It was Director Ahn Gabok's declaration.
Kang Woojin's name came out of his mouth in that rough yet seasoned voice. The words were short and clear, and the instant they rang out, the dozen or so burly men around him froze as if iced over, unable to hide their shock.
"..."
"..."
Famous directors, including Director Kim Dohee, actors other than Jin Jaejun, magazine editors, reporters—everyone stared blankly at Director Ahn Gabok, who wore a relaxed smile.
On the other hand—
"Hm? Why do all of you look like that?"
Director Ahn Gabok's smile deepened. Shim Hanho, standing beside him, looked equally unbothered. In that banquet hall, those two were the only people giving off any sense of ease. Director Ahn took a sip of wine, then opened his wrinkled mouth again.
"You asked, so I answered. Why do you all look so shocked?"
Director Kim Dohee, with his permed hair, finally came to his senses and asked with wide eyes,
"D-Director. Was it just decided now that the remaining actor is Kang Woojin?"
"That's right."
"So you mean Kang Woojin will appear in your hundredth film, Leech, alongside Senior Shim Hanho? They were both in The Drug Dealer too."
"Are there two Kang Woojins in the acting world right now?"
"No, there aren't."
They had heard him clearly, and yet it was still hard to believe. Kang Woojin had already shaken the entire country with the reversal in the Hwarin incident, and now, out of nowhere, he was being named as the lead in a Director Ahn Gabok film.
How had that even happened?
Because of that, actors like Kim Dohee and Jin Jaejun still looked stunned, but the reporters and magazine editors had already begun slipping away one by one, their eyes gleaming with a different kind of excitement.
'Ha, this is interesting. We can think about why Director Ahn cast Kang Woojin later. First, we need to get this out as fast as possible.'
'Kang Woojin? That's insane. He really is built for headlines. How does he dominate the news every single week?'
'The veteran actor Shim Hanho and the rookie rewriting history, Kang Woojin. There's no way anyone ignores a lineup like that.'
The reporters immediately pulled out their phones and began writing. The people from Power Patch magazine and everyone else started making calls as well.
"Just come up with a rough headline and write the article immediately. We don't need the details yet."
"This is an exclusive, an exclusive. Don't ask questions, just write it down first. Then upload it as fast as possible. Quiet! I said don't ask."
Watching their backs, Director Ahn Gabok slowly nodded. This was exactly the scene he had wanted. Then he leaned slightly toward the white-haired Shim Hanho beside him and murmured,
"The fire's spreading nicely."
"...It was already burning well. And the firewood was first-rate."
As everyone gradually grasped the situation, the banquet hall grew even more animated. Whether they were standing near or far, Director Ahn Gabok's words spread naturally from mouth to mouth. The noise swelled, and every now and then a shout could be heard.
"What—what did you say?! Is that true?!"
"Kang Woojin?! What did he just say?!"
A great many people were shocked, but almost all of them immediately reached for their phones. They had to carry the news of the bomb that had just exploded in the banquet hall to the outside world. Among them, the actors' reactions were the fiercest.
Their eyes were filled with all kinds of emotions.
"No way… Kang Woojin?"
"What does that even mean? Kang Woojin is only in his first year, and he's already challenging Cannes?"
"Isn't this too sudden? No, wait—was Kang Woojin's schedule even supposed to allow this in the first place?"
"Ha, impossible."
"Senior Shim Hanho and Kang Woojin together?? My god."
Jealousy and envy stood out the most. It was the moment fierce desire began to turn into resentment. Around then, Jin Jaejun, who was acquainted with Director Ahn Gabok, barely managed to speak.
"Director, was there any particular reason you cast Woojin?"
With everyone's attention focused on him, Director Ahn Gabok answered as calmly as ever.
"He doesn't seem all that interested in Cannes."
Exactly fifteen minutes later.
Just fifteen minutes after the bomb had gone off in the banquet hall, the world learned what it was.
『[Breaking News] Director Ahn Gabok announces at Star's Night, "Actors confirmed for the film Leech: Shim Hanho and Kang Woojin"』
The afterglow of Kang Woojin's latest legend was still running hot.
──────────
A few hours later, in Los Angeles.
In Korea, the eighth day had already begun, but in LA it was only the morning of the seventh. It was around nine o'clock. Near North Hollywood Park, where the Our Table staff were staying, the lodging used by the male cast was especially crowded.
The reason was simple.
The Our Table team had finally begun filming in earnest after arriving in LA. Of course, filming had started the moment they left Korea, but the real shooting centered on the concept of Our Table was beginning now. Outside the lodging, staff and crew members from Our Table were scattered all over the place.
