Chapter 426: Joker (4)

Translator: Santos

 

Maria Armas, with her captivating chestnut eyes, hailed from Spain and was on par with Miley Cara. At Cara’s pointed question, Maria bit her lower lip slightly.

‘I just don’t like her. We’re just not a match.’

Cara had directly provoked her with a brazen remark, “Even though you lost to me?” It was rare for an actress in Hollywood to behave so boldly, but this was Miley Cara. Maria, her hair transitioning from brown to blonde toward her shoulders, brushed her locks back and responded quietly, glancing around.

“Yeah, even though I lost to you.”

Maria tried to maintain a composed facade, but her pride was deeply bruised. She couldn’t afford to make a scene here, especially with so many eyes on them and considering she was still part of *Beauty and the Beast* even after losing the role of Belle.

‘Calm down, keep your cool.’

She had to act unfazed. Cara’s reaction was somewhat anticipated, and Maria, glancing around at the bustling scene, replied nonchalantly.

“I did want the role of ‘Belle,’ but there are other excellent roles too.”

“Is that so?”

Cara tilted her head slightly, smiling. Recalling Maria’s intense demeanor during the audition for Belle, she added, “For someone who went all out at the audition, it’s surprising. I didn’t expect you to settle for a supporting role.”

“…How long are you going to keep sneering?”

With a sharp glint in her eyes, Maria shot back, but Cara simply laughed, brushing her golden hair aside. She exchanged a brief greeting with an acquaintance passing by before continuing in her usual, coldly amused tone.

“Sneering? I was just being honest. So, since you joined the cast, you must be playing the ‘Teapot’ role?”

It was a calculated jab. Although the ‘Teapot’ was indeed a named supporting character in *Beauty and the Beast*, Cara omitted the name intentionally.

‘Might as well tease her while I can.’

Predictably, Maria’s pride took another hit. Forcing a smile, she whispered icily.

“Miley, you still have such a nasty personality. That’s why they call you the ‘Blonde Robot.’”

“…What?”

“Why? You must know that people find you difficult to approach.”

A tense silence fell. For a few seconds, the two top Hollywood actresses merely exchanged a silent, but electric, glare.

“Hah—”

With a short sigh, Cara broke the silence, brushing her hair back once again.

“I know you don’t like me, and I don’t like you either. So, why did you even join *Beauty and the Beast*?”

Cara’s words were sincere. Until now, *Beauty and the Beast* had been flawless: she had secured the role of Belle, and everything was progressing smoothly. But with Maria’s involvement, that perfect balance felt slightly disturbed.

Staring at Cara, Maria responded.

“Simple. Despite everything, I wanted to join *Beauty and the Beast* that much. The original *Beauty and the Beast* is a work I love, now and forever. It’s only natural I’d want to be part of its live adaptation.”

It was true. Maria was a devoted fan of the original work, and her earlier slip about Woo-jin needing to look “more like a prince” had been a fan’s honest critique. In that way, Maria had set her pride aside to secure a role in the adaptation.

Though, there was one more reason.

‘I’m curious about Kang Woo-jin too.’

She had met Woo-jin at the Belle audition. Although he hadn’t particularly won her over, his demeanor and unexpected piano skills had piqued her curiosity.

‘I wonder how he’ll portray the “Beast.” And how he’ll approach the Academy Awards, which he seemed indifferent to.’

Then suddenly—

“Oh.”

An idea struck Maria, and she leaned closer to Cara.

“By the way, about Kang Woo-jin.”

At the unexpected mention of Woo-jin, Cara’s blue eyes widened slightly.

“Kang Woo-jin? Why bring him up?”

“Did he live in Spain? Or study abroad there?”

“What are you talking about?”

“He’s fluent in Spanish, practically native. I figured he must’ve spent some time in Spain.”

“Spanish?”

“Yeah. You probably didn’t know, but I’m sure Kang Woo-jin spent some time in Spain.”

Cara frowned. Spanish? Maria wouldn’t lie about something so specific. Cara suddenly remembered Woo-jin fluently speaking French at Cannes.

‘French… and now Spanish?’

English and Japanese were one thing, but she hadn’t expected Spanish. As the two actresses walked side by side toward the event hall, Maria glanced at Cara and broke the silence.

“You’re dating Kang Woo-jin, aren’t you?”

Cara stopped dead in her tracks, looking at Maria in disbelief.

“…Are you crazy?”

“No?”

Maria chuckled mischievously.

“Then it’s fine if I make a move on him.”

“That’s not allowed.”

Cara’s immediate response was icy.

But…

‘What? Why did I even say that?’

Even Cara felt confused by her own response. Maria’s smile deepened.

“Oh? I thought you weren’t dating?”

