Chapter 421: Appearance (4)

Translator: Santos

Kang Woo-jin looked at Choi Sung-gon, who wore a deep smile, with his usual calmness, his expression unchanged and cynically neutral. Sweat trickled down his forehead.

“······”

It was already the end of May, and with June just around the corner, the weather had become significantly warmer. Woo-jin nodded slowly, replying to Choi with his voice deliberately low.

“Has the first filming date been confirmed?”

“Yes.”

Choi Sung-gon placed a hand on Woo-jin’s shoulder and gave a thumbs-up.

“The second week of June, to be exact, June 11. Of course, there might be a one or two-day shift depending on circumstances, but if all goes well, we’ll start filming on the 11th.”

June 11th—just a few days away. While Woo-jin appeared stoic on the outside, he felt a slight surge of tension within.

No matter the project, there was always a vast difference between the preparation phase, including script readings, and the weight of actual filming. All his past projects had been like that. The preparation was like loading a gun, while the first day of filming was the moment the shot was fired into the world.

“Besides, this time, it’s Hollywood, right?”

And it wasn’t just that. Woo-jin had broken records, becoming the first Asian actor to land a lead role in Hollywood. This was the starting point of something big. Today was May 27, leaving roughly two weeks until June 11. It could be seen as both long and short, but with Woo-jin’s intense schedule, it was certainly tight.

Feeling the tension, Woo-jin took off his suit jacket.

The heat was stifling.

With a glance, he surveyed his team, starting with Choi Sung-gon. They all wore expressions brimming with anticipation.

Woo-jin then turned around, seeing the *Beneficial Evil* Part 2 set. It was a dark night, but the installed lights were dazzlingly bright. Bugs were starting to swarm around the lights, and around a hundred staff members were busy cleaning up. He saw PD Song Man-woo, chatting with assistant directors about the next day’s shoot, all dressed in short sleeves due to the warm weather.

As Woo-jin looked around the set, he felt a slight twinge of regret.

“······This is my last shoot in Korea, huh? Why does that make me feel a bit emotional?”

Though his face remained stoically composed, his heart softened. After all, once he left for LA, he wouldn’t be returning to Korea for a while. He couldn’t help but reflect on how far he had come. Just then, Choi Sung-gon approached him, looking forward alongside Woo-jin and breaking the silence.

“What? Feeling a bit sentimental now that you’re about to stay in Hollywood for real?”

What is this, a fortune teller? Woo-jin inwardly flinched but answered nonchalantly.

“No, just realizing how fast time flies.”

“Haha, that’s true. It’s already been three years since we first met. ‘Profiler Slacker’ still feels like yesterday, especially with PD Song over there.”

As if sensing their gaze, PD Song Man-woo, who was chatting with the crew, jogged over. Wearing a black T-shirt and a cap pulled low, he immediately started talking about the next day’s shoot.

“We’re on standby from noon tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

After Woo-jin’s brief response, Choi Sung-gon tilted his head in curiosity.

“Hmm? Isn’t that a bit of a late start?”

“Ah, in the morning, there’s a Netflix interview about the Emmy Awards. Netflix’s headquarters requested it. But why do you both look so serious?”

Woo-jin answered bluntly.

“The first filming date for *Piero: Birth of a Villain* has been set.”

PD Song Man-woo paused, his eyes widening in excitement.

“Oh! Really? When?”

“June 11.”

“11th? Wait, that’s two weeks away. That’s cutting it close. Isn’t Woo-jin overworked? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Sure, I know you’ll manage. But you’ve got to take care of your health. If something happened to you, imagine how many projects would be put on hold.”

Imagining the worst made PD Song Man-woo visibly tense. He quickly started calculating on his fingers, then changed to a serious expression.

“We were aiming to wrap by around June 7, but let’s try to pull it back a bit, even by a few days. If we push ourselves, we can save time.”

“There’s no need to go to such lengths.”

“No, no.”

As PD Song Man-woo’s smile returned, he called over an assistant director.

“Our ‘world star’ has his first big debut coming up, so he needs to be in peak condition, right, CEO Choi?”

“Hahaha, we’d be grateful if you could manage that.”

“Let’s aim to wrap things up by the 4th or 5th at the latest.”

After making his decision, PD Song Man-woo looked at Woo-jin and grinned widely.

“Let’s blow their minds in Hollywood.”

Meanwhile, in LA.

While it was past midnight in Korea, it was early morning in LA. The streets were packed with cars, and the sound of honking filled the air. Cafes, bagel shops, and the sidewalks were crowded with people. The subway was no different.

Inside one subway station in LA, almost resembling a gang hideout in appearance—

“······Hmm.”

Director An Gabok, dressed casually in a T-shirt and jeans, entered, looking familiar. He wasn’t alone, though. Surrounding him were at least a dozen foreign staff members—the core team of *Piero: Birth of a Villain*. They were here for a simple reason.

“A subway scene works better as a location than a set.”

As Director An Gabok muttered, they were here for location scouting for *Piero: Birth of a Villain*. This was the final round, though. The locations had already been mostly decided, but at Director An’s request, an additional scouting trip was added.

