Chapter 127: Departure (1)

The script reading for ‘Freezing Love'.

Despite the presence of dozens of actors, staff, officials, and reporters, the reading room was relatively quiet.

“······”

“······”

The actors who had arrived early were looking through their scripts, while the staff and officials busied themselves with their tasks, and the reporters were looking down at their phones.

However, what they all had in common was:

– Swoosh.

Pretending not to, they were sneakily glancing at the rookie actor who had arrived a few minutes earlier. While pretending to read their scripts or check their phones, they stealthily focused their eyes towards Kang Woojin, who was sitting near the end of a ‘U'-shaped table.

-[Role of ‘Mysterious Man Next Door / Mr. Kang Woojin']

His role was more of a minor or cameo, so he was seated towards the back. Anyway, since the introductions were already over, Woojin, who was sitting in his spot, looked down at his script with an indifferent face. He seemed completely uninterested in his surroundings.

Meanwhile, the actors whispered.

“Woojin seems really serious, doesn't he? I heard rumors, but he’s more cynical than I imagined.”

“Right. But considering he greeted everyone earlier, it doesn’t seem like he’s arrogant. Maybe he's just naturally introverted?”

“He's definitely the tough-to-get-close-to type.”

“But given his blockbuster-level trajectory since debut, I guess he wouldn’t be nervous about a reading session like this?”

“That’s true. He turned everything upside down, from Korea to Japan. Why would he be nervous here?”

The murmurs of the reporters spread.

“He's calm, that guy. After he set off nuclear bombs in both Korea and Japan.”

“It’s strange. Just by his aura, he looks like a top-tier veteran, not a newcomer. I've never seen a rookie like him.”

“It’s all about firsts with him. He’s so composed, we couldn't even get an interview. It’s not easy to approach him; rookies usually have a softer edge, but he’s too rigid. Is it just me?”

“Me too. Really, he's different from ordinary rookies. Look at him, immediately reading the script as soon as he arrived.”

“That guy works with big directors like Kwon Ki-taek. Why would a reading like this make him nervous?”

“Huh? Isn’t this “star” writer Lee Wol-seon’s script reading?”

“Yeah, but you know what I mean.”

On the other hand, Kang Woojin was currently engaged in a battle with the sound of his own heart.

‘Ah- really. It’s hard to get used to this silent atmosphere. I can tell everyone is sneaking glances. Just ignore them, ignore.'

It was more awkwardness than tension. After all, there was truly no one he knew in this reading session. In fact, this was the first script reading session where Woojin didn't know anyone. Even Choi Sung-gun, who usually accompanied him, wasn’t there, nor was writer Lee Wol-seon.

‘Well, maybe it's better that writer Lee Wol-seon isn't here.'

Feeling suffocated, perhaps that's why Kang Woojin's act became more pronounced. His poker face intensified. Then, perhaps to find some mental stability.

– Poke!

Kang Woojin pressed a black square attached to the first episode script of ‘Freezing Love.' Soon, Woojin entered the endlessly dark void space. Only then did he let out a sigh mixed with relief.

“Phew – that's better. Let’s rest here for a bit, the atmosphere in the reading session is too stifling.”

Stretching, Kang Woojin then decided to spend some time there. When he felt ready, he moved towards a series of white rectangles. The reading was close, and he planned to rehearse (‘experience') just before it.

Naturally, he chose the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door.'

It was no ordinary role. It needed to be more vivid, so repeating the reading (experience) was an essential part of his preparation.

Soon.

– Swoosh.

[“'P: Mysterious Man Next Door' Reading Preparation in progress······”]n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

With the familiar robotic female voice, Woojin was absorbed into the world of ‘Mysterious Man Next Door'.

Back to reality.

When Kang Woojin returned to the ‘Freezing Love' script reading room, the scene was…

“······”

palpably tense. Woojin, despite his ability to open his mouth, found it difficult to articulate words. His brain sent the commands, but his body seemed to resist. Everything about the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door' had imprinted itself in him, becoming a significant presence.

‘······It’s melancholic.’

