"Phoenix?"
Director Shin Dongchun's voice grew excited over the phone.
"That's right. His bizarre acting is on a level we've never seen before… but is it really right to praise him that highly?!"
At the question, Song Manwoo PD answered calmly.
"How much of his acting did you watch?"
"Hmm, according to the script, about three minutes."
"Watch more."
"If you watch a little longer, you'll understand why I reacted that way. Though the fact that you were captivated in just three minutes already says enough."
"Ah…"
"Besides, I'm not judging him based only on that clumsy acting. There's something about him. His energy… his aura. The presence he gives off is unusual. He clearly has the qualities of a star, but it feels a little different from that."
The strange aura Kang Woojin possessed was clearly different from the top actors normally seen in the entertainment industry.
To Song Manwoo PD, it felt refreshing.
And full of potential.
At that moment, Director Shin Dongchun changed the subject.
"…Writer Park is also a huge fan of Kang Woojin, right?"
"Yes. Judging from how she is now, she's more than just a fan. She's practically fallen for him."
"Huh? Even picky Writer Park?"
"But Kang Woojin is very confident, so he might come across as arrogant."
"I only saw him briefly, but he definitely had a cold atmosphere. But when he acts… it's like he becomes a completely different person."
"Exactly."
"He has everything needed to become a top actor."
Recalling Kang Woojin's serious expression, Song Manwoo PD grinned and glanced at his wristwatch.
"Listen carefully. In short, we put a lot of effort into recruiting Kang Woojin for our project. He shows acting ability that easily surpasses top actors, yet he treats acting like it's merely a hobby. The fact that someone like that personally came to see you and even performed for you means something."
"A meaning?"
"I don't know how he obtained your script, but doesn't it mean he likes your work? Otherwise why would he go through the trouble of acting for you? That man will become far more valuable in the future."
"…Likes it? My The Private Investigator?"
"That's my judgment."
"Of course, I only met him briefly, but he doesn't seem like the type who would stir things up for just any project."
Director Shin Dongchun fell silent.
Into that silence, Song Manwoo PD added,
"So Kang Woojin definitely likes your The Private Investigator. If he didn't, he wouldn't have gone that far."
"He… likes my work?"
There were several misunderstandings in that conversation.
Especially surrounding the word likes.
But Song Manwoo PD, completely unaware, continued talking quickly.
"So, did you get his phone number?"
"Huh? No. He left so suddenly I couldn't stop him."
"Heh, he just left without looking back?"
"Yes. Exactly."
"I'll give you his number. Since he came to see you personally, it should be fine to share it. Contact him and meet him properly. You'll understand what I mean."
"Understood, hyung."
After ending the call, Song Manwoo PD muttered quietly.
"He actually went to see him himself… I'm a little jealous."
Then he chuckled.
"Jealousy? At my age?"
A little later—
Inside the VIP room.
Song Manwoo PD, Writer Park Eunmi, the main production staff of Profiler Hanryang, and the lead actors continued their meeting.
Occasional laughter filled the room.
They were eating as well.
At first glance it looked like a relaxed gathering.
But beneath the jokes were serious discussions.
Most of them were usually started by Song Manwoo PD.
This time, however, Park Eunmi spoke first.
"You know, Ryu Jungmin, you'll need to go on a diet until the script reading."
The male lead and top star Ryu Jungmin sat across from her.
He pointed at himself and laughed.
"Ah, Writer Park, are you saying I need to lose more weight?"
"Yes."
"You seem to have rested very well during the break. You look like you gained a little weight."
"Haha, I went fishing and probably ate too much sashimi."
"Understood."
"Since it's Writer Park's order, of course I'll follow it."
"Also, please keep growing your hair until we finalize the hairstyle."
"Of course, Writer Park."
Behind Park Eunmi, Song Manwoo PD turned to Hong Hyeyeon.
"Hong star, the outfit you sent last time was too flashy."
"Please tell your stylists to change it to something more neat. I'll also mention it during the production meeting."
Hong Hyeyeon brushed her long hair back and smiled.
"Ah, I could tell just from reading the beginning of the script."
"Our team got a little greedy."
"I'll make sure to tell them."
"That'll do."
"But PD-nim, earlier during your phone call you mentioned someone named Kang Woo—"
"Hmm?"
Hong Hyeyeon stopped mid-sentence.
In truth, she had been curious about the name Kang Woojin she heard during the phone call.
But there were many people around.
So she held back.
"No, let's talk about it later."
"Ah, I see. Alright."
Several hours later.
Late at night.
Kang Woojin's studio apartment.
It was past 10 PM.
Kang Woojin appeared with wet hair as if he had just finished showering.
He opened the refrigerator and gulped down some water.
Then his gaze dropped.
Swoosh.
Two bundles of paper lay on the floor.
One was the script for Profiler Hanryang Episode 1.
The one Song Manwoo PD had given him.
The other was the script for the short film The Private Investigator.
And of course—
The black square was still attached to it.
Kang Woojin scratched his chin while staring at the script.
"Hmm… should I assume I've been rejected from The Private Investigator?"
"When I looked earlier, it seemed like the lead and supporting roles were already decided."
Woojin had recklessly visited the film company.
He had almost been thrown out.
But thanks to the Director's misunderstanding, his acting had been recognized.
"That square-jawed guy was the Director, right?"
"He seemed pretty surprised."