“Right.”

“Then why can’t I?”

“I didn’t say it was impossible. I said it wouldn’t work. He’s just not interested in women.”

Maria recalled Woo-jin’s indifferent attitude toward her.

“…He did seem that way.”

A completely incorrect assumption. This time, it was Cara’s turn to spread a misconception.

“Kang Woo-jin is obsessed with acting. His mind is always focused on his roles.”

The two top actresses couldn’t seem to stop talking about Woo-jin. As they approached the event hall, Cara asked,

“So, why did you assume I was dating him?”

“Well, it’s obvious. You, of all people, worked with him on an album. You starred in *Beneficial Evil*, a Korean production. Now you’re both cast in *Beauty and the Beast*. You’re seen together so often. Naturally, rumors start. If it’s not true, you might want to be careful; journalists are sniffing around.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“As if.”

Maria scoffed and continued.

“Still, the real reason I thought you two were dating…”

She recalled something Woo-jin had said, though she altered it slightly to avoid bruising her pride.

“Kang Woo-jin told me you’re prettier than me. So I figured you two must be together.”

“…He said I’m prettier than you? Kang Woo-jin?”

“Yes.”

Cara’s blue eyes wavered slightly.

---

That same night in Los Angeles.

At Columbia Studios, a vast complex with over twenty stages, the night had settled over the sprawling set. Yet, in front of a pizza shop set, foreign crew members buzzed around.

The *Piero: Birth of a Villain* team was working late, just as they had the night before. Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had been speaking with key staff, took his position by the monitors.

Two crew members positioned cameras in front of the pizza shop, preparing for a wide shot and a jib shot. Around a hundred crew members gathered around Director Ahn.

Then, a single figure walked steadily toward the set: Kang Woo-jin, with wet, disheveled hair and a face smeared with flour and fake blood, had transformed himself into his character, Henry Gordon, the twisted Joker.

Woo-jin took his place in front of the pizza shop’s door.

“….”

Two cameras were positioned to capture him, and at the director’s signal, rain suddenly began to pour over the entire set. A slate was raised in front of Woo-jin.

*Clack!*

Through the loudspeaker, Director Ahn’s voice called out.

“Action.”

The camera slowly zoomed in on Woo-jin’s ghastly face, capturing every detail of his expression. With his hood pulled over his head and his shoulders slouched, he looked weak and vulnerable—a stark contrast to his true nature as Henry Gordon.

His eyes darted from side to side, checking his surroundings. The heavy rain meant the streets were empty.

*Pssshhh!*

Woo-jin, as the Joker, looked up at the storming sky, a small smirk forming as rainwater dripped from the shop’s awning. He cast a glance back toward the “meat pile” inside the shop, then returned his gaze forward, breaking into a twisted grin.

“Heh—”

As he straightened his shoulders, he savored the thrill of his transformation. Henry Gordon was in a state of twisted bliss, torn between his persona and the Joker’s madness.

Woo-jin clenched his fists, holding them to his chest and trembling with silent excitement. His entire body exuded the spirit of the Joker as he jumped with both feet, laughing maniacally under his breath.

“Hehehe… hehehehe… huhuhuhu.”

Despite the downpour muffling the sound, Woo-jin’s mischievous glances betrayed his joy. He covered his mouth with one hand, but giggles slipped out between his fingers.

Then, his laughter abruptly ceased.

“….”

Lowering his hand, Woo-jin rolled his neck, stretching as he raised both arms above his head. The Joker’s mask slowly fell away, revealing Henry’s twisted face as Woo-jin lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, his face expressionless once more.

*Drip, drip, drip.*

Rain washed away the flour and fake blood, gradually revealing Woo-jin’s true skin tone. His thickly painted red lips faded, and his eyebrows darkened. Every detail of his transformation was captured vividly.

The entire crew watched intently, while Director Ahn, glued to the monitors, felt chills running down his spine.

‘Yes,

 just like that, as if he’s peeling off a mask.’

It was the exact effect he had envisioned, and Woo-jin had amplified it tenfold.

In the monitor, Woo-jin, now soaked, ran his hand over his wet hair, brushing it back smoothly.

“I think red hair would suit him.”

Finally, all traces of the Joker had vanished, leaving only Henry Gordon’s mask.

---

Two days later, the morning of June 15.

At one of the trailers on the *Piero: Birth of a Villain* set, Woo-jin entered, greeted by the familiar voices of his team behind him. He nodded to them before closing the trailer door.

Inside, something caught his attention.

*Oh.*

He let out a small sigh of admiration. Hanging on a rack inside was his costume: a red jacket, matching pants, a blue shirt, a yellow vest, and scuffed brown shoes.

‘It’s time.’

It was the Joker’s suit.