"Why is Director Lee, with that square jaw, suddenly tearing up?"
Kang Woojin, who was sitting by the café window, looked very calm on the outside. But when he saw Director Shin Dongchun sitting across from him, his expression showed a hint of confusion.
Did I say something wrong? I wasn't even trying to act tough just now.
Is this man naturally very emotional? Woojin thought to himself, This is normal, I guess. If the person you're talking to suddenly gets teary-eyed, anyone would react the same way—especially if that person looks like a man in his late forties.
If this guy starts crying, how should I react? Should I stay calm? Why is he acting like this in the first place?
While maintaining a composed appearance, Woojin fell into serious thought.
Meanwhile, Director Shin Dongchun said,
"Thank you. Really… thank you, Woojin. From the bottom of my heart."
The atmosphere was becoming increasingly emotional, almost like watching a moving scene in a film. His eyes were moist, as if tears might spill at any moment.
When did this even happen?
Woojin replayed everything he had said since arriving at the café. But nothing he said should have been hurtful. In truth, the words "affection" and "obsession" had deeply touched Director Shin Dongchun, but Woojin had no idea. Of course, he also knew nothing about the director's current life circumstances.
This is getting worse. Should I stop talking?
Most importantly, Woojin wasn't actually that passionate about "Exorcism." The word "obsession" he had chosen simply happened to fit well in that moment.
The background was simple.
Recently, aside from "Profiler Hanryang," the thing that had caught his interest was "Exorcism." So he thought the word attachment sounded appropriate. It might sound exaggerated, but since he was pretending to be strong on the outside, he had to show respect to the other person.
Attachment wasn't really heartfelt interest—it was closer to showing off.
Well… it's not exactly a lie, right?
In truth, Woojin did have a little interest in Exorcism. Even if he wrapped that interest in the word attachment, the other person probably wouldn't take issue with it.
But why were there tears in the director's eyes?
Soon, Woojin cleared his throat lightly and spoke.
"Why are you like this?"
Director Shin Dongchun, who had just wiped his eyes, straightened himself.
—Swoosh.
He calmed his stirred emotions. An actor connected to his work was sitting right in front of him; continuing to act rudely would not be appropriate.
"…Kang Woojin."
Then Director Shin Dongchun asked him in a slightly trembling voice.
"May I ask which part of Exorcism you liked the most?"
Which part did he like?
Woojin felt slightly annoyed, but calming the director's unstable mood came first. People inside the café had begun glancing in their direction.
I don't know why he's acting like that. I should compliment him. Yeah, let's praise him.
So Woojin began talking about the strengths of Exorcism. As always, he maintained a serious tone.
"First of all, I really liked the detailed depiction of the protagonist Kim Ryujin's psychological changes. At first he seemed somewhat gloomy, but…"
While observing the director's condition, Woojin calmly continued praising.
"You worked on it very delicately and meticulously. Director Shin Dongchun, who wrote the script, probably couldn't personally experience 'exorcism.' But I read Exorcism from beginning to end."
Because of that, Woojin's compliments became surprisingly detailed. They were the kind of praise that only Kang Woojin—with his strange empty inner space—could give.
At that moment—
"Ah."
Director Shin Dongchun, whose eyes had turned red again, was overwhelmed with shock and emotion.
He knows everything in such detail. It's as if he entered the world of Exorcism and came back.
Actor Kang Woojin seemed to perfectly understand every aspect of the film Exorcism.
"From the characters' thoughts and emotions, to the setting, the stage, even the weather. He's pointing out things I didn't even notice myself. He must have read my script dozens of times… no, even more."
It even felt like he had already analyzed everything and built character models in his head.
Soon, Director Shin Dongchun stared intensely at Woojin while blaming himself.
Mr. Shin Dongchun, it's amazing that there's an actor who shows this much affection and attachment to your film.
This too was a misunderstanding.
Are you really going to abandon Exorcism just to cover up that incident?