Even though the acting Woojin performed in the void space was incredible, the man had only looked surprised.
In reality, contracts carried much more weight than talent.
At that moment, Kang Woojin remembered the fat man called Director Park and the handsome young man and woman who came with him.
"They must've been the leads or supporting actors."
"They were really handsome and pretty."
"Are there really that many unknown people like that in the entertainment industry?"
"That's unfortunate."
Woojin suddenly felt lucky he had joined Profiler Hanryang.
After all, The Private Investigator seemed completely gone now.
"The Private Investigator is a little disappointing."
"But there's no damage."
He had genuinely enjoyed reading the script.
And the world of The Private Investigator he experienced inside the void space had been thrilling.
"When the actress playing the wife smelled me… that part was intense."
But beyond that, there was no reason to feel sad.
At least that was what Kang Woojin believed.
He had only just started acting.
Besides The Private Investigator, there would be plenty of other opportunities.
So—
Thud.
Kang Woojin casually tossed the script into a corner of the room.
Soon his interest in it disappeared.
As usual, he lay down on the bed and picked up his phone to browse the internet.
Bzzzzzz—Bzzzzzz.
The phone vibrated for a long time.
It was a call.
The screen showed an unknown number.
Woojin frowned slightly.
"What is this? My phone's been really busy lately."
Recently, unknown numbers had been calling frequently.
Still, Woojin answered.
"Hello."
A stranger's voice came through the phone.
"Is this Kang Woojin?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"Ah, I'm Shin Dongchun. The person you met earlier at Blue Vision Film. You remember, right? You showed me your acting."
Kang Woojin briefly recalled the square-jawed man he had met that afternoon.
The Director.
But why was he calling this late?
And how did he get his number?
Still slightly drowsy, Woojin lowered his voice.
His tone turned colder.
"You're the Director of The Private Investigator?"
"Yes, that's right."
"How did you get my number? I never gave it to you."
Director Shin Dongchun sounded apologetic.
"Ah! I'm sorry. I got your number… from my hyung… Song Manwoo PD."
"Song Manwoo PD?"
"Yes, yes."
Kang Woojin frowned slightly.
Why was Song Manwoo PD involved here?
Director Shin Dongchun spoke carefully.
"Mr. Kang Woojin, could you meet me once more?"
"…I'd like to hear the reason first."
"There's something I want to tell you directly."
"If you tell me where you live, I'll come right now."
Ah… that's burdensome.
"You mean right now?"
"Yes. I'll come immediately."
No.
Kang Woojin felt uncomfortable with that idea.
"No. Let's meet tomorrow morning."
The next morning.
A café near Kang Woojin's studio apartment.
Director Shin Dongchun sat alone.
The mysterious actor Kang Woojin apparently lived nearby.
Shin Dongchun looked exhausted.
His beard was messy.
Dark circles hung under his eyes.
He had clearly not slept.
Just as he sighed and unzipped his jacket—
The café door opened.
A man wearing a long padded coat walked in.
It was Kang Woojin.
Expressionless.
The moment Shin Dongchun saw him, he stood up.
'Now that I've heard more about him… he really does have an aura different from ordinary actors.'
He raised his hand.
"I'm over here!"
Woojin greeted him briefly and sat down.
Shin Dongchun spoke immediately.
"Ah, hello, Mr. Woojin."
"Yes. Hello."
Woojin's tone was cold.
Yesterday he sounded sarcastic.
Today he sounded even colder.
At least, that was how it seemed to Shin Dongchun.
Still, Shin Dongchun cleared his throat.
"Sorry for calling so suddenly last night. I thought about it a lot before doing it, but I realized it was rude."
"No, it's fine. What did you want to talk about?"
Shin Dongchun swallowed nervously.
Then he asked.
"This might be sudden, but Woojin… you read my script The Private Investigator, right? What did you think of it?"
His voice trembled slightly.
It sounded almost like a confession.
Meanwhile—
Kang Woojin stared at him without changing his expression.
Ten seconds passed.
Then Woojin calmly answered.
"I felt attachment to that work."
Director Shin Dongchun's eyes widened.
"…Attachment?"
Emotion surged through him instantly.
It felt as if three years of suffering were being washed away.
Attachment.
This was the first actor who had ever expressed affection for his work.
Shin Dongchun was deeply moved.
All because of a single word from Kang Woojin.
"Attachment… you say?"
"Yes. Attachment."
His heart pounding, Shin Dongchun stared at Woojin's expressionless face.
"My script was always ignored."
"My The Private Investigator."
"But… attachment."
"A complete stranger of an actor says he feels attachment."
His emotions swelled rapidly.
Because that word resonated deeply.
To be honest, he had not fully believed what Song Manwoo PD said yesterday.
But hearing Kang Woojin calmly say attachment convinced him.
This actor truly liked his script.
An actor who impressed Song Manwoo PD and Writer Park Eunmi.
An actor participating in the massive project Profiler Hanryang.
An actor with astonishing talent.
Yet someone like that felt attachment to a no-name Director's script.
All the wounds Shin Dongchun had accumulated began to heal.
Every moment he had been ignored.
Every time he had been stepped on.
His life had been close to hell.
Soon his eyes turned red.
"Thank you. Really… thank you, Woojin. Truly."
Kang Woojin simply watched him.
His expression did not change.
He only tilted his head slightly.