Kang Woojin closed his eyes for a moment, processing the emotions flooding through his veins, understanding and reflecting on them. The world of the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door' expanded within him. And then,

‘Sign language, I can see it clearly.'

His mind filled with sign language scenes. Although he was already proficient in it, the repeated readings (‘experiences') deepened his understanding. Woojin also noticed something else.

His facial muscles had become incredibly flexible.

While his voice was suppressed, his sense of touch and smell had sharpened, and his body felt as light as a feather. No, not just light – it was fluid. It felt as though his entire body had transformed from a rigid solid to a malleable liquid.

This made sense, as the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door' required frequent use of the body to communicate through sign language.

At that moment,

“Hello everyone-”

With the script reading approaching the starting time, the main and supporting actors started to appear. They greeted each other with professional smiles, maintaining a business-like demeanor.

But then.

“Wow- Woojin? Nice to meet you. Haha, I was really surprised by your recent work announcement with Director Kyotaro in Japan.”

They flocked towards Kang Woojin, who was seated near the entrance. Almost all the actors did so. Their eyes all seemed to be smiling. However, if one were to delve into their true feelings, a mix of emotions would be revealed: admiration, jealousy, envy, awe, curiosity, fascination, doubt, joy, and so on.

Among them.

‘That’s Kang Woojin… He certainly doesn't seem like a typical rookie, but what's so special about him?'

The actor who had just shaken hands with Kang Woojin and moved to the first seat was filled with ‘curiosity'. He was Jung Jang-hwan, the top actor playing the lead role of ‘Song Tae-hyung' in ‘Freezing Love'. Wearing a cap, Jung Jang-hwan was very tall and had a rugged, masculine appearance.

His image was similar to Kang Woojin’s, yet he was a decade older than Woojin.

Jung Jang-hwan was known as an actor who ‘didn’t do well in movies’. There are such actors. They explode in popularity in dramas but somehow fail in films. Jung Jang-hwan was exactly like that. Nevertheless, in the drama industry, he was a legendary figure and acknowledged as a top actor, with unquestionable acting skills.

That’s probably why writer Lee Wol-seon cast him.

Anyway, after opening his script, Jung Jang-hwan pretended to have casual conversations with the surrounding actors, while secretly.

– Swoosh.

Casting a glance at Kang Woojin. Although the reading room had become noisy with the arrival of many actors, Woojin maintained his composure, sitting calmly as before. Despite the congratulations and questions thrown at him by actors and officials, he maintained his composure. There was no sign of embarrassment, joy, or arrogance.

How should one describe him?

‘He was like still water.'

There was no visible disturbance in him. Gradually, Jung Jang-hwan became intensely curious about Kang Woojin.

He had seen Kang Woojin’s acting in only two roles: ‘Kim Ryu-jin’ and ‘Park Dae-ri’. Like Jung Jang-hwan, almost everyone in this reading room were likely the same. Both productions were hits, and Woojin’s performance in them was extraordinary, not something a rookie could easily match.

‘I know he’s a good actor, but enough to captivate directors like Kwon and Kyotaro?'

It wasn’t just them. Writer Lee Wol-seon, PD Song Man-woo, writer Park Eun-mi, and others – why were these big names revolving around this rookie? Jung Jang-hwan felt a strange curiosity.

‘What would happen if I threw him off balance? What kind of performance would he deliver in an unexpected situation?’

The reason was simple. In ‘Freezing Love,' the only actor Kang Woojin interacted with was Jung Jang-hwan.

‘Has he ever faced an ad-lib in script readings or on set?’

The role of the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door' that Woojin was playing, though short in screen time, had the deepest acting intensity in ‘Freezing Love'. The difficulty level was incredibly high, at least in the opinion of Jung Jang-hwan, the lead actor.

‘Sign language isn't an ordinary language. Even if you learn it, performing it naturally is almost impossible.’

In other words, it was a role where doing well was the bare minimum, and any mediocrity would attract criticism. Moreover, the role required expression without dialogue. It demanded the intensity of spoken lines without actually speaking them. How would this rookie handle such a challenging role?

While Jung Jang-hwan's interest was intensely focused on Kang Woojin, it was then.

