I Was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor-Chapter 352: Chain (1) - Edited
Chapter 352: Chain (1)
Translator: Santos
The music video for Miley Cara's new song boldly ranked as the number one trending video on YouTube.
- *【alcoholism(feat. WooJin)】｜Miley Cara*
- *60,012,802 views / 22 hours ago*
As Kang Woo-jin lowered his phone, his widened eyes did not diminish. Wait, over 60 million views within 24 hours? With someone of Miley Cara’s power, that’s not impossible, but still, it was a strange and astonishing sight in Kang Woo-jin's world.
Woo-jin’s own "Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character" channel had impressive numbers in Korea, but...
*“Mine looks like a baby compared to this. Wow—insane.”*
He had never seen such numbers before in a single day. Was she really a global superstar? Kang Woo-jin suddenly felt the weight of Cara’s influence.
“Does this mean it’s really going to be a massive hit??”
With his eyes wide open, Woo-jin touched the video. Although he was already familiar with the song and the filming of the music video, this was his first time seeing the finished product. The runtime was about four minutes.
- ♬♪
As the song played, Kang Woo-jin checked the overwhelming number of comments. They were filled with English as well as many other languages.
(General praises)
- Why is everything she releases a masterpiece? How is this possible? Genius. I'm out of words.
- This is one of the best songs she’s ever written and released, I’m fully obsessed!!
- I need a 10-minute version of this song!
- I've literally been hooked on this song since I first heard it!
- I love this song so much it’s still my favorite. I can’t stop listening to it. Wonderful job, Cara!!!!
·
·
·
What was amusing was...
“Ooh—my name.”
Amidst thousands of comments, Kang Woo-jin’s name and terms like Cannes Film Festival popped up.
Kang Woo-jin saw comments like, *“Why is this Korean guy’s voice so fantastic? What connection does he have with Cara? Did that Korean actor really win Best Actor at Cannes? He’s a real actor, not just a singer? If you go to his YouTube, you can hear more songs? Is this the Korean actor who’s currently a hot topic worldwide?”* and many more.
There were even quite a few international fans who already knew Woo-jin, but thanks to the Cannes Film Festival, many fans had only recently recognized him.
At that moment.
- ♬♪
The music video featured the melody of a piano. It showcased a solo performance by Kang Woo-jin. The angle focused solely on him. Then appeared Miley Cara, her makeup heavily smudged, as if she had been crying. She ran her hands from Woo-jin’s neck down to his shoulders and waist as he played the piano.
However, Woo-jin maintained his calm demeanor in the video.
As he enjoyed the music video for Cara’s new title track, Kang Woo-jin quietly murmured.
“The quality is good. No, it’s amazing. But at this rate, I feel like it’ll easily surpass 100 million views.”
Miley Cara’s new album contained a total of 14 tracks, with three of them being title tracks. The main title was "alcoholism," which featured Woo-jin. Currently, the music video for "alcoholism" had 60 million views, even before the 24-hour mark. At this pace, it seemed likely to easily reach 100 million views, and even several hundred million was within reach.
This was a record-breaking achievement.
Kang Woo-jin didn’t know the exact statistics, but according to YouTube, the highest record for views within 24 hours was 58 million. Miley Cara had broken the record that had stood for several years.
*YouTube 24-Hour Most Views Record.*
A new record.
That new record included the strength and presence of Kang Woo-jin. Although he hadn’t specifically looked it up, the fact that the music video had 60 million views meant it was a massive topic worldwide. That meant...
“100 million views—100 million views? This is insane.”
It indicated that Kang Woo-jin’s global recognition was soaring even higher. After skyrocketing from the Cannes Film Festival, Miley Cara’s new album was pouring gasoline on the fire. It was worth noting that this was still less than 24 hours since its release.
This meant there were still many fireworks left to explode.
---
In the backdrop of the internet filled with news about Kang Woo-jin and *Leech*...
*『‘The Man of Cannes’ Kang Woo-jin returns amid cheers... “Thank you to Korean film fans” / Photo』*
*『[Photo] Cannes Best Actor Kang Woo-jin and the stars of *Leech* return home』*
*『When will *Leech*, which shook the world, be released domestically?』*
*『Kang Woo-jin going global, reporters and fans swarming Incheon Airport』*
*『Kang Woo-jin's grand return... From *Leech* to *Beneficial Evil*, there are still many bombs waiting to explode』*
Miley Cara's new album buzz began to gain momentum.
