People sometimes find themselves looking back on their own lives. When that happens, they usually end up repeating something like, 'Wow, how did I even pull that off?' Kang Woojin had done the same countless times, especially back when he was working late nights at the design company.
And now, Woojin had added another moment to that list.
'Did I really just use Japanese sign language? I did, right? He understood me, so I must have. But how did that happen?'
It really had been Japanese sign language. Up until that moment, he had simply been moving his hands and making expressions without thinking much of it. But once the boy, who looked to be around his teens, asked, "How do you know Japanese sign language?" a storm of questions flooded Woojin's head.
'Right. I don't even know either, so why can I do it? Do you know?'
Of course, the young boy who had suggested he try using sign language had no way of knowing the answer. In any case, in that very short instant, countless thoughts flashed through Woojin's mind.
He already knew that sign language differed from country to country.
Well, he had not known that at first, but after learning sign language through the void and doing his own research, he had eventually found out. Since he had acquired this strange and difficult language in an instant, he had felt he should at least understand the basics. That way, he could use it properly whenever the need arose.
After confirming that information, Woojin had nodded to himself.
Thinking about it carefully, there was no way sign languages built on completely different spoken languages across different countries would all be identical. So Kang Woojin had concluded that what he learned must have been Korean Sign Language.
And yet, unexpectedly, he had just used Japanese sign language in the Ametalk Show studio.
On top of that, it had been good enough to earn praise from an actual Korean sign language expert. Naturally, that left Woojin confused.
At that moment, he thought,
'Wait a second. Calm down. Let me check whether this works again. Was it just luck?'
The chance of it being mere luck seemed low, but he needed to be sure. Soon, Woojin fixed his eyes on the young boy sitting in the audience.
The boy's eyes were wide open.
Then Woojin raised his hands, trying to recall the sensation he had just felt, and attempted Japanese sign language again. But attempted was too weak a word. It came out of him naturally, as though his body itself remembered the feeling.
[Am I using Japanese sign language correctly right now?]
As Woojin signed smoothly, the young boy's eyes widened even more. The boy quickly lifted his own hands and responded.
[Yes, perfectly. I think you're even better than me. I still make mistakes sometimes. Your signing is like my sign language teacher's. No, actually, you're even better!]
[Thank you. I still don't understand how I can use Japanese sign language.]
[What??]
[No, I'm joking.]
No one could deny it now. Kang Woojin's Japanese sign language was genuine. In truth, he was far more fluent than the young boy.
At that moment, Kang Woojin understood.
'If I think in Japanese, my body automatically recalls the signs. It feels like the two languages are fused together.'
That was the process by which Japanese sign language emerged.
Meanwhile, the large studio where the two of them were exchanging signs had gone completely silent.
PD Shinjo, MC Soyo, Choi Sunggeon, the two hundred audience members, and the dozens of staff members on site had all lost their voices. They had been hit by something utterly unexpected, and they were staring at something they had never seen before.
It was no wonder. Seeing sign language during a talk show recording was unusual enough, but the person using highly fluent Japanese sign language was not Japanese. He was a rookie Korean actor.
Why was he using Japanese sign language instead of Korean sign language?
It was astonishing.
At that moment,
"Ah, ah!"
PD Shinjo, thin and stiff from watching the exchange in a daze, finally snapped back to his senses. He immediately turned to one of the two interpreters standing beside him, specifically the sign language interpreter, and asked,
"That's Japanese sign language he's using right now, isn't it? Not Korean sign language?"
"Yes, it's Japanese sign language. But didn't you say he was a Korean actor? Honestly, I was already surprised he spoke Japanese so well, but I had no idea he could sign too."
"I was thinking the same thing."
PD Shinjo raised his hand and shouted.
"We're stopping the recording for a moment!"
He hurried onto the stage. MC Soyo was still staring blankly at Woojin with the microphone in hand, but Shinjo ignored that and rushed up to Kang Woojin, asking directly in an excited voice,
"Woojin! You know Japanese sign language too? Not just Japanese?"
'I guess so.'
That was what Woojin thought inwardly, but outwardly he answered in a calm voice.
"Yes, a little. I can use Korean sign language too."
"Did you study Korean sign language as well? Were you preparing for some kind of sign language-related job in the past?"