– Creak.

As the glass door opened, the PD and writer Lee Wol-seon entered the reading room filled with actors. Accompanying Lee Wol-seon was a woman dressed in a suit. Immediately, the actors and staff stood up from their seats.

The PD and writer Lee Wol-seon exchanged casual greetings.

Then,

“Long time no see, Woojin.”

“Hello, writer Lee.”

Lee Wol-seon, noticeable with her sparkling earrings, stopped in front of Kang Woojin.

“You’ve made quite the impact since we last met, haven’t you?”

“It just happened.”

Right, we'll celebrate later. First, this lady here is a sign language expert.”

Lee Wol-seon introduced the woman in the suit, presumably a sign language interpreter. It was common to have experts observe on set to check for errors and offer advice. Kang Woojin’s heart fluttered slightly at this.

‘An expert – damn, that's a bit nerve-wracking. But then again, the void space is like a cheat.'

Woojin then briefly greeted the sign language expert.

“Hello.”

“Hello, pleased to meet you. I really enjoyed watching ‘Hanryang’.”

“Thank you.”

Writer Lee Wol-seon then interjected. She asked Woojin with a smile,

“Writer Park Eun-mi mentioned something. She said there would be a big change if Woojin attended the script reading. Do you know what she meant?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Really? Well, maybe I’ll understand when I see it.”

The actors looked puzzled by this conversation. Regardless, Lee Wol-seon moved to the head of the table with the sign language expert.

– Thunk.

They took their seats. Concurrently, the PD announced.

“Alright, let's start the reading.”

He was in charge of conducting the script reading for ‘Freezing Love'. Meanwhile, writer Lee Wol-seon quietly asked the sign language expert on her right.

“What do you think of Kang Woojin? You can just tell me your impression. Is there a disconnect?”

“…It’s hard to say right now. But sign language is a language that combines hands, expressions, and body language, right? It requires showing emotions. But Woojin… his poker face is so strong, it feels like he has no expression.”

“So, his face is already an error?”

The sign language expert shrugged.

“I'm not sure. But if he continues like this, it will be a problem.”

Shortly after,

The introductions of the actors of ‘Freezing Love' began. After the female lead, it was the male lead Jung Jang-hwan's turn.

“I’m Jung Jang-hwan, playing the role of ‘Song Tae-hyung'. I hope this becomes a satisfying production for all the effort we’ve put in.”

Applause followed. The introductions continued, and then,

– Thunk.

“I’m Kang Woojin, playing the role of ‘Mysterious Man Next Door'. I'll do my best.”

Kang Woojin's impactful introduction. The applause was the same, but the actors’ gazes carried a sense of intrigue. After a full round of actor introductions, the key staff members gave their greetings.

“Okay, how about you, writer Lee?”

The PD signaled to writer Lee Wol-seon, who responded with a nonchalant shrug.

“Let’s have a fun reading.”

Although Lee Wol-seon's words were light, their meaning was profound. As a star writer, she was known for her active involvement in script readings. Unlike writer Park Eun-mi, who collaborated with the PD, Lee Wol-seon was known for expressing her opinions directly to the actors.

Interestingly,

“Let's get into the reading.”

– Rustle, rustle.

In the early stages of the reading, Lee Wol-seon would leave the actors to their own devices during the early parts of the reading. Even if the lines were wrong, or the acting fell short, differed from her intentions, or the emotions were off, initially, she would silently observe the actors’ own interpretations and performances.

But as it reached the midway point, her approach would drastically change.

Like a herbivore suddenly turning into a carnivore. Hence, at her project's reading sessions, many newcomers would end up in tears due to her sharp critiques. Her directing was equally harsh on top actors, veterans, and rookies alike.

Regardless,

“S#1 In a room with blackout curtains, mostly dark tones. At this moment, Song Tae-hyung suddenly opens his eyes in bed.”

The reading of ‘Freezing Love' began with the PD’s narration. Overall, the drama centered on the growth of ‘Song Tae-hyung', played by Jung Jang-hwan. He was a man in his 30s, capable but severely afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder, leading to a complete lack of communication with the outside world.