No matter what, Director Shin Dongchun made a firm decision in that moment.
"His acting ability is already more than worthy of recognition in the film industry. Since he has analyzed the work so thoroughly, there's nothing left to worry about."
I'll overturn every table in Exorcism.
"I'll turn the whole situation around."
"…Excuse me?"
"Woojin."
Director Shin Dongchun, now filled with new confidence, slowly leaned toward him.
Woojin, meanwhile, quietly leaned back with a blank expression.
Nevertheless, the director spoke firmly.
"Please play the role of Kim Ryujin, the protagonist of the drama Exorcism."
Meanwhile, near Bukhansan
People poured out of two yellow minibuses—about ten of them. At first glance they looked like tourists, but they weren't.
"It might be a little difficult, but please look around carefully while hiking! If you find anything suspicious, report it to the police immediately!"
They were the core staff members of the drama Profiler Hanryang—leaders from each department like filming and lighting. Of course, PD Song Manwoo, the bearded head overseeing all the staff, was also there.
"Bring some bottled water!"
"Yes, sunbae!"
The reason PD Song Manwoo had come to Bukhansan on a chilly weekday morning was simple: they were scouting outdoor filming locations for the drama Profiler Hanryang. They needed to check the mountain site that would be used for the first scene.
He gave additional instructions to the assistant director organizing equipment.
"Make sure everyone clearly knows the meeting point again. No one should get lost."
"Yes, sunbae!"
Just then—
♬♪
A phone rang from inside PD Song Manwoo's windbreaker jacket.
He checked the caller ID and tilted his head.
"Hong Star?"
It was top actress Hong Hyeyeon. Since she was the drama's female lead, it wasn't strange for her to call—but the timing was.
Why is she calling me this early in the morning?
He gestured to the assistant director to continue without him and answered.
"Yeah, Hong Star."
Hyeyeon giggled on the other side.
"Yes, Chief. Where are you?"
"Me? I'm at Bukhansan right now."
"Oh, you're scouting filming locations?"
"Yeah. But why are you calling this early? You're not calling just to check my schedule, right?"
"No, that's not it."
She paused briefly before getting to the point.
"Do you remember yesterday at the Korean restaurant when you got a call about Kang Woojin and suddenly left?"
"…Did I?"
"Your expression suddenly froze, so I thought something happened. Why? Did something happen to Woojin?"
She was referring to the incident at a high-end Korean restaurant in Cheongdam-dong the previous day.
PD Song Manwoo had stepped out of the VIP room after receiving a call from Director Shin Dongchun.
"Ah, that."
Suddenly, he stopped talking.
Hyeyeon asked,
"Yeah? What was it?"
But for some reason, he couldn't continue. His thoughts were tangled.
Come to think of it… when I came back to the room, didn't Hong seem like she wanted to ask about Kang Woojin?
It wasn't just that.
Ever since seeing Woojin on Super Actor, Hong Hyeyeon had shown great interest in him—at least from Song Manwoo's perspective.
Was she interested in Woojin as a man?
Not at all.
It was more likely because of his acting.
Hong Hyeyeon had been captivated by Woojin's extraordinary acting ability.
Even though her value and status rose every year, she still had a deep hunger for acting. A star like her could live comfortably for life just by filming commercials, yet she constantly sought growth—and she had actually improved.
To her, Kang Woojin probably looks like an alien.
She reached her position with help from many people, but Woojin had done everything alone.
Despite learning acting through self-study, he had captivated PD Song Manwoo and writer Park Eunmi—and also Hong Hyeyeon.
Maybe she subconsciously feels that, in terms of acting ability, she's behind Kang Woojin.
Perhaps she was feeling impatient.
Was it the process where jealousy turns into poison?
At that moment, Song Manwoo stroked his beard.
Right. Hong Hyeyeon is the type who would participate in any project—even independent or short films—if it could improve her acting.
He remembered the synopsis of the film script Exorcism he had received from Director Shin Dongchun.