"No, not at all."
"Wait a second. So that means you can use Korean, Japanese, and sign language in both languages too? That's four languages in total."
Strictly speaking, English should have been included too, but Woojin left that part out.
"Even so, it's nothing worth bragging about."
PD Shinjo immediately shot back in Japanese.
"What do you mean it's not something to brag about? It absolutely is! Wow, Woojin, language skills and acting skills too? Honestly, that would be hard without living a second life. Are you living a second life or something?"
"Of course not."
Shinjo PD seemed to accept the joke-like dismissal, and once the initial shock had faded, he began focusing on the situation in front of him.
"Woojin, are you planning to keep it a secret that you know both Korean and Japanese sign language? Is it okay if we show this on the broadcast?"
"There's no reason to hide it. I'm fine with it being shown."
In an instant, Shinjo PD's face changed into that of a talk show producer.
"Understood. I'll interpret it my own way. Anyway, this scene is fantastic, isn't it? There's a twist to it. It'll definitely hook the viewers. Just look at Soyo—her eyes practically popped out."
Following his gesture, Woojin turned his head to the right. MC Soyo, still in shock, silently gave him a thumbs-up.
Shinjo PD stepped closer and spoke again.
"The audience is probably thinking the same thing. So let's give this some direction."
"Direction?"
"Yes."
"What kind?"
"Hmm, let me think. How can we make this moment even more memorable?"
Woojin, who had been staring at Shinjo PD with his usual indifferent eyes, suddenly rose from his seat.
"How about this?"
"Huh?"
"It was a little hard to see from far away."
Then, with calm confidence, Woojin walked toward the section where around two hundred audience members were seated. A collective gasp rose from the crowd.
In any case, he stopped right in front of the young boy he had been signing with earlier.
Then, standing before him, Woojin began signing again.
[How about we talk here instead? Would that make you uncomfortable?]
The boy looked visibly flustered, but nodded vigorously, as if deeply grateful.
After reading his response, Woojin turned his head toward Shinjo PD and said in a low voice, in Japanese,
"He says he's fine with it."
Shinjo PD shouted,
"Ah! You're going all the way off the stage?? You're just getting up in the middle of audience questions and walking over to a viewer? Wow! This is groundbreaking!"
A deeply satisfied smile spread across his face.
Two hours later.
During a break in the Ametalk Show! recording, Kang Woojin gave autographs and did fan service for the audience members who had attended. After that,
click.
Woojin entered the waiting room alone. It seemed Choi Sunggeon and Woojin's team were still at the recording site.
Interestingly, the moment he stepped into the waiting room, Woojin reached for the bag he always carried. What he pulled out was a script, though the kind did not matter.
Flap.
He was not taking it out to read it.
He was entering the void.
In an instant, his field of vision was swallowed by pitch-black darkness. But as usual, Kang Woojin did not move toward the floating white rectangle.
Instead,
'Recording is physically tiring, but mentally it's still exhausting. Anyway, let's test this.'
Standing in place with his arms folded, he began organizing his thoughts. More precisely, he recalled what the robotic female voice had said when he first acquired sign language.
[In addition to the base language, a new language has been detected. Sign language must be acquired first.]
The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Sign language was not a universal language, and yet the robotic voice had referred to it simply as sign language, without specifying which sign language.
But she only said sign language.
To be exact, it should have specified something like Korean Sign Language or Japanese Sign Language. Considering the many different forms it could take, lumping it all together as simply sign language was far too vague. And a hyper-advanced space like the void would never make that kind of mistake.
Which meant this:
'There was something I failed to notice.'
In truth, Woojin had already grasped part of the answer during the recording. Coming into the void now was simply to test it properly.
Both Korean and Japanese sign language had felt natural. The sensation had been identical. All he had to do was think in the language and let his body express it through signing.
But—
'The rest of the world doesn't work that way.'
It did not apply in every case. Take French, for example. Even if he tried to think in French and sign, his body did not respond.
The reason was simple.
'Because I don't know French.'
Woojin quietly let out a breath and thought,
'Which means this.'
He brought up English, which he could already speak fluently, and gave his body the command. This time, he intended to use American Sign Language.
Slowly, he raised his hands.
Then American Sign Language flowed out naturally.
