one of Joseph's projects."
In truth, even after returning to LA, Cara had continued looking into Kang Woojin nonstop. She had a deep interest in him, and a strong desire to work with him. She had even mentioned him on a well-known overseas talk show.
That was why she knew everything. His Hollywood film audition news, the various issues surrounding him, and even his recent piano performance.
Jonathan stroked his chin.
"Hmm. If he caught Joseph Felton's attention… then the road to Hollywood has opened."
Cara, who had been smiling faintly, crossed her legs.
"Kang Woojin really is a fascinating actor. It's amazing that he's already caught the eye of one of Hollywood's most influential producers."
"By the way, Cara, did you send Kang Woojin a DM?"
"Not yet. My main purpose is to see his acting, not his hobbies, but I'm worried that if I appear in front of him, it might put unnecessary pressure on him. Of course, knowing Kang Woojin's personality, that probably won't happen… but I still don't want to burden him for no reason."
Murmuring to herself, Cara removed her sunglasses. Her blue eyes were truly beautiful. She sank into thought for a moment, then turned her gaze out the window.
"It won't be too late to make an offer after the filming is over."
A few hours later.
The location was near Sinsa Station. It was the building of a major distribution company, or more precisely, the distributor for the film Leech. At that moment, a familiar actress had just stepped out of a van that had parked in the underground lot.
Thud.
Rookie actress Han Sojin, with long black hair and a beauty mark on her nose, got out of the car. She carried both elegance and a decadent sort of allure at the same time. The moment her feet touched the ground, she let out a breath.
It was a breath tinged with tension.
Wearing a hoodie, Han Sojin clutched the Leech script tightly against her chest.
That was only natural.
In about an hour, the official script reading for the film Leech was set to begin.
This was a massive project that had already sent shockwaves through the Korean entertainment and film industry before production had even begun. It was also legendary director Ahn Gabok's hundredth work. The moment Han Sojin joined Leech as a supporting actress, her filmography rose to an entirely new level.
Acting alongside renowned veteran actors, and standing on the Cannes stage she had only dreamed of, was now beginning to become reality.
As a rookie, Han Sojin naturally felt immense pressure.
'Whew, get it together. Don't freeze up before it's even started. You've got a mountain to climb, haven't you?'
Still, Han Sojin steadied herself. Joining the huge Leech project was a great leap forward, but during this period she had a clear and ambitious goal of her own.
She wanted to compete fiercely with the only other rookie who shared some similarities with her, but stood on a completely different level.
Kang Woojin.
Her ultimate goal was competitiveness.
Soon, her eyes filled with resolve. Meanwhile, Han Sojin's manager and team members were all smiling brightly. It was only natural. Han Sojin had been rising steadily.
"All right, Sojin. Shall we go?"
"Yes, Manager."
"Wow, this is so moving. Our Sojin is going to a script reading for Director Ahn Gabok's work!"
They took the elevator up and got off on the fourth floor. Guided by staff, they arrived at a conference room in the middle of the hallway.
A nameplate was attached to the glass door.
Leech Script Reading Room
Naturally, dozens of staff members were moving busily around. There was even a team holding cameras, and reporters could be seen on calls or checking their equipment.
After taking a deep breath, Han Sojin opened the glass door.
Soon, the inside of the reading room unfolded before her eyes.
The tables were arranged in a U-shape. Folding chairs had been placed around them. Cameras on tripods stood here and there, nameplates for each role sat on the table, and representatives from the production company and distributor had already arrived early.
It was a familiar sight, but the scale was enormous.
True to her rookie status, Han Sojin immediately greeted everyone loudly and gave a small bow to the staff and officials. Then she checked the nameplates on the table.
What was interesting was—
"Ah."
Someone had arrived before her.
Han Sojin had come almost fifty minutes early. But right beside the director's seat at the very front sat a male actor with an unreadable expression.
He was the first one there.
'…Kang Woojin.'
Wearing a slightly thick flight jacket, Kang Woojin sat quietly, looking down at his script. It was unexpected. To be honest, Han Sojin had thought she would be the first to arrive.
But from the very beginning, she had already lost to him.
Ranking arrival times was a silly thing to care about, but Han Sojin's competitive streak ran that deep.
'Ha, I should've come about thirty minutes earlier.'
Letting out a sigh inwardly, she slowly approached Kang Woojin. Sensing her presence, Woojin lifted his head from the script.
Han Sojin bowed to greet him.
"Hello, Mr. Woojin."
Woojin rose from his seat and returned her greeting in his usual indifferent way.
"Yes, hello."
"…You came early."
"It just happened that way."
"Mm—"
Trailing off, Han Sojin lightly bit her lower lip before continuing.
"Your acting at the audition was really impressive. It was truly excellent."
"Was it?"
"Yes. It only made me more determined. I really want to surpass you, Mr. Woojin."
Han Sojin's small but firm resolve stood in sharp contrast to Woojin's low, unconcerned voice.
"Do as you wish."
