I Was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor-Chapter 339: Cannes (5) - Edited
Chapter 339: Cannes (5)
Translator: Santos
Kang Woo-jin could hear Miley Cara whispering something in his ear, but it didn’t register. Even though the global superstar had linked arms with him, he felt completely detached.
All that filled his vision was the immense, grand scenery in front of him.
*‘...Wow—this is seriously insane.’*
Naturally, it was the first time Woo-jin had ever experienced something like this.
The vastness was beyond words. The long, wide red carpet stretched out before him, flanked by thousands of tuxedo-clad reporters from all over the world. The black tuxedos looked like a swarm of ants. It felt as though he had entered an anthill.
His eyes were dazzled.
*‘Ugh.’*
With hundreds of reporters nearby, almost 5,000 in total, all of them were flashing their cameras. Woo-jin could feel his vision going white.
His ears rang.
“!!”
“!!!”
“!!!”
The chaotic shouts and cries of the reporters permeated his ears. It wasn’t just them; the screams of the thousands of onlookers surrounding the red carpet mixed in as well. He felt like he might bleed from his ears if he stayed here much longer.
His mouth felt parched.
Swallowing discreetly, he found his throat scratchy from the dryness. Additionally, Woo-jin realized his body had stiffened.
*‘Wow—my legs aren’t moving!’*
The enormity of the scale and atmosphere, the sheer frenzy surrounding the red carpet felt painfully close to him. He felt dazed. It was as if, at any moment, he could lose the strength in his legs.
But.
*“...”*
In this bizarre situation, Kang Woo-jin’s face maintained a poker face. While the shock may have temporarily stunned him, the persona he had honed over time naturally spread across his features. Repeated practice had ingrained this in his body, allowing it to come out instinctively. At that moment, Woo-jin looked as if it was second nature.
And that expression caused Miley Cara, who had her arm linked with his and wore a revealing black dress, to misunderstand.
“Hmm—though it’s understandable that the Cannes red carpet is overwhelming.”
She teased, “But it hurts that I’m the one who linked arms, and you’re completely unfazed.”
At this moment, Kang Woo-jin realized.
*‘Ah.’*
His previous daze began to clear, and the buzzing in his ears returned to normal. Right, I’m at the Cannes Film Festival, right? Gradually, his senses came back. The first thing he felt was her arm. The scent of Miley Cara brushed against his nose as he slowly turned his head. The blonde smiled softly at him.
“I’m just joking. Don’t wear such a serious expression.”
*“...”*
A joke? What kind of joke? He had merely been staring at her while she chattered away. More importantly, he was standing here with Cara, linked arms, on the red carpet. What on earth was happening? Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin desperately tried to gather his thoughts.
It was time for intense mind control.
Kang Woo-jin, forcing calmness upon himself, casually looked at Cara and said in a low voice,
“Let’s go.”
Cara nodded, tightening her grip.
“Yes, let’s.”
At that moment.
*Eek.*
A black limousine pulled up behind Kang Woo-jin and Cara. The first person to step out of the car was Director Ahn Gabok. Though his short white hair and wrinkled face showed his age, he wore a tidy tuxedo. Next was the renowned actor, Sim Han-ho, with a significant amount of gray hair and a fierce look resembling that of a tiger. Following them were Oh Hee-ryeong, Jin Jae-jun, and Han So-jin.
In other words, it was the *The Leech* team.
The entire *The Leech* team, dressed in tuxedos and dresses, joined Woo-jin and Cara. It seemed this had been arranged beforehand. Thus, the march of the *The Leech* team, which included Kang Woo-jin and Cara, began.
*Pop-pop-pop!*
The *The Leecher* team waved their hands or smiled at the onslaught of camera flashes. Being the only Korean team in the *Competition Section* naturally drew attention, and the numerous reporters snapping away couldn't help but wonder.
“Who’s that guy walking with Miley Cara?”
