Chapter 256: Storm (6)

After staring blankly at the ceiling for a moment, writer Choi Na-na with round glasses, slowly lowered her head again. In front of her was the laptop. The cursor blinking on the screen of that laptop.

Of course, she had just placed a period.

The script she had been working on until just now was the final episode of ‘Beneficial Evil’. The long and arduous writing process had come to an end. ‘Beneficial Evil’ had undergone many changes. Ultimately, ‘Beneficial Evil’ consisted of a total of 12 episodes, with the last episode being the final one.

For now, they were considering a seasonal format, but it would only be possible if the results were certain.

Anyway, the skinny Choi Na-na stared at the laptop for a moment before suddenly.

-Whoosh!

She stood up from her desk and raised her arms high. Then, she flapped them like wings. It was because she was overwhelmed with emotion. The completion of her first full-length script. It was understandable that she danced a silent rhythm. Fortunately, there was no one in the studio, otherwise, her timid nature would have made her quietly shed tears.

Then.

-Swish.

After enjoying herself enough, Choi Na-na took a small breath and sat back at her desk.

“Am I crazy? Why do I feel so good?”

Of course, she had finished the final episode script, but this was not the end. It needed confirmation from PD Song Man-woo, the executive director. Still, with a smile, Choi Na-na moved her mouse and picked up the phone lying near the laptop. The mouse movement was to save her work, and the phone was to make a call.

Who would she call?

“PD-nim, are you busy?”

The first person she wanted to share the good news with was PD Song Man-woo. Choi Na-na put the phone to her ear. She swallowed nervously.

At that moment.

“Hello, Writer-nim.”

From the other end of the phone came PD Song Man-woo’s somewhat excited voice, and Choi Na-na responded joyfully with a smile.

“PD-nim, I just put the period on the final episode script.”

Immediately, PD Song Man-woo’s exclamation was heard.

“Oh! Really? Just now?”

“Yes, yes! Can you come today?”

“Nice, great great. Today? Uh, I’m busy today, but I’ll come to the studio first thing in the morning tomorrow. Until then, please review the final episode script again.”

“Got it, PD-nim. Oh? By the way, where are you that you’re so busy?”

At her question, PD Song Man-woo responded with a laugh.

“What else, I’m meeting an actor.”

“Oh! Is it about casting? Sorry, please call me back after you’re done.”

“Let’s do that.”

And the call ended.

At this time, PD Song Man-woo, who had just finished the call with Choi Na-na, was sitting in an entertainment company meeting room. No, to be precise, he was in the hallway and put his phone back in his pocket before opening the meeting room door again. Inside the meeting room, about five people were sitting.

There were two from PD Song Man-woo’s side, and the remaining were from the other side.

The woman sitting in the middle looked familiar. A mole under her eye, long hair reaching down to her chest, a loose black hoodie. It was Hwalin. Her makeup was basic, but her beauty still stood out.

The people seated on either side of her were her manager and the team leader of the management team.

Soon, PD Song Man-woo, who had returned to his seat, apologized.

“Sorry about that, it was a call from the writer.”

Hwalin, covering her hand with her hoodie sleeve, replied.

“The writer? Is it, by any chance, writer Choi?”

“Yes, writer Choi Na-na. She just finished the script.”

“Wow, I should congratulate her.”

“Haha, the writer will be happy to hear that.”

Hwalin had already established a connection with writer Choi Na-na through ‘Male Friend’, and she had contacted writer Choi Na-na during the official announcement of ‘Beneficial Evil’. However, PD Song Man-woo’s visit was unexpected for Hwalin.

“But PD-nim, why are you here all of a sudden?”

PD Song Man-woo put on a business smile. In fact, he and Hwalin were not that close. They knew each other since both were very famous, but they had never worked together on a project. PD Song Man-woo handed Hwalin a transparent file.

Then he spoke in a serious tone.

“Why else would I come at this time? I came because I hope Hwalin-ssi would appear in ‘Beneficial Evil’.”

“…Me, me??”

Hwalin’s already large eyes grew even bigger. It was understandable. She had recently tasted the bitterness of failing the audition for ‘Leech’. On the other hand, PD Song Man-woo remained calm.

“Yes, Hwalin-ssi. However, it won’t be a leading role.”

“Ah-”

“Since the script and storyboard work are still ongoing, it’s not certain, but the role I’m asking Hwalin-ssi for is likely somewhere between a supporting and a minor role.”

