My Girlfriend's Fortune: 3,141,592,653,589-Chapter 75: Another Beginning

TL: Aniea

“This doesn’t make any sense—!!”

Director Jang screamed, clutching at his head.

His voice was loud enough to make everyone frown, but no one here failed to understand how he felt.

“...This is unexpected.”

“...Did they really film this without the main writer?”

“...Was Choi Ji-hwan always this good at acting?”

Even the other staff members of <Since the Fun is Ruined, I'll Take Responsibility> were left speechless as they watched <Peaceful Chaebol Life> unfold on screen.

The quality was so high that it was hard to believe it had been filmed without the main writer. No, it actually felt even more vibrant and alive than before.

“Was it just a bluff?”

“Maybe they had some material stockpiled?”

“Could they have forced her to write while bedridden...?”

“What would they even gain by doing that?”

“.......”

Director Jang’s sharp retort silenced everyone. The atmosphere made it clear that stepping out of line now would only make you a scapegoat.

“Fine, let’s say Kang Joo-heon’s performance has improved. But even the other actors are so much more lively than before! Especially that punk Choi Ji-hwan, he’s like a completely different person! Kang In-ho, just what the hell did you do!?”

Arrrghh-!

While Director Jang was once again tearing at his hair in frustration, Seo Jun-woo stared intently at the monitor with a serious expression.

Everyone’s eyes were on Choi Ji-hwan, but Seo Jun-woo’s gaze was locked solely on Kang Woo-ju.

As he watched Kang Woo-ju on the screen, he felt a new atmosphere emanating from him, something he hadn’t noticed just last week.

Familiar, yet unfamiliar.

A subtly unsettling feeling.

‘No way...’

Clench-

The thought that crossed Seo Jun-woo’s mind made him unconsciously bite his lip. If he didn't, he felt like he might involuntarily let out a cry.

While everyone was focused on Choi Ji-hwan, Seo Jun-woo was certain the cause of this change was Kang Woo-ju.

“Seo Jun-woo, you look like you know something.”

Director Jang’s voice cut in. It seemed that screaming earlier had helped him calm down enough to hold a conversation.

“If you know the reason, tell me. How is it possible that the main writer is stuck in a hospital bed, yet the show feels more alive than ever? I’m so frustrated I feel like I’ll collapse before Kang In-ho does.”

Thump thump-

Director Jang wasn’t just speaking figuratively; he actually pounded on his chest as if something were physically stuck. Seo Jun-woo, after organizing his thoughts, slowly opened his mouth.

“That’s not acting.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“They’re so deeply immersed in their roles that they don’t even realize they’re acting.”

“.......”

Park Soo-bin was being Park Soo-bin.

Choi Ji-hwan was being Choi Ji-hwan.

A level of performance that embedded the actors’ real names and personalities directly into their characters, a feat achievable only through scripts written by Jung Ha-rin.

“The actors have stepped into the world of the story itself. They don’t need to act anymore. They just speak and behave as they naturally would.”

“...So you’re saying all of that is ad-lib?”

“Of course, the basic scenarios and directions are pre-determined. But, as the saying goes, ‘All roads lead to Seoul.’ The way they reach the destination is entirely up to them.”

“That’s just absurd...”

Director Jang and the rest of the production team stared with their mouths agape. As if bewitched, their gazes all turned to the monitor.

-S-Sunbae-nim! Please save me!

-I’ll do whatever you say....

-Ah, no! Don’t come near meeeaaaargh!!

On the screen, Choi Ji-hwan was crying out desperately, his voice trembling with raw emotion. At last, the others seemed to grasp what Seo Jun-woo had been saying, nodding their heads in agreement.

That wasn’t acting.

It was closer to a real variety show.

“Yeah... if he could act like that, he’d already be famous. There’s no way he would’ve been overshadowed by Kang Woo-ju until episode 8.”

“So... are they actually beating each other up?”

“No way. That’d be insane. They’re literally hitting each other in the face on screen. Do you think the production crew would risk quitting en masse in today’s world?”

“Hmm, yeah, I guess that makes sense.”

The staff, who had now learned the truth, each offered their opinions and fell into thought.

It wasn’t just because this production was a competitor airing in the same time slot, they were genuinely curious about how such a feat was possible.

“So then, why on earth...?”

“It’s because of Kang Woo-ju.”

The one who answered the question was none other than Seo Jun-woo. Having listened silently to the conversation until now, he finally spoke again, and all eyes turned toward him.

“Because of Kang Woo-ju?”

“Yes.”

Seo Jun-woo nodded firmly. His gaze was so intense that even Director Jang flinched and stepped back for a moment.

“C-could you explain that in a bit more detail?”

“To put it bluntly, until last week, Kang Woo-ju’s acting was merely [Kang Joo-heon]. But today, the feeling was completely different.”

“...Hmm?”

Director Jang tilted his head, as if not fully understanding, but Seo Jun-woo’s expression didn’t waver in the slightest.