Few knew Kang Woo-jin’s identity. He was undoubtedly unfamiliar to the thousands of foreign reporters. Yet, he suddenly appeared alongside Miley Cara, looking remarkably authentic, sparking an explosion of curiosity.
*“He looks like an actor based on his mask... But why is Miley with that team?”*
“Are they friends?”
“Wasn’t Miley invited here not for a project, but as a celebrity?”
“Are they perhaps in some sort of relationship?!”
“Just take the pictures! Let’s shoot first!!”
In between, Korean reporters were also calling out to Kang Woo-jin excitedly.
“Woo-jin!!! We’re from Korea! Woo-jin!!”
“Mr. Kang Woo-jin!! Over here!! Just wave your hand!!”
“Is it true that you made a promise to walk in together with Miley Cara?! Woo-jin!!”
“Please wave to your Korean fans!!”
As the atmosphere grew more heated, Han So-jin, in a beige dress, who had been quietly observing from the back, muttered to herself. She, too, wore an expression that forced down the exploding tension.
*“...Why is Miley Cara standing right in front of me? And she’s walking with Woo-jin?”*
Jin Jae-jun, with a sharp look, chuckled. By the way, this was his second time at the Cannes Film Festival.
“I wouldn’t know. Honestly, it’s the first time I’m seeing Miley Cara in person.”
“Me too.”
“Suddenly, it feels like Woo-jin is so far away.”
The distance between top actor Jin Jae-jun and Kang Woo-jin was barely three or four steps. But at that moment, Jin Jae-jun felt that Woo-jin was leagues away. It wasn’t about physical distance but rather emotional distance. From the ‘Drug Dealer’ to *The Leech*, Jin Jae-jun had been with Woo-jin throughout.
In his view, the current Kang Woo-jin walking beside a global superstar looked completely natural.
*‘Now, Woo-jin is truly top-tier; no, even more than that.’*
Regardless, the *The Leech* team, experienced at the Cannes Film Festival, walked the red carpet with relative ease. In fact, Woo-jin and Cara, who were leading, seemed remarkably relaxed. Yet at that moment, Woo-jin was engaged in a fierce battle internally. Naturally, it was only on the inside.
*‘Focus on maintaining the persona. Don’t think about anything else!’*
The photos of Kang Woo-jin and Cara were set to spread worldwide.
---
Afterward.
Time passed in a blur. Kang Woo-jin surrendered himself to the chaotic flow. A lot happened, but he wouldn’t remember much once it was over. After finishing on the red carpet, they had a photo op, and then the grand opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival took place in the enormous hall inside the Palais des Festivals. It was an assembly of world-renowned filmmakers.
Countless cameras were flashing.
The iconic palm leaf logo of the Cannes Film Festival was prominently displayed as the festival's executive director stepped up on stage to announce the opening. It should be noted that the closing ceremony and awards ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival would also take place in this massive hall. Behind him, Kang Woo-jin was caught up in a whirlwind of interviews and photo opportunities.
Korean and foreign reporters alike flocked to the *The Leecher* team.
There were plenty of reasons for him to attract attention.
*The Leech* was the only Korean film in the *Competition Section*, and the performance he showed on the Cannes red carpet alongside Miley Cara contributed to the buzz.
*‘Ah—this is exhausting; it’s so chaotic.’*
Kang Woo-jin realized it was harder than ever to maintain his persona. In a foreign country, surrounded by unfamiliar environments and people. Of course, after the opening ceremony, he did meet some familiar faces.
“Haha, Woo-jin! I hardly recognized you in a tuxedo!”
“Thank you.”
“You look different from your appearance in Bangkok.”
It was Joseph and Megan, along with their stunt team and executives from Universal Movies. Although he had seen them in Bangkok, seeing them here in Cannes felt strange to Woo-jin. It was like realizing that they were thriving in Hollywood. Regardless, Kang Woo-jin was greeting directors and officials from around the world, regardless of their nationality.
Even though he didn’t know their faces.
