Jin Jaejun had unconsciously tensed up under the gaze of Kang Woojin sitting across from him.
"..."
It looked utterly drained, almost lifeless.
And yet at the same time, it pierced straight through his entire body.
Right now, this was only a rehearsal.
So the knife Kang Woojin was holding was fake, and naturally there was no blood on it. The distance between the blade and Jin Jaejun's eyeball was about three centimeters, farther than expected. Normally, it should have been closer to one.
Woojin's clothes and face were spotless.
Yes.
Kang Woojin was clearly holding back.
Even so, this was only a simple line rehearsal.
The problem was that even during rehearsal, the Kang Woojin Jin Jaejun was seeing—
No, Lee Sangman—
felt far too real.
Now I understand why Director Kim was staring at the monitor like that.
Of course, Jin Jaejun had already been deeply shocked by Lee Sangman's acting the day before.
Even while sitting in the audience, he hadn't been able to take his eyes off him.
The clean acting.
The precise movements.
Even the smallest changes in expression.
But today felt different.
Sitting face-to-face with Lee Sangman as his scene partner, Jin Jaejun felt a suffocating pressure.
Can someone really suffocate another person with just their eyes? Is that just natural for him?
There was a clear difference between the people Lee Sangman acknowledged and the people he did not.
His eyes were deep.
Different from yesterday, but today those eyes were filled entirely with Jin Jaejun—
More precisely, with Jung Sunghoon.
Without even realizing it, Jin Jaejun felt himself getting pulled in.
Maybe that was why.
"..."
His view of Lee Sangman started to change.
The scenes Jung Sunghoon had seen—or soon would see—overlapped one after another like a panorama. The emotions Lee Sangman stirred up became the trigger.
The brightness of the warehouse dimmed further.
The busy production staff vanished.
In their place stood men in black suits.
And among them was Lee Sangman.
With his sleeves rolled up to the elbows, he was torturing a subordinate tied up in one corner of the warehouse with a sashimi knife.
It wasn't clear exactly where he was cutting.
But Lee Sangman slowly sliced through flesh.
The subordinate's screams.
Lee Sangman's low chuckle.
The smell of blood.
Something caught in Jung Sunghoon's throat.
It felt like every hair on his body had stood on end.
Blood dripped endlessly behind Lee Sangman's back.
That was all Jung Sunghoon could see.
And now Lee Sangman, his entire face smeared with blood, stood right in front of him.
"Your eyes look like a rat's. You are a rat, aren't you?"
Even now, the sashimi knife hovered right in front of his eyeball.
Madness burned in Lee Sangman's eyes, but the way he handled the weapon was nimble.
Still, Jung Sunghoon had already resolved himself to risk his life.
In the end, the shabby warehouse, the sliced-up subordinate, the spraying blood, even this knife—
it was all just for show.
Jung Sunghoon barely suppressed the urge to piss himself.
Then he straightened his hunched shoulders, crossed his legs, and fixed his posture.
It was not the posture of a man walking a tightrope.
"Then stab me. Let's see how much blood I spill."
Jung Sunghoon deliberately brought his gaze even closer to the blade.
That crazy gangster bastard had sharp instincts.
There was no choice except to push back even harder.
On the other hand, the amusement vanished from Lee Sangman's face.
Fatigue took its place.
"Why are you cursing me with your eyes? Curse me out loud, you bastard."
"You called me a rat. Fine. I'm a rat, you son of a bitch."
"..."
"Enough with the pointless tests. Let's get to business. You must've already dug into everything about me before agreeing to meet."
Lee Sangman moved the knife from Jung Sunghoon's eye to the bridge of his nose.
"Yes, I checked thoroughly. Your background is definitely that of a drug dealer. Selling drugs while going to school, huh? And your sponsor is Choi Junho. But, Mr. Jeong."
He lightly tapped Jung Sunghoon's nose with the knife.
Lee Sangman's eyes turned vicious, like a snake's.
"Looking at your eyes now, you seem clever. You're a gangster, but a clever gangster. Your eyes tell me that."
"Stop talking bullshit and get lost, idiot. I'll go to Japan myself and shove the drugs down those Japanese monkeys' throats."
"Mr. Jeong, are you planning to leave here alive?"
"What the hell do you want, you son of a bitch?"
Lee Sangman yawned and lightly scratched Jung Sunghoon's cheek with the knife.
"I don't trust people. I trust events. If we're going to do business, there has to be trust, right?"
"..."
"Soften that glare. Otherwise I might pluck your eyes out. Tch. I don't tolerate second-rate trash. Come on, do something interesting for me. Something worthy of making the newspaper headlines."
"What kind?"
"If you cut open your sponsor's belly and pull out all his organs, then I'll trust you."
The drug king Choi Junho, sitting in prison, was Jung Sunghoon's backer.
In other words, Lee Sangman was ordering Jung Sunghoon to kill the very man whose trust he had worked so hard to gain.
For undercover operative Jung Sunghoon, it was an incredibly troublesome demand.
Because officially, he was still a police officer.