‘Song Tae-hyung' felt comfortable trapped in his own cage.

He didn’t bother others, so he didn't need to be involved with them, and he managed his work well enough without deep relationships. He detested anything out of order, whether it be objects or his own feelings.

‘Freezing Love' lightly yet profoundly depicted the growth, love, and transformation of the ‘adult-child’ ‘Song Tae-hyung'.

And the catalyst for Song Tae-hyung's first change was,

“S#3 Song Tae-hyung, carrying hand sanitizer, leaves his apartment. Simultaneously, the door of the next apartment opens, and he locks eyes with the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door'. Having crossed paths a few times already, Song Tae-hyung doesn’t like him.”

The role of the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door' was played by Kang Woojin. Soon, Jung Jang-hwan, sitting across from Woojin, glanced at him and furrowed his brows.

“······”

Exchanging a brief eye contact with Woojin, Jung Jang-hwan frowned. Similarly, Kang Woojin, looking at him, had no lines. In fact, the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door' couldn’t speak. This was unknown to Jung Jang-hwan, or rather ‘Song Tae-hyung', who found the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door’s' gaze unsettling.

What could be the intent behind those peculiar eyes? Why does he keep looking at me like that? Annoyed, ‘Song Tae-hyung' confronts the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door'.

“Hey, you. Do you have something to say to me?”

However, the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door' does not respond.

“······”

“Fine. Are you about to take the elevator? I’ll wait and take the next one.”

“······”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

In the script, ‘Song Tae-hyung' returns to his apartment, and the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door', after a momentary glance at the closed door, silently gets on the elevator. The PD then narrates.

“Song Tae-hyung, grumbling at the shoe cabinet, vigorously rubs hand sanitizer. As if trying to wash away the unpleasant feeling.”

Song Tae-hyung's line:

“Every time I see him, I feel disgusted. If he has something to say, he should just say it. Ugh- I can’t take this. Maybe I should move out.”

After spending the day, Song Tae-hyung returns home and glances at the neighbor's door before quietly unlocking his own.

– Thunk!

The ‘Mysterious Man Next Door' appears again. Once more, without a word, he just looks at Song Tae-hyung. The script notes that the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door' is holding a plastic bag in one hand. The scene should end here, with Song Tae-hyung clicking his tongue and swiftly entering his apartment.

The camera closes up on the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door', still and expressionless.

Therefore, Kang Woojin was simply gazing peculiarly at Song Tae-hyung seated in front of him.

‘And it ends here. Hmm, next is…’

But then.

“Look here, you.”

Unexpectedly, Song Tae-hyung speaks to the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door'. It was a line not in the script.

“Why do you keep making me uncomfortable? Either speak up or ignore me. How many times is this? If you continue like this, I’ll report you.”

Everyone in the reading room’s gaze shifted to the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door', or rather, Kang Woojin. Though Woojin was looking at Jung Jang-hwan, he was clearly perplexed inside.

‘Huh? What’s this? That line isn’t in the script, is it? Is it? No, it’s not in the script.’

It was a line he had never heard or seen before. But other than him, the actors in the reading room seemed unfazed.

‘Ad-lib? Well, Jang-hwan hyung often creates his own lines during character analysis.’

‘That’s his style, isn’t it? He often comes up with ad-libs, and some of them even make it into the final script.'

Since it wasn’t an unusual occurrence, writer Lee Wol-seon, who was twirling her pen, didn't feel the need to intervene.

‘Amplifying the discomfort, huh? That’s not a bad analysis.’

It didn’t clash with the scene.

Most importantly,

‘I’m curious to see how he responds. Well, he'll probably handle it lightly.’

Lee Wol-seon was curious to see how Kang Woojin would react to the ad-lib. There was no doubt. This was Kang Woojin, the ‘monstrous rookie'. Surely, he wouldn’t be shaken by such a common ad-lib.

But then,

‘Whoa – what’s happening? Why isn’t anyone stopping this?'

The ‘Mysterious Man Next Door', Woojin, was caught off guard.