But one thing about the atmosphere was unusual.
"Really?! Wow, I only just woke up, so I had no idea!"
"It's true, it's true. Completely true. Director Ahn Gabok said it himself. Look it up—the whole Korean internet has been turned upside down."
"Isn't it still early morning in Korea?"
"When do reporters even sleep?!"
"This is crazy! What did Woojin say?"
"No idea, I haven't seen him yet."
The set was incredibly noisy. The production staff and the dozens of crew members were all the same—every conversation somehow circled back to Kang Woojin.
"Director Ahn Gabok really announced it himself at the Star's Night after-party?"
"Yeah, yeah. Actor Shim Hanho was there too."
"Wow, the black box issue hadn't even cooled down before this happened…"
"The moment the cast started gathering, I knew PD Yoon wasn't joking."
"I saw it too. Ha Gangsu practically looked like his eyes were going to pop out."
"Our Table already has a lot of actors in it, so of course everyone would be shocked."
"Director Ahn Gabok, actor Shim Hanho, and now actor Kang Woojin joining them too… this is going to be a huge film."
Director Ahn Gabok's revelation had already spread this far. In truth, the news had first broken a few hours earlier, at dawn, and the reaction back then had been even more explosive. Compared to that, things had calmed down now, but talk about Kang Woojin had not stopped.
"But can Woojin even fit that into his schedule? He already has Director Kwon's project, the Japanese film, and several others lined up."
"Who knows, maybe he figured something out? Either way, my prediction was completely wrong. Wow, the company group chat must be losing its mind."
"With the veteran Shim Hanho and the rookie Kang Woojin in one frame, there's no way people stay quiet."
Around then, Choi Seonggeon was saying,
"Yes, yes, but we can't release an official statement right this second. It would be better if things developed a little further first."
He was walking leisurely along the path while talking on the phone. It seemed like the calls would never stop. Nearby, the managers of the different cast members moved around restlessly.
Of course they were curious.
Then where was Kang Woojin?
He was sitting on the sofa in the living room on the first floor of the male cast lodging. More precisely, the entire Our Table cast had gathered there. Ahn Jonghak was on the single armchair, while Hwarin and Hong Hyeyeon sat together on the three-seater. On the longer sofa, Ha Gangsu and the youngest, Yeon Baekgwang, were seated.
Woojin, wearing a cap that day, looked more serious than usual.
"..."
That was how it looked to everyone else, anyway. Inside, he was simply exhausted.
'Ah, I'm so tired. I need to get into the void space for a bit.'
He had already gone through one harsh ordeal. Before the heat of his latest legend had even faded, the Leech announcement had exploded. Because of that, not only the Our Table cast but also PD Yoon Byeongseon and the writers had all bombarded him with questions.
'Woojin!! Is that article true?!'
'How do these nuclear-level stories just keep exploding one after another?'
'Are you really filming a movie with Director Ahn Gabok?!!'
'Why did you keep something this important secret?? Woojin, are you really going to Cannes?!'
It had gone on for over an hour.
PD Yoon Byeongseon had looked close to dancing. And since most of the Our Table cast were actors themselves, their reactions had been even stronger. Ahn Jonghak and Ha Gangsu showed endless curiosity, Hwarin responded with quiet admiration, and the youngest, Yeon Baekgwang, did not hold back his praise. Hong Hyeyeon, surprisingly, did not react much at all, almost as if she had already sensed part of it.
If things were this chaotic here, what would it be like once he got back to Korea?
After glancing at the Korean internet, Woojin felt the pressure rise.
Then again, what could he do? It had been bound to happen sooner or later. It had simply happened a little earlier.
'Can't help it. I might as well enjoy it. Still, that old man really brought it up out of nowhere.'
The messages from acquaintances were another headache. Especially the ones from his younger sister, Kang Hyuna, and from his close friends. Even so, in the middle of all that chaos, the Our Table production team somehow kept their composure.
Because they still had to film.
In any case, countless mini-cams had been set up around the sofa where Kang Woojin sat, and cameras were positioned all over the room. PD Yoon Byeongseon and dozens of staff members were standing nearby. Even so, the cast of Our Table looked fairly natural. Woojin, still in his cap, was wearing casual clothes, and both Hwarin and Hong Hyeyeon had only light makeup on.
They were currently deciding on the menu.
Starting the next day, they would begin proper sales using the food truck waiting outside. In other words, today they had to buy all the ingredients, do all the prep work, and even work out the cast's routes and positions.