Even if he somehow managed to kill Choi Junho, the police would likely suspect him.
On the other hand, Lee Sangman was no easy opponent either.
"If the drug king stays alive, then you're finished. Quietly, without a rat or a bird noticing. Because you deceived me. Just wait. Starting with your family, all the way down to that damn dog you raise, I'll make them all suffer."
He was Lee Sangman, boss of the Sangman faction, Busan's largest criminal organization.
It was obvious that countless gang members would come after Jung Sunghoon.
He had to make a decision.
First, he had to survive.
Only then could he think about the next move.
"Understood."
"You really are clever."
With a sly smile, Lee Sangman casually tossed the sashimi knife that had been aimed at Jung Sunghoon's cheek onto the table in front of him.
"Take it. Next time, bring the factory too. You've got a professor, right?"
"Yes."
Putting his suit jacket back on, Lee Sangman suddenly slipped the diamonds—drugs—Jung Sunghoon had brought into his pocket and waved dismissively.
"Become the drug king, and let's meet again."
For a moment, Jung Sunghoon stared into Lee Sangman's eyes.
Lee Sangman was smiling faintly, but a violent future simmered in his gaze.
Jung Sunghoon had nothing more to say.
Then—
"...Jaejun. Jaejun?"
Director Kim Dohui's voice reached Jin Jaejun's ears as he sat glaring at Lee Sangman.
"Jaejun."
Only then did Jin Jaejun turn his head.
"Ah, yes, Director."
Holding the script, Director Kim Dohui gave him a thumbs-up.
"Haha, it was only a rehearsal, but you really got immersed. You seemed much more serious than usual."
"...It's because of Woojin's acting."
"Right? Even when he lowered the intensity, he was still that good."
"Yes. Even though it was just rehearsal, I got swept up in it without realizing it... I was completely drawn in."
Muttering quietly, Jin Jaejun turned his gaze.
Across from him, Kang Woojin was calmly checking his costume with the staff.
Jin Jaejun frowned for a moment, then let out a hollow laugh.
What just happened?
It was the first time during the entire filming of Drug Dealer that something like this had happened.
It had really felt like he was inside the story.
He had never immersed himself this deeply in acting before.
Especially not during a rehearsal.
Of course, it had all started there.
Am I losing my mind? Can that even be called acting?
Whatever it was, it went beyond Kang Woojin's usual acting ability.
That same day, around lunchtime, at Incheon Airport.
Several reporters holding cameras had staked out positions in the crowded airport.
As if they had planned it in advance, they lined up along the barrier by the entrance.
People nearby watched them curiously.
Meanwhile, the reporters grew increasingly anxious as they checked the time.
"Why isn't she here yet? She's late."
"Maybe we got the wrong information?"
"No way."
Then—
"She's here!"
One of the reporters pointed toward the entrance and shouted.
A middle-aged woman who looked to be in her sixties appeared.
She wore glasses low on the bridge of her nose.
It was none other than the famous Japanese novelist Takikawa Akari.
The moment she appeared, the shutters of about ten cameras went off all at once.
Click! Click! Click!
The reporters shouted out the Japanese they knew.
"Over here! Please look this way!"
"Author, what is the purpose of your visit to Korea?"
"Please greet your fans!"
Meanwhile, Akari only waved one hand at the reporters without saying anything.
Still, one thing was certain.
Takikawa Akari, the globally famous and immensely popular author, had arrived in Korea.
Several dozen minutes later.
After hurrying out of the airport, Akari climbed into a large van waiting in the parking lot.
Interestingly—
"Author."
A familiar man was already seated inside.
It was the renowned Japanese Director with a full head of white hair, Kyotaro Tanoguchi.
"You arrived sooner than expected."
It seemed Director Kyotaro had gotten into the van before Akari.
Once the van began moving, Akari smiled and replied,
"I'm not good with press scrums. Reporters make me uncomfortable."
"Haha, someone as globally famous as you shouldn't say things like that."
"Director, you used me as a shield so you could slip into the country unnoticed, didn't you?"
"Absolutely not. I merely made your arrival stand out more."
"How very sly."
Novelist Akari muttered softly as she accepted the schedule from her agency staff, then asked Director Kyotaro again,
"But Director, why did we have to match my schedule from the start? Wasn't it a little early to hand that script to that Korean actor a few days ago? I'll be shooting here for two weeks. That's more than enough time."
Director Kyotaro smiled casually.
"We'll only move together today. Starting tomorrow, my team and I will move separately. I need to meet the Korean distributor, scout filming locations, and also check on actor Kang Woojin's situation here in Korea."
"You seem quite enthusiastic."
"I'd like to meet him too. But we'll have to wait. It won't be possible right away. Of course, I'm certain you'll like actor Kang Woojin as well."
Although Director Kyotaro oversaw the entire production, original novelist Akari also had enough influence to replace one or two actors.
In truth, she had enough power to overturn the entire production if she wanted.
She shrugged.
"Well, if I don't like him, that'll be a problem."