‘Wait, what? What am I supposed to do here? Huh?'

Despite maintaining a calm façade, Woojin’s eyes inadvertently revealed a hint of confusion while looking at Jung Jang-hwan, the leading actor seated opposite him.

At that moment,

“Huh?”

The sign language expert sitting next to Lee Wol-seon sensed something in Woojin's expression.

“…It looks like he’s puzzled, or something similar. I’m sure of it. That's the look people who use sign language often have when they find it hard to communicate.”

Listening to this, Lee Wol-seon turned her gaze to Woojin. But from her perspective, she couldn’t find any signs of confusion or panic in him.

However,

‘The expert must be seeing something I can’t.'

In this case, the sign language expert’s perception was more reliable. After all, Kang Woojin was currently acting as the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door'. Thus, Lee Wol-seon focused on something else.

‘But still… to express such subtle changes in his eyes that only the expert could notice -‘

This was Kang Woojin's acting.

‘To bring out such detail in an instant, especially in response to an unexpected ad-lib? Indeed, his skill is unparalleled.'

At that moment, Jung Jang-hwan threw in another ad-libbed line.

“Don’t look at me like that. It gives me the creeps. Please, I’m asking you to stop.”

“······”

Woojin's expression was still blank and he didn't speak. However, there was a change. His lips twitched slightly, as if muttering. His lips quivered faintly.

The sign language expert whispered immediately.

“He’s deliberating. He’s thinking about something.”

Jung Jang-hwan furrowed his brows and showed a gesture of pulling out a phone to Kang Woojin at the other end.

“Alright, I get it. I don’t know why you’re doing this to me, but since you seem intent on continuing, I'll report you now.”

Here, Woojin, who had been twitching his lips, suddenly stopped. He slightly tilted his head and then nodded, as if he understood what was being said.

Then,

– Swoosh.

For the first time, Kang Woojin’s hands moved. It wasn’t a grand gesture. It was clear but brief, lasting only a few seconds. Woojin then looked at Jung Jang-hwan, blinking, and made the final hand gesture. He clenched his right hand into a fist and brought it close to his nose, with the thumb pointing towards the nose.

The actors observing this realized,

‘That’s sign language. He’s doing it well, it doesn’t seem unnatural at all. Practice… wait, practice? This is an ad-lib, not in the script. What’s going on?’

Each one internally expressed faint admiration or confusion.

‘He’s using sign language so smoothly. How much practice did he do? Impressive. But was that gesture prearranged?’

‘He responded with sign language to an ad-lib?'

Regardless, Kang Woojin, the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door', held his fist to his nose and then,

“······”

smiled. It was a smile entirely different from before, radiantly bright. A smile as joyful as one basked in warm sunlight, revealing his teeth, the first expression on his otherwise stiff face.

Upon seeing this, Jung Jang-hwan thought,

‘First sign language, but it’s not in the script.’

Unaware of the meaning behind the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door’s' ad-libbed sign language, ‘Song Tae-hyung' responded with his immediate feeling.

“What, what's that? Why are you smiling? Are you mocking me by putting your fist to your nose?”

However, Kang Woojin’s smile deepened. Lee Wol-seon, momentarily distracted by Woojin’s smile, thought,

‘That kid, he can smile so brightly.’

She then asked the sign language expert sitting beside her.

“That looked like sign language. What does that mean?”

The expert, with her mouth slightly open, responded to the question.

“Kang Woojin's sign language skills are impressive… I didn’t expect such a beautiful smile. Is this scene meant to show the gap between the two characters' perspectives?”

“That could be one interpretation. Like a difference in positions due to a disconnect in communication.”

The sign language expert, nodding slowly, replicated the same sign language gesture Woojin had just performed. The final part was to point her thumb towards the nose, though her gesture was smaller than Woojin’s.

“In this sign language, the last part, putting the fist and pointing the thumb towards the nose, means ‘like’. How intensely one smiles can convey their feelings. Just now, Mr. Woojin smiled so beautifully, right? The overall meaning of his sign language was.”

The expert then recited the meaning.

“It was expressing, ‘I like you’.”

****

–

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