'It works.'
A smile spread across Kang Woojin's face.
'Yes. I get it now.'
He had finally figured out why, beyond Korean, he could also use Japanese and American sign language.
'So sign language is a kind of passive skill. As long as the conditions are met, it comes attached to whichever language I know.'
And the condition itself was incredibly simple.
The spoken language of that country.
Korean, Japanese, English.
At present, Kang Woojin could use the sign language of all three fluently. But languages he had not learned were still impossible.
In other words,
'If I learn another language, do I automatically acquire that language's sign language too? Wow. The void's abilities are ridiculous.'
Kang Woojin had now mastered not just three spoken languages, but six forms of communication once sign language was included. That was why the robotic voice had referred to them collectively as simply sign language.
'From now on, learning one language is basically a one-plus-one deal, isn't it?'
The abilities of the void were truly astonishing. Realistically speaking, what were the odds that a single person could master six languages in one lifetime? Normally, even learning one language on top of your native one was difficult.
At that point,
'Alright. Time to go out.'
Kang Woojin said firmly,
"Let's go."
His vision shifted from the void back to the waiting room. Sitting down in a nearby chair, he let the corner of his mouth rise ever so slightly.
Six languages.
The future looked bright.
Even if he would not use sign language often, it would undoubtedly become useful someday. Luck felt far more real when you actually had the ability to seize it.
Just as Korean sign language had proved useful, Japanese sign language and American Sign Language would surely be useful too.
Woojin felt full of confidence. Sign language was unfamiliar territory, but it had a unique value, and he was certain it would help him seize some hidden opportunity waiting somewhere in the future.
Just then—
Bang!
The waiting room door opened, and Kang Woojin instantly wiped the smile from his face, replacing it with a blank expression.
Choi Sunggeon, his hair tied back in a ponytail, appeared in the doorway.
The two of them stared at each other in silence for a moment.
The first to break the silence, with a faint laugh, was Choi Sunggeon.
"What are you staring at me like that for? Were you surprised about the Japanese sign language? We haven't been working together for only a day or two. I've already decided I'm just going to accept whatever happens."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. If I let myself be shocked by everything, my heart might stop first. Of course I don't understand it either. I keep thinking, 'What even is this?' But can I ask you one thing?"
"Yes."
"You're human too, right?"
"CEO-nim."
"No, answer me seriously. You are, right?"
"Of course."
Choi Sunggeon scratched his head, seemingly embarrassed by his own question.
"That's all I need to know. There's no point forcing myself to digest things that are hard to digest. It'll only create problems. You have a past, and that past made you who you are now. So just accept it. Whatever that past is, I'll accept it too."
Woojin answered the tossed joke with a serious joke of his own.
"Yes. I'll do that without any burden at all."
"Ah, but give me some time! It's like Tetris, okay? The blocks need time to come down. You can't just slam them down all at once. Ah, and I already told PD Yoon Byeongseon and Jang Suhwan's team too, so just let them take things as they are."
"Ah, thank you."
"Good. Then let's go. The second half of the recording is about to start."
As Woojin stepped out into the hallway, Choi Sunggeon brought up something from earlier.
"Most of the audience was like that today. But that kid, you know, the one you were signing with."
"Yes."
"He must be your huge fan. It's been a long time since I've seen someone that happy just to get an autograph. His expression was honestly adorable."
That was true. The young boy had looked like he was on the verge of tears.
But Woojin understood it.
That boy's experience resonated with his own experience of struggling alone amid misunderstanding and pretense.
'What are the odds of having a signed conversation with an actor you like or care about?'
"Exactly. And it wasn't just any actor. Not even a Japanese actor, but a Korean actor. More than anything, especially at that age, chances to communicate in sign language aren't common."
Unintentional isolation could be far harsher than people thought.
"It really can."
Choi Sunggeon slowly nodded, then casually slung an arm around Woojin's shoulder, even as Woojin's face stayed expressionless.
"Yeah. For that kid, today probably became a day he'll never forget."
The next morning, on the 30th, at Toega Film Company.
Toega Film Company, which was producing The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice, was holding a meeting in a large conference room. Kang Woojin and Choi Sunggeon were seated at the U-shaped table.
Opposite them sat Director Kyotaro, his hair streaked with white, along with five or six company staff members.