“Previously, Kang Woo-ju’s acting gave off a vibe like, ‘I’m the real protagonist, so look at me.’ Thanks to that, he garnered a lot of buzz, but it completely overshadowed the presence of the other characters.”

“Yeah, that’s true, wasn’t it?”

“But how was it today?”

“Today? Well... uh?”

Seo Jun-woo’s words finally prompted everyone to notice something strange. Their gazes once again turned toward the monitor, this time focusing on Kang Woo-ju with intent.

“Huh? Now that you mention it...”

“Something feels a bit different, doesn’t it?”

“Was Woo-ju’s presence always this faint?”

Only after hearing Seo Jun-woo’s words did they begin to sense something was off.

Up until now, in two-shots where he appeared alongside Choi Ji-hwan, Kang Woo-ju’s presence had been unquestionably overwhelming. It was to the point where Choi Ji-hwan had earned the nickname “Air” because of how invisible he seemed in comparison.

But today was different.

Up until a few moments ago, before Seo Jun-woo started speaking, everyone had been focused on Choi Ji-hwan.

Of course, Choi Ji-hwan’s intense (and possibly over-the-top) performance contributed greatly to this. But even putting that aside, Kang Woo-ju’s presence felt slightly muted compared to usual.

“That vibe feels familiar somehow.”

“Yeah, like I’ve seen it somewhere before.... Oh?”

The production staff of <Since the Fun is Ruined, I'll Take Responsibility> were just as seasoned as the actors themselves. With only a small hint, they quickly arrived at the answer.

As if they had all agreed on it in advance, their gazes gathered on one person. That person was none other than Seo Jun-woo.

“No way...”

Director Jang trailed off, unable to complete his sentence.

Seo Jun-woo also bit his lip in silence.

His unspoken confirmation left the entire production team in quiet shock. It was such an unbelievable, utterly shocking revelation.

‘...He copied Seo Jun-woo!?’

Seo Jun-woo’s own acting skills were undoubtedly exceptional, but his greatest strength was his ability to adjust to his co-stars, matching their level perfectly.

Even if it meant dulling his own presence, he didn’t hesitate to sacrifice himself for the sake of the production as a whole.

Because of this, actors and staff who worked alongside him were able to relax and give their best, maximizing their potential.

“Kang Woo-ju could do that too?”

“No way. Until last week, everyone except for maybe Kim Young-ho sunbae-nim was overshadowed. If he could have done that, he would’ve done it ages ago.”

“Right, and it feels kind of similar, but also... slightly different, you know? Ugh, how do I even describe it? There’s definitely something different about it compared to Jun-woo’s style.”

The production staff tilted their heads, as if they were on the verge of understanding but couldn’t quite grasp it. At that moment, Seo Jun-woo, who had been silent, opened his mouth again.

“It’s not that Kang Woo-ju adjusted himself to match the other actors. It’s the opposite, he made them adjust to him.”

“What?”

“.......”

Seo Jun-woo said no more. Just observing Kang Woo-ju on the screen seemed to drain all of his energy.

‘...I knew it. My instincts weren’t wrong.’

Memories of the moment he personally visited the set of <Peaceful Chaebol Life> and met Kang Woo-ju came flooding back.

The memory of that moment came to Seo Jun-woo as vividly as a photograph: Kang Woo-ju’s endlessly composed demeanor and gaze, even as he appeared suddenly before him.

An air of sheer arrogance and self-centeredness, as if he was utterly convinced that he was the center of the universe.

Because of that, it seemed like there was no room for the opinions of others to even infiltrate.

‘But that’s not his true nature.’

If Seo Jun-woo hadn’t known Kang Woo-ju during his college years, he might have been completely fooled.

If he hadn’t seen Kang Woo-ju’s script book, so tattered it was practically in shreds, he might have just assumed that’s how Kang Woo-ju always was.

But having witnessed both sides of him, Seo Jun-woo’s discerning eyes couldn’t be deceived. He saw right through to the essence buried beneath Kang Woo-ju’s facade.

‘...He’s the same as me.’

Kang Woo-ju is someone who’s utterly obsessed with acting.

Just like Seo Jun-woo, who had been performing as an actor from the moment he could take his first steps, Kang Woo-ju was someone willing to do anything for the sake of his craft.

A relentless hunger, or perhaps an obsession, for more perfect acting. To achieve this, Kang Woo-ju constantly analyzed and profiled his characters, ultimately making them his own.

And this didn’t just apply to fictional characters. If anything, real people provided even more elements to dig into.

‘I was analyzed.’

Kang Woo-ju had analyzed the person [Seo Jun-woo]. Through this, he had stolen and mimicked Seo Jun-woo’s acting traits however he pleased.

Still, it must have been difficult to replicate such traits perfectly in a short amount of time, or maybe Kang Woo-ju simply didn’t feel the need to.

Rather than adjusting himself to others, Kang Woo-ju focused on forcibly elevating the performances of those around him. The result of that was today’s Choi Ji-hwan.

I am the center.