In other words, he was asking her to join as a supporting character. For Hwalin, who had already reached the top tier as both an idol and an actress, it was a slightly low offer. Her plump manager, who understood this, intervened.

“Uh- PD-nim, we appreciate the offer, but may I ask why you are considering our Hwalin for a supporting role? Is there something lacking?”

PD Song Man-woo, with a slightly softened expression, shook his head.

“Not at all. It’s not that Hwalin-ssi’s form is lacking. To be honest, except for Kang Woojin, there are no leading roles in ‘Beneficial Evil’.”

“What?”

PD Song Man-woo’s gaze returned to Hwalin, who was still wide-eyed, and he continued explaining while making eye contact with her.

“It’s a bit difficult to reveal everything. To put it mildly, ‘Beneficial Evil’ has various episodes, and the actors will be changed in each episode.”

In other words, only Kang Woojin remains throughout ‘Beneficial Evil’, and the actors change entirely with each episode. Therefore, most actors would inevitably be in supporting roles. PD Song Man-woo also added that the scale had grown significantly due to the partnership with Netflix, and that negotiations were ongoing with several actors, not just Hwalin.

“You’ve probably seen that our ‘Beneficial Evil’ is amining for a global launch.”

While listening to the rather lengthy explanation, Hwalin, although staring blankly at PD Song Man-woo, was inwardly thinking of her fangirl target, Kang Woojin, her ultimate favorite.

‘…The sole lead in such a blockbuster, Kang Woojin-nim- how cool is that?’

Filled with fandom, Hwalin was moved. At that moment, PD Song Man-woo opened his mouth again.

“Additionally, I thought of Hwalin-ssi for this role because of ‘Male Friend’. I thought the character image would fit perfectly if we added a bit of twist.”

PD Song Man-woo concluded to the slightly puzzled Hwalin.

“Though it is a supporting role, I’m thinking of Hwalin-ssi as the villain in the first episode.”

Two days later, on the 8th. Monday.

After the script reading for ‘Leech’. It was the official first filming day for ‘Leech’, in other words, the crank-in day. The film industry was already in a frenzy.

『[Movie Talk] Script reading for ‘Leech’ finished, crank-in today on the 8th, unusually only two days later!』

『Finally the first shoot! The domestic film industry is focusing on ‘Leech’, proceeding immediately without a break』

Meanwhile, Kang Woojin had just arrived at a comprehensive set in Jeonju. The black van he was in stopped at the outdoor parking lot of the large set.

The reason was simple.

A large house set for ‘Leech’ had been built on this huge comprehensive set site. Not only the exterior set but also the interior set was built here. In short, about 50% or more of the filming for ‘Leech’, excluding location shoots, was planned to take place in this Jeonju set.

Anyway.

-Click!

Kang Woojin just got out of the van. Today, his indifference was deep. The new set and environment intensified his demeanor. Although the first shoot was imminent, fortunately, Woojin was not very nervous. Of course, his heart was pounding, but it was more out of anticipation than fear.

All his tension had been blown away at the script reading two days ago.

As Choi Sung-gun and the team joined him after getting out of the passenger seat, Kang Woojin started moving. Exiting the outdoor parking lot, there were two staff members with intercoms around their necks waiting at the entrance. As soon as they saw Woojin, they quickly ran over.

“Hello!”

“Hello!”

In response to their greetings, Kang Woojin nodded silently.

“Hello.”

The two staff members took on the role of guiding Woojin. Soon, Kang Woojin, Choi Sung-gun, and the team arrived in front of the grand house, brushing past the busily occupied staff. It was the set and standalone house that would be the centerpiece of ‘Leech’. A spacious yard with grass, a parking lot with foreign cars, a living room with large windows, and the main house, which looked like three buildings combined.

Looking up at the mostly gray-toned house set,

“······”

Woojin maintained a calm face but was internally excited.

‘Wow- damn!! It’s insanely big! Does a house like this actually exist in Korea??! Anyway, the quality is amazing.’

Behind the enormous standalone house set were several warehouses. The internal sets were probably inside those warehouses. Of course, the hundred or so staff members of ‘Leech’ were gathered around the house set. About a dozen were inside the house, some in the parking lot, and nearly twenty in the grass-covered yard.

Each team and each area were busy with their tasks.

At this point, a familiar old voice reached Kang Woojin from the yard, where many chairs and monitors were arranged.