*‘Honestly—he looks just like some foreign uncle. I don’t know.’*
He exchanged simple greetings with top Hollywood stars and actors from other countries. During this time, Miley Cara was with him.
And so.
“Ugh...”
Kang Woo-jin returned to his hotel room just before midnight.
The next day.
October 1st dawned, marking the official first day of the Cannes Film Festival, announced to the world. The morning in Cannes was clear. It was 8:30 AM. Once again, the city was overflowing with tourists, and the Lumière Theatre inside the Palais des Festivals was buzzing with activity. Nearly all 3,000 seats were filled.
The reason was simple.
The
first film among the 20 in the *Competition Section* was set to premiere now. Consequently, the 3,000-seat theater was occupied by a diverse crowd. Hollywood stars, directors, industry stars, reporters, and more. Of course, the ten official judges were included as well. Seats at the front.
*‘Wow, that screen is huge.’*
Kang Woo-jin, with an expression of indifference unlike yesterday’s tuxedo, wore a casual suit. He was discreetly taking in the grandeur of the massive theater. Everything about Cannes was fascinating to him. Beside him stood Joseph and Megan, towering over him.
Choi Seong-gun and Woo-jin’s team were nowhere to be seen.
In fact, it was quite inconvenient to watch a film at the Cannes Film Festival without speaking English or French. The subtitles were only in English and French. However, for someone like Kang Woo-jin, who had already been immersed in both languages, there was no problem at all. Anyway, the first film to open the *Competition Section* was from Japan. He could hear the murmurs of the reporters seated around him.
“Director Hamaguchi is here; I’m excited.”
“Right. I think he won the Best Screenplay award at Cannes two years ago?”
“I saw in an interview that he’s aiming for the Palme d’Or this year.”
“He’s an excellent director, so it’s possible.”
“Surely, they wouldn’t have put him in the opening slot without a solid reason.”
Soon, the lights in the Lumière Theatre dimmed.
The screening began.
The first film in the *Competition Section*, a Japanese film, had a runtime of just under two hours. Kang Woo-jin and all 3,000 audience members were engrossed. The story revolved around a man discovering his deceased wife’s diary and meeting the places and people she mentioned, uncovering her hidden past. It began gently and then ramped up with tension.
After that film ended.
*Clap clap clap clap!*
*Clap clap clap clap clap!*
Applause filled the vast theater. It was partly due to etiquette, but the film itself was good, and the 3,000 audience members praised it.
“Of course, it’s Director Hamaguchi! I nearly laughed out loud when the twist hit at the end.”
“The story was top-notch! The actors’ performances were excellent!”
“Especially the lingering conclusion, it was memorable, right? It was entertaining.”
“This year, it seems likely that Director Hamaguchi will win an award.”
The lively atmosphere in the theater was utterly baffling to Kang Woo-jin. He clapped absently, but internally, he was puzzled.
*‘Are they serious? Was I the only one who found it dull? I nearly dozed off halfway through.’*
That was the purest impression of an audience member. What did it matter? Woo-jin thought as he lingered in the screening room for a while before exiting with Joseph and Megan. He was about to head out for breakfast with them. But then.
“Hmm?”
Joseph Felton, the giant, suddenly stopped as he spotted someone at the theater entrance. Megan, who had swept her brown hair back, did the same. They both approached a group of foreigners gathered nearby. The first to speak was a foreign man with thinning hair and round glasses.
He looked to be in his 60s.
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“Director Danny Randis, long time no see.”
The man referred to as the director turned his head. The coarse beard around his mouth was visible to Woo-jin, and he casually greeted Joseph and Megan.
“Ah—Joseph and Megan. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Director. I hope you’ve been well.”
“I’m just the same.”
Danny Randis’s gaze drifted to Kang Woo-jin, who stood behind Joseph. The introduction was handled by Megan. Kang Woo-jin briefly shook hands with Director Randis. There wasn’t much conversation exchanged; it was merely polite. However, Woo-jin felt like he had seen this face somewhere before.