"You'll definitely want him."
Director Kyotaro looked deeply excited.
It was a new side of one of Japan's top Directors.
At least, that was how Akari saw it.
He was full of pure ambition.
Soon, Akari crossed her arms and adjusted her glasses.
"Director, can I see actor Kang Woojin's performance?"
"Ah, yes, of course. It's on the hotel television."
"No."
She made a request to Director Kyotaro.
"Not on television. I want to see it with my own eyes."
That afternoon, back in Suncheon.
Near the massive filming set of the drama Drug Dealer stood a medium-sized hotel.
The actors and staff of Drug Dealer used it as lodging.
Because the production filmed in multiple locations, and especially often in Suncheon, the hotel was nearly always fully booked.
As a result, actors were frequently seen in and around the hotel lobby.
And in that lobby—
Swoosh.
Expressionless as ever, Kang Woojin moved forward with the support of the solidly built Jang Suhwan.
A few people passing by soon turned their heads.
"Oh my god, isn't that that actor? The one who played Assistant Manager Park in Profiler Hanryang*!"*
"Huh? Ah! Kang Woojin?"
"That's right! I think it was Kang Woojin! I only caught a glimpse, but I'm pretty sure it was him!"
"Really? Should we go check?"
Not only the hotel guests, but also the front desk employees and other hotel staff were sneaking glances at Woojin.
That was because filming for Drug Dealer itself was already a hot topic, and news that Kang Woojin had recently joined the cast had spread widely.
"Oh my god, Kang Woojin is here!"
"Wow, what is up with his looks? He's insanely handsome in real life!"
"Can I ask for a photo? Is that okay?"
"By looks alone, doesn't Kang Woojin seem more handsome than Jin Jaejun?"
"Shh, the manager will scold us."
The lobby quickly grew noisy.
Sensing it, Jang Suhwan quietly coughed and whispered to Woojin,
"Hyung, I think it'd be better if you put on a mask."
"Why?"
"People are starting to recognize you."
"Ah."
Only then did Woojin, who had been staring at his phone, look around.
It wasn't many, but around ten people, including guests and staff, were looking at him.
He had experienced this kind of thing before, but it still felt a little awkward.
It feels good, but it's also kind of embarrassing.
Anyway, after putting on a mask, Woojin headed toward his room, leaving Jang Suhwan behind.
Jang Suhwan said he would contact him when the time came.
Once inside, Woojin relaxed for a moment.
His room, with only a bed and a small table, wasn't very big.
"At least I've got my own room."
Woojin muttered quietly and flopped down onto the bed.
After lying still for about three minutes, he rolled over, picked up his phone, and checked the time.
"Five o'clock."
It was five in the afternoon now.
But filming for Drug Dealer wasn't over for the day.
They had already shot several scenes since morning, and there were still more to do, but they were currently on break because of Jin Jaejun's schedule.
Roughly two hours?
Usually, actors waited in their cars or around the set during breaks, but the Drug Dealer team had separate lodging arranged, so Woojin could rest in his room and head back out when needed.
That was why he was still dressed as Lee Sangman, wearing the shirt and slacks from filming.
As he searched his own name on the search engine, Woojin thought,
"Should I take a nap? There are still two hours left."
But he shook his head.
He wasn't particularly tired.
During filming breaks, Woojin would sometimes enter the void space briefly to shake off fatigue.
Since he had slept well the previous night too, he thought it might be better to look over some projects instead.
His gaze shifted to the scripts and scenarios on the small table.
"Since Drug Dealer is already filming, maybe it'd be better to look at Boyfriend*."*
Woojin had already finished reading the script for Episode 1 of the short-form series Boyfriend.
Now he picked up the script for Episode 2, which he had only just received.
Flip.
After reading for more than thirty minutes, Woojin finally spoke as though he had found something.
"Ah, so this is the scene. The surprise singing scene."
Even from the script alone, it was obvious that the male lead would come across as cool in that moment.
Woojin fell into thought.
"Hmm."
Then he suddenly raised his index finger and tapped the black square beside the script for Boyfriend Episode 2.
In an instant, his world shifted into the pitch-black void.
As if fully accustomed to it now, Woojin stepped toward the seven white rectangles.
He fixed his gaze on the one labeled Boyfriend.
-[6/Script (Title: Boyfriend), A Grade]
-(Episode 2)/(Episode 3)/(Episode 4)
-[This is a high-quality drama script. 100% readability is possible.]
Its grade had recently risen to A, and it had already advanced through Episode 4.
Of those, Woojin selected Episode 2.
-[You have selected Script (Title: Boyfriend Episode 2).]
-[List of readable characters (experiences).]
-[A: Han Inho, B: Ahn Beomcheol...]
The male lead of the drama Boyfriend was Han Inho.
For Woojin, this was the first time he would be directly choosing a lead role.
Even so, he selected Han Inho with a somewhat strange expression.
Soon, a robotic female voice echoed through the virtual space.
[Ability exceeding base specifications has been detected. Prioritizing reinforcement of "singing skill."]