Right then, Ahn Jonghak, sitting in the single armchair with a baseball cap on, broke the awkward mood.
"First, we need to settle the menu, right? Kitchen team, any dishes come to mind? Team leader, what do you think?"
The moment the question was asked, everyone's eyes turned to the silent Kang Woojin. Thanks to the knowledge ingrained in him as a cook, Woojin already seemed to have his answer ready, and he replied in a calm voice.
"With a food truck, serving food quickly is important. We don't need a lot of items. Two should be enough."
"Which two?"
"A rice dish and a noodle dish. Both can be prepared with partial pre-cooking."
"What does the chef think?"
"For something non-spicy, bulgogi rice bowls or gimjaban makguksu would work well."
Ahn Jonghak immediately raised his hand.
"Agreed—"
Hong Hyeyeon and Hwarin joined right after him, and in the end everyone agreed. No more opinions were needed. Watching from outside, PD Yoon Byeongseon burst out laughing and chimed in too.
"Hey, if you're going to decide that fast, why even hold a meeting?"
Ahn Jonghak waved his hand as if brushing him aside.
"If the head chef has made the decision, then as the nominal person in charge, I have to follow it. Do you have some kind of complaint about the menu, PD Yoon?"
"Not at all. It's perfect."
"Good. Then let's start making the ingredient list. And for the routes... hmm, since it's a food truck, four in the kitchen and two for serving should be enough, right?"
Once again, the response came quickly. Chef Kang Woojin assigned Hong Hyeyeon, Hwarin, and Yeon Baekgwang as kitchen assistants, while the tall Ha Gangsu and Ahn Jonghak would handle the front.
At that point, Ha Gangsu, dressed in a hoodie, raised a question.
"What about drinks?"
Woojin's low voice answered immediately.
"At first, it's better not to offer anything besides coffee. If we casually recommend drinks, conversations may drag on and turnover will slow down."
"Ah, I see."
"Let's keep it simple at first and just provide water while we get a feel for things."
Ahn Jonghak and Ha Gangsu both gave him a thumbs-up.
"Wow, no wonder you're the hero chef favored by Director Ahn Gabok. Very reliable."
"Director Ahn Gabok totally fell for that charm."
Hong Hyeyeon, her long hair tied back, joined in as well.
"As expected, not just anyone becomes a legend."
Hwarin glanced at Woojin and praised him inwardly.
'That lukewarm charisma of his is such a fatal weakness, seriously?'
It was praise disguised as teasing. Even so, Kang Woojin was simply thinking about chef's know-how on the inside.
'Let's split into the team buying ingredients and the team cooking at the lodging.'
"Yes, leader!"
It was his way of steering everyone's attention elsewhere.
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Around lunchtime the next day, near North Hollywood Park.
The wide park was filled with foreigners out for a walk. A woman jogging with headphones on, a man happily spending time with his dog, a couple lying on the grass reading books—it looked like a scene out of a movie. There were lots of people around, but the park was so large that it never felt crowded.
Among them, an elderly American couple walking along the trail drew the eye.
Both had white hair, and they were slowly crossing the park hand in hand. As they talked, the wife suddenly noticed something ahead by the roadside and spoke up, naturally in English.
"Isn't that food truck new?"
At the soft sound of her voice, her husband turned his gaze forward. Since the elderly couple often passed through the park at this hour, they immediately noticed the food truck, which had never been there before. The truck itself was painted in a mix of red and blue.
A sign was hanging from the roof in both English and Korean.
Korean Food
Our Table
After reading it, the wife broke into a bright smile.
"It looks like a food truck selling Korean food."
"Seems that way. What do you think they're selling?"
"Should we eat there?"
"You said you wanted tacos, didn't you? And do you remember the last time you cried after eating tteokbokki?"
"I can just ask them to make it less spicy this time. And there's a taco place right beside it, so we can have tacos too."
"Hmm."
"It'll be a memorable meal. If we're going to eat anyway, shouldn't we eat something special?"
After a little more persuasion from his wife, the husband finally nodded.
"Alright. But if it tastes bad, we should say so immediately."
"Of course."
And so the elderly couple headed toward the Korean food truck. From closer up, everyone working there looked Korean.
"Oh, they really are all Korean. But... aren't they all ridiculously handsome and pretty?"
"That's true. Koreans really do have great skin, and they all look so young it's hard to guess their age."
Right then—
A few women approached the elderly couple, who were getting closer to the truck, and asked in English,
"Excuse me, are you planning to use this food truck?"
The husband answered,
"Yes, why? Is it not ready yet?"