“You’re here.”

It was Director Ahn Ga-bok, holding a script in one hand and wearing a lightweight padded jacket. He approached Kang Woojin with a wrinkled smile.

“How is it? The set, is it usable?”

Usable? No way? It’s amazing. Woojin answered bluntly on the outside.

“Yes, it looks that way.”

“Good. How does it feel compared to the scenario?”

He was asking about the synchronization. Woojin looked up at the standalone house set again. It was almost identical. Of course, it was slightly different from the house he saw in the void space, but that didn’t matter at all.

“I think it’s almost the same.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, with a wrinkled smile, pointed to the back. A large tent was set up outside the filming zone.

“Over there is the waiting room. Rest there before getting into costume and makeup. And- where is Woojin’s stylist manager?”

Han Ye-jung, who had an expressionless face among the team, raised her hand.

“It’s me.”

“Let’s talk.”

Han Ye-jung, the stylist, familiar with the routine, picked up the ‘Leech’ coordination book and followed Director Ahn Ga-bok. Kang Woojin, guided by the staff, moved to the actor’s waiting tent. Only Choi Sung-gun and a few team members remained.

Soon, Choi Sung-gun, retying his ponytail,

-Swish.

Looked up at the front house and muttered quietly.

“We’re finally putting this up.”

About an hour later.

The filming of ‘Leech’ was imminent. The camera, lighting, audio, props, actors, etc. were almost set up, and Director Ahn Ga-bok was briefing the key staff he had gathered.

“Once again, the schedule is tight, so we have to push ourselves a bit.”

They might have to do overnight shoots or catch naps whenever possible, and Director Ahn Ga-bok had to do initial editing work while reducing his sleep. It was like opening the gates of hell. Director Ahn Ga-bok repeated the same briefing in the actors’ tent.

The waiting tent already had many actors, including Kang Woojin, Sim Han-ho, Oh Hee-ryung, Jin Jae-jun, and Han So-jin.

Kang Woojin listened to Director Ahn Ga-bok’s briefing indifferently.

‘Ha- no early finish today.’

He sighed quietly. Well, what could he do? He was already prepared, and he had the void space, so he could manage somehow. Director Ahn Ga-bok checked the time before leaving the tent.

“Let’s go standby in 10 minutes.”

He glanced alternately at Sim Han-ho, now neatly groomed, with his beard and hair tidied up, and Kang Woojin. At the same time, he recalled a line from Joseph Felton, who had contacted him before.

‘Because there’s an actor in Korea I’m interested in.’

Back then, Director Ahn Ga-bok was certain that the Korean actor Joseph mentioned was Sim Han-ho. But now, his thoughts had changed a bit.

‘It might be Kang Woojin.’

This was because the recent screen test for a Hollywood movie involving Kang Woojin had surfaced. Such an event was enough of a reason for a famous Hollywood producer to personally make a trip.

‘Interesting, a second-year actor standing shoulder to shoulder with Sim Han-ho-’

Finally, Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had taken in the sight of the composed Woojin, exited the tent. The assistant director came running. Director Ahn Ga-bok quietly instructed him.

“Let’s call standby in five minutes.”

“Yes!”

The assistant director, who responded firmly, ran back among the hundred or so staff members. Soon, Director Ahn Ga-bok looked down at his wristwatch and recalled the foreigners who were supposed to arrive.

“They should be arriving soon.”

Meanwhile, the previously empty outdoor parking lot was now filled with numerous vans, minivans, and minibuses. From two recently arrived vans, a group of foreigners suddenly rushed out. Among them, two were particularly eye-catching. One was a black man, almost a giant, and the other was a blonde woman wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a mask. This group of foreigners, with those two at the center, gradually walked towards the set.

They instantly captured the attention of the staff they passed by.

“Who, who are those foreigners?”

“Did you see? That blonde over there.”

“No? I can only see that huge black guy.”

“Is it a special team the director called in or something?”

Regardless, the group of foreigners arrived at the entrance of the standalone house set as if prearranged. At this moment, in the eyes of the foreigners,

“······”

“······”

one actor among many stood out.

It was Kang Woojin, standing with a poker face on the grassy yard.

At that moment,

-Swish.

Kang Woojin, sensing their presence, suddenly turned his head and confirmed the foreigners.

“······”

His eyes met directly with Joseph and Cara.

*****

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