He was calm and cold. He could even seem a little arrogant, but there was a solid core beneath it. He was exactly the same as before.
Han Sojin saw him as a rival, but at the same time, she was also one of the people who acknowledged him the most in that room.
'He definitely has talent, instinct, and charisma. But there isn't even the slightest trace of complacency in him. This actor never stops. He must have put in an insane amount of work to get this far. He's amazing. Just how cunning is he?'
The more she looked, the more Kang Woojin felt like a mountain rising higher and higher. He was the actor Director Ahn Gabok had personally cast as the lead.
But she could not give up.
No, she did not want to give up.
Han Sojin strengthened her resolve once more.
"Please take care of me again."
"Yes, same here."
Their brief greeting ended. Han Sojin glanced at the nameplate on Woojin's seat.
Park Haseong / Actor Kang Woojin
Han Sojin's seat was the third one across from Woojin.
Yoon Jimin / Actor Han Sojin
A few dozen minutes later, the actors of Leech began arriving one by one. Top actor Jin Jaejun, who played Yoon Jaho, sat directly beside Kang Woojin.
"Mr. Woojin, it's been a while. Did you have a good trip to LA?"
"Yes, sunbae."
Jin Jaejun looked far more relaxed than he had during the audition. Han Sojin, seated across from them, greeted him politely, and by then several of Leech's supporting actors had also entered.
Among them was Oh Heeryeong, who would be playing Yoo Hyeonji.
"Hello—hello."
She still carried the youthful, refined image of someone in her thirties. Her attitude and speech were polished, and she radiated elegance. Her build was similar to Shin Hanho's, but the one who broke the wall first was Oh Heeryeong.
"Oh my, Sojin. It's so nice to meet you. Your acting at the audition was wonderful."
"Sunbae! Hello. You can speak comfortably to me!"
"Oh, you don't have to call me sunbae. You can call me unni. Is that too difficult?"
"O-oh! I can't! Unni… sunbae."
"Hahaha, you really do have a lot of personality."
Of course, Oh Heeryeong was also acquainted with Kang Woojin.
"Hello, Mr. Woojin. I've seen you in the news so often it doesn't even feel like it's been a while."
"Yes. Hello, sunbae."
"Mm, is being cool part of your charm?"
"I'm not sure."
"Interesting. We'll be spending a lot of time together from now on. I'm looking forward to filming."
"So am I."
Watching this exchange, Han Sojin looked at Kang Woojin with a touch of disbelief.
'Wow, he doesn't shrink back at all, even in front of actors with that much experience. He's incredible. I could never do that…'
Of course, Han Sojin did not notice that Woojin had flinched for the briefest moment.
Then it happened.
Another actor stepped into the wide reading room, and at once gasps broke out among the staff and supporting cast.
"Hello!"
"Hello, sunbae!!"
"Hello!"
It was expected.
The newcomer was the great actor Shin Hanho.
His mere presence made the atmosphere in the room grow heavy in an instant. But Oh Heeryeong, seated to Han Sojin's right, continued smiling as if nothing had changed. Even while looking at the stern Shin Hanho, her smile did not fade.
"Oh my, sunbae, what happened to your appearance? Have you been living in the mountains?"
Most of the actors and everyone else in the script reading room, except for Oh Heeryeong, were shocked by the sight of Shin Hanho.
The reason was simple.
"······"
Shin Hanho, who remained silent, gave off an especially rough impression. Put kindly, he looked macho. To be blunt, he looked a little ragged.
His build was still solid, but he seemed to have lost some weight, and his long gray hair had grown even longer. The real issue was the coarse beard that thickly covered his mouth and jaw.
He looked like a barbarian.
Among the startled actors, Han Sojin's eyes widened and the words escaped her before she could stop them.
'W-wait, did he really go into the mountains to train?!'
Even so, Shin Hanho's tiger-like aura remained just as fierce as ever. If anything, the roughness only made him seem even more wild.
Then—
Carrying his script in one hand, Shin Hanho accepted the greetings of the other actors with a grave expression and walked straight toward one particular actor.
"Hello, sunbae."
It was Kang Woojin, calm and expressionless as ever.
Shin Hanho's seat was the first one across from Woojin, but for some reason, he approached Woojin first.
In the eyes of the great actor Shin Hanho, quiet stillness and wild ferocity coexisted.
"······"
After staring into Woojin's eyes for a moment, Shin Hanho, his rough beard framing his face, finally spoke.
His voice was deep and heavy.
"My acting might be a little intense today."
He was warning him.
Warning him that he might come at him aggressively.
Watching this, Han Sojin sucked in a breath.
'What is this?'
She was visibly shocked. Since her acting debut, she had never seen a scene like this before. Soon, her gaze moved to Woojin, who stood in front of Shin Hanho.
She assumed Woojin would be startled too.
Anyone would shrink under that kind of pressure if a great actor like Shin Hanho acted that way right in front of them.
'He must've frozen, right?'
But Kang Woojin stood firm without a trace of wavering.
"Yes, I'll take it well."