"No, it's not that. This food truck is part of a Korean television program. If you use it, you'll appear on the show, so we need to ask for your consent first."
The wife responded with a warm smile.
"We'd be delighted. That's no problem at all."
"Thank you. Please enjoy yourselves."
The women soon stepped away, and the wife laughed in surprise.
"A Korean television show."
"Then are all the people working here celebrities?"
"They must be."
"But the food still might not live up to expectations."
When the couple finally reached the area with six neatly arranged tables, a Korean man approached them from the food truck. It was the nominal manager, Ahn Jonghak, wearing a navy uniform with the Our Table logo and his hair neatly swept back.
"Hello. Are you our first customers today?"
Ahn Jonghak's English was fairly fluent. It was not on Kang Woojin's level, but there was no problem communicating. He guided the elderly couple to the center table, and then the husband asked,
"Someone said this is part of a television show. What's the concept?"
"We're promoting Korean food overseas."
"Oh, I see. So is everyone here a celebrity, including you?"
"That's right."
"Impressive."
"Thank you. Here is the menu. We currently have two dishes available. Would you like me to explain them?"
"Please do."
Ahn Jonghak then explained the bulgogi rice bowl and the gimjaban makguksu listed on the menu. After hearing the description, the wife smiled and asked,
"Is the bulgogi rice bowl spicy?"
"Not at all."
"Then I'll have the bulgogi rice bowl. What about you?"
The husband pointed to the noodle dish.
"This one. Gimjab..."
"It's called gimjaban makguksu."
"Ah, that one, please."
"Understood."
Ahn Jonghak politely took back the menu, then stepped away from the couple and shouted in Korean toward the people inside the food truck.
"One bulgogi! One gimjaban!"
Watching him, the wife remarked,
"Korean really is pleasant to listen to."
Meanwhile, the husband was scanning the cameras and staff set up around them.
"Hmm. If this is a TV show, does that mean the chefs cooking are actors too?"
"It looks like that person inside the truck might be one."
Following her gesture, the husband peered into the food truck as well. He could see two men and two women. Among them, one young man who had just started cooking immediately stood out. He wore a hat and mask, and there was something cool and slightly cynical about the impression he gave.
The husband looked at him and came to a conclusion.
"That chef is definitely an actor too."
"Yes, he is handsome."
"We should've just had tacos, shouldn't we? Food on shows like this is usually bad."
"But the way that chef is moving... it looks like he's trained pretty seriously, doesn't it?"
"You may be right... judging by the hat and mask, he seems careful about hygiene, and the way he handles the wok shows he's practiced a lot. Still, his main job is probably acting."
"You're too picky. A cook should try all kinds of food and all kinds of flavors."
"I've already eaten a lot of Korean food. Have you tried gochujang? It's so good I've been thinking about how to use it at my restaurant."
In fact, the old man was a chef who ran a restaurant himself.
And that restaurant was nearby.
Right then—
This time it was not Ahn Jonghak but a tall man who approached the elderly couple. It was Ha Gangsu.
"Your food is ready."
His English was a little awkward, but the couple received the dishes calmly. Ahn Jonghak also came over and explained how each one should be eaten. After the explanation, the two of them stepped back, and the wife stirred the steaming bulgogi rice bowl with her spoon.
"It smells good. How about yours?"
The husband stared closely at the gimjaban makguksu in front of him.
"The broth is brown, and even the noodles are brown. The smell is nutty, not bad at all. It's a bit like Japanese ramen, but definitely different, and a little intriguing. Is that black stuff floating in the broth seaweed?"
"Try it."
The silver-haired husband hesitated, then lifted his spoon and carefully took a sip of the broth.
"..."
His expression stiffened.
No, if anything, it turned ambiguous.
Without saying a word, he tasted the broth again. Once. Twice. Three times. Then he picked up the bowl and took a much larger drink. The wife, who had been turning over her bulgogi rice bowl, widened her eyes at the sight. The husband silently stared down at the gimjaban makguksu, then picked up his fork.
He twirled the noodles and dipped them into the broth.
Without the couple realizing it, every one of the cameras installed around the food truck by the Our Table team was aimed right at them at that moment.
Soon, while eating her bulgogi rice bowl, the wife asked him,
"What do those brown noodles taste like?"
The husband paused with his fork in midair and chewed the noodles, but his face remained serious. Then, slowly, he looked up.
"We were wrong."
"Hmm? Does it taste bad?"
The husband answered, his blue eyes churning like a storm.
"The person who made this food isn't an actor. He's a real chef."