You will adjust to me.

It was as if those words echoed through the screen.

“Haha... this is just...”

A hollow laugh escaped from Seo Jun-woo’s lips before he even realized it. He didn’t need to look at the viewer ratings displayed beside the monitor, nor wait until the final episode aired, he already knew.

It was a complete defeat.

It wasn’t about live broadcast events or anything of the sort. He had lost in terms of sheer passion for acting.

Perhaps, deep down, he had underestimated Kang Woo-ju. He had never even considered analyzing and absorbing the characteristics of others as Kang Woo-ju had done.

‘...I was the arrogant one.’

Having been an actor since before he could properly establish his own sense of self, Seo Jun-woo had always lived with acting as the essence of his life.

But dedicating so many years to a single field inevitably leads to falling into a rut.

Until now, he hadn’t been aware of it. Only upon admitting defeat did he realize it at last.

‘This is fun, after all.’

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

Seo Jun-woo savored the rough pounding of his heart, which now raced as if in defiance, and a faint smile crept across his lips.

Not as part of an act.

But from his pure, genuine emotions.

*

Time passed, and <Peaceful Chaebol Life> was now on the verge of airing its final episode.

After the chaotic events of episode 8, writer Jung Ha-rin had safely returned, showcasing her full capabilities, and as a result, the show’s ratings continued to climb steadily.

“Sunbae-nim, I’d like to ask for some advice about the final scene. Based on my analysis, I think I should glare at you during this part while...”

After receiving that soul massage, Choi Ji-hwan no longer trembled in front of me.

Rather, he approached acting more actively than before, sticking to me to the point of annoyance to ask about this and that.

Having been cast as the lead in <Peaceful Chaebol Life>, Choi Ji-hwan was someone with natural talent. It was evident that his acting skills were steadily improving.

└ These days, Choi Ji-hwan’s looking pretty cool.

└ Agreed. At first, I was like, “Why is this guy the lead?” But now, I can’t stop watching. Especially when he’s in scenes with Kang Woo-ju, his eyes are alive.

└ Maybe he wasn't actually bad at acting, but it was build-up to show before and after his awakening?

└ Now that you mention it, it seems plausible. For real, lol.

Of course, viewers noticed this as well. As Choi Ji-hwan’s form improved, the overall quality of the drama skyrocketed.

In the midst of this, the <Since the Fun is Ruined, I'll Take Responsibility> team did manage to put up a good fight, but they couldn’t surpass the runaway success that our drama had become. Ultimately, it was remembered as one of those unfortunate works that had bad timing.

With all this good news coming one after another, <Peaceful Chaebol Life> successfully wrapped up its filming.

“Okay, cuuuuuuuuut—!!”

“Good work, everyone!!!”

“Ahhh....”

As Director Kang In-ho called the final cut, the production team let out cheers loud enough to shake the earth.

Among them, some were even crying with emotion, a reaction that was entirely understandable, given the long and challenging journey they had endured.

“As announced earlier, there won’t be an after-party today! Just go home, take a few days to rest and recharge, and we’ll see each other again at the theater for the final episode broadcast!”

"Yes-!!"

The production crew responded energetically to Kang In-ho’s instructions and began bustling about. I turned my head slowly, letting my gaze linger on the people around me.

“Cameras over here! Mics over there!”

“Come on, let’s clean up quickly and head home!”

“Hey, rookie, double-check to make sure we didn’t leave anything behind!”

Even though filming had officially ended, people were still moving about busily. It was a scene that naturally brought to mind the phrase, “The end is just another beginning.”

While my first-ever drama had become a much bigger hit than I expected, I knew I was still only at the starting line. Soon, I would take on another role. That thought alone made my heart race for no reason.

“Woo-ju, you’ll be attending the ‘Final Episode Viewing with the Cast’ event, right? Everyone’s probably counting the days, waiting for you to show up.”

While I was lost in thought, Director Kang In-ho approached me and struck up a conversation.

“Yes, I’ll be there.”

“I just want to make sure, this time, it’s an event where fans will also be present, so I hope you’ll stay until the very end.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

I nodded firmly.

Last time, I had to leave early because of Kim Eun-ha’s claustrophobia, but this time, since it was also a fan meeting event, she had decided not to attend at all.

“Good. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for everything. You really worked hard today, too. Next time, I’ll treat you to a proper meal, so... No, on second thought, forget it. No matter what I do, it’s probably impossible to satisfy your tastes.”

“Some grilled fish will do just fine.”

“......?”

Kang In-ho made a face like he wasn’t sure if he’d just heard me correctly. I followed up with a gentle smile to soften the moment.

“I’m joking.”

“...Well, I’ll be damned. Of all people, I didn’t think Woo-ju would crack a joke. Guess I’ve lived long enough to see everything. You look so much better when you smile like that.”

Scratching his head with an awkward expression, Director Kang In-ho gave my shoulder a light pat before walking away.

I watched his retreating figure and quietly let the corners of my lips curl upward into a faint smile.

*****

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