The subway arrived with a loud screech.

However, Director An and his team didn’t board. He surveyed the platform, and several team members wandered around, taking photos. Various elements caught Director An’s eye—the graffiti on the walls, the homeless people huddled in corners or sitting on benches, people with eccentric appearances, and even a young man strumming a guitar.

The guitar’s sound reached Director An differently.

“Music playing.”

One of the many soundtracks from *Piero* began to echo in his mind. At that moment, police officers appeared, rounding up the homeless. An Gabok’s gaze transformed, envisioning it as if through a camera lens.

Woo-jin appeared. Or rather—

“A dancing Joker, taunting the police.”

The two police officers rounding up the homeless on the platform now seemed like they were chasing a tap-dancing Joker. The enraged officers lumbered after him, but the Joker mocked them with exaggerated steps, even casually smoking a cigarette.

The Joker slid down a railing like it was a slide, exhaling smoke, while he watched the heavyset officers struggle up the stairs. With a sly smile, the red-haired Joker strutted down the steps, tapping his feet rhythmically.

Director An, who had moved closer to the stairs, murmured softly.

“This is perfect.”

He suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to see the scene he envisioned on the monitor.

“Ugh—these two weeks will feel like two hundred years.”

Turning to his team, he said in English, “We’re shooting this scene here.”

He pulled a Joker card from his pocket and continued.

“We’ll start with the Joker’s first awakening scene.”

Roughly a week later, on June 4. Back in Korea.

With the start of June and the rising heat, people’s attire had become lighter. In a van speeding down the highway, Choi Nana, the writer of the global hit *Beneficial Evil*, was scrolling through her phone, reading articles about her series.

『*Beneficial Evil* drops to #2 worldwide but maintains strong viewership.』  
『Emmy-nominated *Beneficial Evil* gets parodied by famous YouTubers, proving its appeal as a “monster drama.”』  
『*Beneficial Evil* Season 2 rumored to be in the works.』

As she adjusted her round glasses, she changed her search to “Kang Woo-jin.” Endless results appeared.

“Wow—amazing!”

Writer Choi, though well aware of Woo-jin’s influence, couldn’t help but be thrilled each time she searched for him. Her own stock had risen significantly, attracting offers even internationally, though she was still nowhere near Woo-jin’s level.

“Writer Choi.”

Kim Sohyang, the executive director sitting beside her, spoke. They were en route from Netflix Korea to the *Beneficial Evil* set in Gyeonggi Province’s Yeoncheon district.

Smiling, Kim Sohyang asked, “Do you have any ideas for *Beneficial Evil 2*?”

Writer Choi lowered her phone and scratched her head.

“Not yet… honestly, since the story ended with Jang Yeon-woo, if we’re changing the lead, I don’t know how to start.”

Kim sighed, nodding.

“Ideally, Jang Yeon-woo would continue, but Woo-jin’s skyrocketing rate and packed schedule complicate things. CEO Choi mentioned he’s booked solid this year and nearly all of next year.”

“I expected that. But if Woo-jin doesn’t return to *Beneficial Evil*, will anyone still watch?”

“····

··Viewership will definitely drop—a lot. Probably by half, maybe even more. Still, with Netflix HQ pushing us to move forward with massive funding, it’s hard to ignore.”

“I love *Beneficial Evil* too, but I’m not sure… especially about finding an actor who can fill Woo-jin’s shoes.”

After a short conversation, Writer Choi glanced down, looking thoughtful as she picked up her phone again.

She opened Instagram out of habit, ending up on Woo-jin’s page, and her previously pensive expression lit up with excitement.

“Oh!”

She turned to Kim, exclaiming, “It’s announced!”

She quickly showed her phone screen to Kim.

The account was none other than the official channel of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), which hosts the Emmy Awards.

“Emmy Awards are set for August 1!”

Less than two months remained.

Meanwhile, in Gyeonggi Province’s Yeoncheon district.

Around a hundred staff members silently watched the set. The *Beneficial Evil* crew stood by as PD Song Man-woo intently watched one monitor focused on Woo-jin’s face.

“······”

On the screen, Woo-jin, completely in character as Jang Yeon-woo, shrugged off his suit jacket.

“It’s hot.”

He walked wearily toward the camera, embodying the exhausted office worker with a face full of annoyance. As he drew closer to the camera, he murmured his next line.

“Next is—”

He brushed right past the camera. Silence fell over the set. After about five seconds, the entire crew turned their attention to PD Song Man-woo. The bearded director, still watching the monitor, spoke.

“Cut.”

He gave a short nod, then exchanged glances with Woo-jin, lifting his thumb.

“Okay. Great work, Woo-jin.”

The entire crew cheered, and PD Song Man-woo approached Woo-jin, who was dusting off his clothes, to shake his hand.

“I’m looking forward to *Piero: Birth of a Villain*.”

Woo-jin replied nonchalantly.

“See you at the Emmys.”

*Beneficial Evil* Part 2 filming wrapped.