*『[Issue Pick] Kang Woo-jin featured in Miley Cara's new song music video... Breaks YouTube 24-hour view record!』*
*『Right after winning Cannes Best Actor? Kang Woo-jin shows signs of soaring even higher with Miley Cara’s new album』*
As time went on, numerous articles began to emerge. If it had only been Miley Cara, the buzz would have erupted internationally, but domestically, this kind of firepower was unusual. However, with Kang Woo-jin included in this new album, he was currently turning South Korea upside down.
*『‘60 million views before 24 hours have passed,’ find Kang Woo-jin in Miley Cara's music video!』*
If reporters didn’t cover this, they would be criticized for missing a golden opportunity.
*『[Star Issue] Kang Woo-jin surprises the world as an actor and vocalist! Next up is Billboard.』*
However, as it was just released today, the results of Cara’s Billboard chart ranking would come out next week. Yet, with the record-breaking achievement on YouTube already made, Korea's major music platforms had long since claimed the number one spot for Cara’s song in real-time.
- *[1(new!)] alcoholism(feat. WooJin) / Miley Cara*
While it wasn’t uncommon for overseas songs to enter the domestic real-time charts, it was rare for one to immediately take the top spot. Of course, Kang Woo-jin’s influence played the largest role.
- Wow...... this song is amazing.....
- Congratulations to World Star Kang Woo-jin on his Billboard debut!
- Is Kang Woo-jin’s vocal color not insane??
- Even though it’s a feature, his presence... is incredible...
- This music video is seriously amazing!! Cara is super sexy and Kang Woo-jin is super cool!!
- Did Kang Woo-jin practice that piano playing? Damn, he plays so well!! What can’t he do?!!
- Alien: Hey, Kang Woo-jin, welcome back.
- Just Kang Woo-jin’s voice alone makes him pop star material, lol.
- He gave us happiness as Cannes Best Actor... now he’s gifting us ear orgasms. I adore him...
- He really seems genuine.
- Kang Woo-jin was originally an amazing vocalist.
- Right after opening, he swept the domestic charts to number one!!! Now he just needs to crush Billboard, and it's game over, lol.
The next morning.
Before the music video for Miley Cara reached 48 hours...
- *【alcoholism(feat. WooJin)】｜Miley Cara*
- *110 million views / 1 day ago*
It easily surpassed 100 million views.
Meanwhile, possibly due to the explosive impact of Kang Woo-jin, the distribution company for *Leech* released numerous videos. They included trailers and teasers for *Leech* as well as edited footage from the Cannes Film Festival.
*『*Leech* reveals exclusive footage from the legendary Cannes Film Festival afterparty』*
*『In response to public demands for a release, the *Leech* trailer and teaser have been dropped all at once!』*
Of course, this was for promotion and marketing.
Korea had already been deeply influenced by *Leech’s* Palme d'Or and Best Actor awards. It was only natural for interest to explode. Additionally, the official poster for *Leech* was also updated. The cut of Woo-jin looking at a family photo remained the same, but several phrases were added.
- *[Competing in the Cannes Film Festival]*
- *[Director Ahn Ga-bok's Palme d'Or winning work]*
- *[Kang Woo-jin wins Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival]*
That night, the *Leech* team announced.
*『[Official] *Leech*, which shook Cannes, confirmed for domestic release on October 27!』*
*『The world has fallen for *Leech*, confirmed for release on the 27th, with about two weeks left until its debut, exciting the public!』*
They announced the official release date to the world.
---
On the 15th, early in the morning, near Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi-do.
It was around 8 AM. The location was a gigantic filming set of over 2000 pyeong. There were more than six enormous studios resembling a logistics warehouse, each filled with various sets. Additionally, there were eight medium
-sized studios, making it a colossal set reminiscent of a small town.
In front of the third studio, where numerous sets were built, a familiar filming team was present.
“Camera, starting with props setup!!”
“When will the props go into set number?!”
“Set 2! Set 2!!”
“Director! Please check the camera installation area!!”
“Where are the extras??!”
“Outside, to the left!”
It was the team from *Beneficial Evil*, which had recently completed overseas filming in Bangkok. The staff numbered over a hundred, and it seemed quite a few extras were being brought in for today’s shoot, as dozens of extras were waiting in the open space in front of the studio. Among them were also some of the existing cast from *Evil Benefactor*, including Hwarin, a supporting actress.
“......”
Sitting in her actor's chair, Hwarin had her hair cut into a short black bob and was currently watching a video on her phone while wearing earphones.
- ♬♪
It was the music video for Miley Cara’s new song featuring Kang Woo-jin. As she watched the video, which had already surpassed 100 million views, Hwarin appeared expressionless on the outside, but inside, she was jumping for joy.