*‘Hmm—director? Where have I seen him?’*
Soon, Joseph smiled at Director Randis and said,
“Director, I reached out a few times with offers, but I didn’t hear back from you.”
“Huh? Oh, really?”
His lack of awareness prompted Joseph to maintain his smile internally.
*‘Playing dumb, are we?’*
Despite his thoughts, he maintained a polite demeanor outwardly.
“Yes, I would appreciate it if you could take a look.”
“Sure. I’ll get back to you.”
After their conversation, Director Randis moved away. Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin had been searching for that director on his phone. A wave of realization washed over him. Of course, it was within him.
*‘No way!!! Director Danny Randis! That guy is a massive director in Hollywood!!!’*
It was true. Danny Randis was a major director in Hollywood. With a plethora of hits and over 30 years of experience, he was well known. Therefore, there was no shortage of articles and resources about him. Some of the films Kang Woo-jin had enjoyed were even directed by him.
*‘Wow—this is the director of that movie??!’*
As Woo-jin internally panicked, Director Randis, having moved away, was quickly surrounded by numerous reporters. Other famous figures began to gather around him as well. Joseph, glancing sideways at Kang Woo-jin, commented.
“Do you know Danny Randis?”
Kang Woo-jin, quickly regaining his composure, lowered his tone. Even though he had just learned this, he acted as if he had known all along. An assertive façade.
“Of course.”
“Hmm—he’s a big deal, so he’s usually a top choice for invitations. It seems that it’s going to be impossible though. We’ve sent several offers, but no response.”
Megan chimed in.
“After all, proposals like that are usually directed towards someone of Danny Randis’s caliber. There’s no cost in contacting or proposing. Plus, he’s one of the few directors in Hollywood who can write and produce his own scripts. We knew it would be tough to reel him in.”
“That’s true, but meeting him directly is quite disappointing.”
“By the way, I’ve heard that Danny is a bit eccentric—is that true? I’ve never worked with him before. Joseph, I heard you have in the past?”
“Eccentric? He’s definitely not ordinary.”
Joseph chuckled as he made eye contact with Kang Woo-jin and continued.
“It’s not surprising; eccentricity is a common trait among geniuses.”
---
The next day, October 2nd. Cannes, France.
It was around 11 AM. Inside the Lumière Theatre, filled to the brim with 3,000 seats.
*♪♪*
The movie music played as the end credits rolled. It was the second day of the Cannes Film Festival. Two films had been screened the day before, and now the third film was finishing its premiere. Just for reference, there would be another screening in the afternoon.
What was interesting here was.
*“...”*
*“...”*
*“...”*
In the theater packed with a massive audience, the sight of the end credits rolling was surprisingly quiet. Typically, there should have been noise at the end of a film, with applause and chatter. That had been the case until yesterday. Yet today, among the 3,000 attendees, who were all renowned figures, there was no movement for the five minutes that the end credits played.
Even the expressions on their faces reflected shock.
Among them was a prominent Hollywood director who had brushed past Kang Woo-jin yesterday. Danny Randis, with his thinning hair and round glasses.
*“Huh—”*
He too stared blankly at the large screen that had just finished showing the film, holding the poster of the movie in his hands.
The movie title was visible.
-*The Leech*-
Soon, he recalled the conversations with reporters that had occurred before the film started and shook his head in denial.
*“What part of this movie seems like just filling a spot?”*
The Hollywood figures who had come with Director Randis turned to him. They all looked quite aged.
“What did you just say?”
“This film, *The Leech*.”
Danny Randis, who inadvertently murmured, continued.
“Far from being just filling a slot, it’s something Cannes should be grateful for, and—”
His gaze slowly lowered to the poster on his lap, precisely pointing at Kang Woo-jin depicted on it.
“Did they really get someone suffering from ‘The Ripley Syndrome’ to play the lead?”