"We apologize for the sudden change in schedule. An unexpected issue came up."
This meeting with Director Kyotaro Tanoguchi was the last item on Woojin's Japan itinerary. There was a lot to discuss—preliminary scheduling for the project, adjustments to the filming period, publicity matters, and more.
But for some reason, Kyotaro's expression seemed dark.
At least, that was how Kang Woojin saw it.
'Is something wrong? He looks off.'
Director Kyotaro forced a smile and spoke in Japanese.
"I heard the news about Boy Friend and the success on YouTube. Congratulations. After spending such a long time in obscurity, I'm glad you're finally getting the recognition you deserve."
Perhaps because he was already used to that kind of misunderstanding, Woojin answered calmly.
"Thank you, Director. But is there some problem?"
At Woojin's question, Kyotaro let out a low sigh and continued.
"Originally, we planned to hold the script reading by October at the latest, but a few issues have come up."
"Issues?"
"Yes. The release may be pushed back to early next year. In other words, about half a year later than expected."
Early next year?
All of a sudden?
That was far later than expected, especially considering this was only the script reading stage, not the actual shoot. Was there a specific reason?
Woojin studied Director Kyotaro, who was scratching at his graying hair, and then Kyotaro spoke again.
"About half of the investors are showing signs of pulling out. We've already lost around thirty percent."
The investors were backing off?
The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice was a major production, which meant the investment would have been enormous too. If that was the case, did that mean the film itself might be canceled?
Woojin did not know every detail, but drawing a conclusion from the situation was not difficult.
In a low voice, Kang Woojin voiced it.
"Does this have something to do with me?"
The forced smile disappeared from Kyotaro's face.
"No. It's not because of you. It's because of those rotten, cowardly fools who are afraid of change."
Meanwhile, in a luxurious mansion in Tokyo—
The mansion was so enormous that anyone seeing it for the first time might have had their breath stolen away. The sheer size of the house itself was overwhelming, not to mention the vast grounds. It looked like more than a hundred people could live there without any trouble.
The interior was even more impressive.
The ceilings were impossibly high, and every piece of furniture on display looked outrageously expensive. More than five staff members were working inside the house.
One male employee, who had been cleaning, stopped in front of a closed door and knocked.
Knock knock.
A raspy Japanese voice came from inside.
It was the voice of an old man.
"Come in."
Hearing that, the employee opened the door.
It was a study, spacious and lined with books from wall to wall. In the middle of it sat an old man whose white eyebrows made him look almost like a white-maned lion.
The employee lowered his head toward him.
"Chairman, how would you like the study cleaned?"
The old man, addressed as Chairman, closed the book he had been reading and shook his head.
"Leave this room for now and clean somewhere else first."
"Understood."
At that very moment—
Bang!
As the employee stepped inside, someone suddenly rushed into the room.
It was a young boy who looked around fourteen.
The boy ran straight toward the old man in the study, the one everyone called Chairman.
Then he abruptly raised both hands.
It was Japanese sign language.
[Grandfather, something incredible happened yesterday!]
The Chairman was visibly startled, and moved, by the expression on the boy's face.
He's smiling?
That child, who had always worn such an expressionless, gloomy face, was actually smiling?
What on earth is happening?
The Chairman quickly hid his surprise and broke into a bright, delighted smile. Gently stroking the boy's head, he raised his own hands and signed back.
[Really? Tell me what happened.]
[You remember I told you I was chosen to be in the audience for Ametalk Show? I went! And one of the actors there used Japanese sign language really well!]
[That actor was Korean, wasn't he? But he knew Japanese sign language too? What was his name again? I'm sorry, what did you say it was?]
The boy was the very same young audience member who had communicated with Kang Woojin in Japanese sign language during Ametalk Show.
[Kang Woojin! I was so surprised to see such a brilliant actor who could use sign language, and I was so, so happy that I could talk with him through sign language!]
That boy was the Chairman's only grandson.
For a long moment, the Chairman simply looked at his grandson's bright face, a face he had not seen in nearly ten years.
So that actor knows sign language?
Ah, I see.
That Korean actor must be in a situation similar to mine. Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to have learned sign language.
For some reason, he jumped to a conclusion and created yet another misunderstanding.