*“The song is sooooo good!”*
Recently, she had often fainted or come close to fainting. Her ultimate bias had won Best Actor at Cannes, and now the album of global superstar Cara was showing a crazy upward trend.
Hwarin’s heart raced.
*“I’m so nervous! What should I do? I don’t think I can look him in the eye!”*
When expectations become excessive, sometimes you inadvertently shrink back. That’s exactly how Hwarin felt now. It was like the heart of a fan about to meet a top Hollywood actor, filled with excitement. Naturally, she wasn’t the only one; all the other main cast members of *Beneficial Evil* were waiting for the same thing as Hwarin.
At this moment, the over a hundred staff members were busily moving while all chatting about one person.
Who could it be?
“I saw the articles about Woo-jin overseas?? It was insane.”
“It went even crazier because of Miley Cara this time.”
“To be honest, when *Beneficial Evil* was first being made, Woo-jin was a big deal, but now it feels like his level has completely transformed. He’s unapproachable? Or maybe he’s a celebrity among celebrities?”
“It’s not inappropriate to call him a global top actor now.”
“It feels strange, just yesterday we were in Bangkok.”
Everyone was talking about Kang Woo-jin. It was only natural, considering the rising stature of the main male lead in *Evil Benefactor*, and all the extras waiting outside the giant studio were buzzing about him.
“Ugh—I'm so nervous, but is Kang Woo-jin really coming today?”
“I don’t know. The staff aren’t giving any precise answers.”
“Oh, he can’t not come today!”
“But seriously, Woo-jin’s aura is insane. What he’s achieved in just two years since his debut—ugh, I really hope he comes today.”
“I came through connections, but everyone here who’s an extra is from theater companies or acting academies. I heard that Woo-jin is rumored to be making his comeback today.”
Everyone was chattering about Kang Woo-jin without a single exception.
“I heard *Leech* is set to premiere at the end of this month?”
“I’m definitely going to see it.”
“It hasn’t been long since he won Best Actor at Cannes, and now with the Miley Cara issue, it’s another bomb waiting to explode.”
“Doesn’t he seem like a person who was born to be a celebrity??”
“But I heard his personality isn’t great.”
“Huh? Really?”
“No, just a rumor. But honestly, I can understand that. He has incredible talent, and winning Best Actor at Cannes after only two years of debut... At this point, it’s understandable if he’s a bit arrogant.”
“Well, he’s had a lot of successes beyond just winning Best Actor at Cannes.”
All the dozens of extras were stealing glances at the huge studio behind them and the hundred or so staff while waiting for their cue, all wrapped up in talk about Kang Woo-jin.
At that moment.
- *Thud.*
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“Ah.”
A woman standing at the end of the extra line dropped the script she had received from the staff. As she bent down to pick it up nonchalantly, she froze.
The reason was simple.
- *Swish.*
Someone’s hand had reached out before hers. It was a man dressed in a black hoodie with black hair, accompanied by several team members.
“Here.”
The moment she saw the indifferent man offering the script, the woman froze. As if in a daze, she looked up at the man in front of her and subconsciously murmured.
“...Whoa. Is it, Kang Woo-jin?”
The man was Kang Woo-jin, the male lead of *Evil Benefactor*, and as the woman remained motionless, Woo-jin stepped closer to her with an expressionless face.
“Please take it.”
Only then did the woman manage to take the script from him, and at that moment, all the eyes of the dozens of extras were focused on Kang Woo-jin.
Silence fell—yet quiet gasps erupted from various corners.
“Wow—”
“...Insane.”
“I-It’s really Kang Woo-jin.”
“Whoa... in person.”
“What an aura.”
All the dozens of people were staring at Kang Woo-jin, but the calm Woo-jin merely bowed his head slightly to the extras. His voice was extraordinarily low.
“Thank you for your hard work today.”
But no one could respond.
“...”
“...”
They were just stunned. Kang Woo-jin radiated an unnameable aura that overwhelmed the extras.
At that moment.
“Woo-jin!!”
A man with a stubbly beard came running from the front, accompanied by about a dozen staff members. It was PD Song Man-woo. PD Song, quickly closing the distance, approached Kang Woo-jin.
“You’ve arrived, the ultra superstar has come.”
“Hello, PD.”
“Let’s go in first. We’ll talk once we’re inside.”
Excited, PD Song pulled Kang Woo-jin along. Soon, Kang Woo-jin drew all the attention from the extras and *Beneficial Evil* staff, and while walking alongside PD Song...
“PD, about Miley Cara’s buzz for *Beneficial Evil*...”
He whispered to PD Song with a serious expression.
“I think it’s time to start hinting at it.”