"And Exorcism has a decent female character. If you combine these two situations… wouldn't it become interesting?"
Before he realized it, he was smiling faintly.
Just then Hyeyeon's voice came from the phone again.
"Chief? Are you there? Is the signal bad because you're in the mountains?"
"Ah, sorry. I missed that for a moment."
He reached a conclusion in his mind.
Why are all the big fish gathering around Kang Woojin? Let's throw out some bait first.
And at the center of everything was Kang Woojin.
The next words from Song Manwoo were:
"Well… Kang Woojin suddenly went to see my younger brother. It surprised me."
"Your brother?"
"Yeah. You know Shin Dongchun, right?"
"Yes, I know PD Dongchun. I heard he's been busy filming a movie lately."
"Right. It seems Woojin wanted to film a short movie written by Dongchun."
"What… suddenly? We haven't even started script readings yet."
"I'm not entirely sure either. I'll have to confirm. But the situation around that short film is a bit complicated."
"Why?"
Hyeyeon asked, but Song Manwoo avoided answering.
If he told her everything, her curiosity would disappear.
"Later. I'm busy right now, Hong Star. Let's hang up."
"Wait!"
"Yes?"
"Have you read the short film script Dongchun wrote? What's the title?"
"I have. It's well made. The title is Exorcism."
"..."
Song Manwoo was teasing her.
"Why? Curious about the script? Want to borrow it?"
Hyeyeon immediately took the bait.
"Hm! If you give it to me, I'll read it."
10 minutes later – Hong Hyeyeon's house
Her home near Cheongdam-dong perfectly matched the word luxury. The interior was decorated in black and white, and the furniture was all top-tier.
Hyeyeon sat on the living room sofa.
Even her pajamas were black. Her long hair was neatly tied back.
She stared blankly at something, lost in thought.
"…."
She looked at the phone in her hand, recalling her conversation with Song Manwoo ten minutes earlier.
He suddenly wants to shoot a short film?
So she found herself thinking about the unusual Kang Woojin.
Why would he switch to a short film immediately after joining a big project like Profiler Hanryang?
Her curiosity and interest were about to explode.
Especially her fascination with actor Kang Woojin—more precisely, his unique and outstanding acting.
"…I want to see that short film."
What she wanted to see right now wasn't just the script.
She wanted to see Kang Woojin himself.
To truly understand his acting style, she had to see him perform directly in front of her.
Her suppressed passion for acting surged fully.
Then—
She lowered her gaze to the table in front of her.
On it was a three-page script from "Super Actor." She had secretly been practicing it.
But—
No matter how much I practice, it doesn't come out like Kang Woojin.
She couldn't perfectly reproduce his acting.
She practiced whenever she had time for days, but she simply couldn't match it.
Yet Woojin had glanced at the script briefly and acted it out naturally as if it were nothing.
"I don't know about his past, but if he succeeds… he'll surpass every top actor. Including me."
At that moment, Hong Hyeyeon felt an indescribable frustration.
"Ah, seriously? I really hate falling behind!"
At the same time—
Ding-dong ♬♪
Someone rang the doorbell.
She opened the door with an annoyed expression, revealing a man wearing rimless glasses.
"I'm hungry, really hungry. Hyeyeon, do you have anything to eat?"
The man who called her casually was the CEO of her agency.
The agency itself was a startup entertainment company—and Hyeyeon was its only artist. The CEO had managed her since her debut, meaning they had been together for a long time.
While he took off his shoes—
"Brother."
Hyeyeon crossed her arms and suddenly made a request.
"There's a short film called Exorcism. Can you check its current situation?"
The CEO raised one eyebrow at the words short film.
"A short… very short film?"
"Yes. Can you do it or not?"
"Checking the production status of a short film isn't hard. I'm just asking because it's unusual for you to ask about one. You're not planning to make a short film right now, are you?"
Hyeyeon shrugged casually.
"No. I'm a little interested… but not yet."