Miley Kara. A superstar with enormous influence even among Hollywood's top actresses. She had not only succeeded as an actress, but had also achieved tremendous success as a singer. Her YouTube channel boasted an astonishing number of subscribers, and her social media following had reached into the millions.
Why was Miley Kara's name suddenly appearing here?
PD Song Manwoo held the phone to his ear, blinking with a head full of question marks. He had heard Kang Woojin's calm voice twice now, but he still could not make sense of what he was hearing.
"…M-Miley Kara?"
But Woojin's answer was simple again.
"Yes, that's right."
"Uh, I mean, Miley… Kara is the one working on a new album with you right now, isn't she?"
"Yes."
"Did you mix up the name?"
"No, I didn't."
"Or are you talking about some Hollywood actress with a similar name? Like Miley Kara or Miley Kirara or something?"
"No. It is definitely Miley Kara."
"…The Miley Kara I know? No, the Miley Kara the whole world knows? That person?"
"Yes."
PD Song Manwoo, who had frozen for a moment, slowly opened his mouth wide. Then he screamed inwardly.
'Miley Kara???!!!'
He had thought an actor was being cast in Beneficial Evil, and then Miley Kara's name suddenly came up. He had heard the words, but he still could not believe them. Why would that Hollywood star appear in Beneficial Evil? PD Song Manwoo tilted his head and asked again.
"Mr. Woojin. You're not joking, are you? You're serious?"
"I'm completely serious."
"But why on earth would Miley Kara want to appear in our production?"
"It just happened that way. Ah, and please keep this matter strictly confidential for now."
The explanation was too short. But even that short explanation was enough to make Song Manwoo feel like his head was going to explode. He was so shocked that his mind went blank. It was the kind of thing that would almost never happen in Korea's past or future.
'This is insane. But Woojin isn't the type to joke around so openly like that.'
No, even if someone said it was impossible, it would not have sounded strange.
'Ah, but how can he mention something this shocking so casually, like he's tossing a coin?'
Even though he was talking about bringing someone with a global fandom on the scale of Miley Kara into Beneficial Evil, Kang Woojin's voice over the phone remained calm, low, and unbelievably composed. That only made PD Song Manwoo struggle harder. Still, he was a veteran director with decades of experience. First, he did his best to calm the storm of thoughts in his head.
'I don't know what's happening, but calm down.'
'This is definitely something that could shake the world.'
PD Song Manwoo stroked his beard, suppressing his excitement as much as possible before speaking again.
"Mr. Woojin, could you explain in a little more detail? How did something like this happen?"
"I can't tell you everything about the situation, but Miley Kara and I got along well."
Kang Woojin only relayed the key points to PD Song Manwoo. Kara's debt to Woojin, and Woojin's proposal. Of course, he did not mention the fact that she had been attacked. PD Song Manwoo listened step by step, and while he was shocked at first, that shock gradually turned into awe.
"So, in short, you made an offer to Miley Kara, and she agreed to it as a way of repaying the debt she owed you?"
"Yes. I brought it up just in case, and she agreed willingly."
"And why did you ask her to repay the debt in that way?"
"I thought it would be interesting."
"Interesting?"
"Beneficial Evil is an ambitious project aimed at a global audience. Don't you think an event like this is fitting?"
"..."
Hearing Woojin's answer, PD Song Manwoo kept a serious face, but inwardly, warm admiration rose inside him.
'He cares that much about this project.'
Kang Woojin had always given his all during filming, but PD Song Manwoo had not realized that he cared this deeply. There was something sincere in the attitude he always carried so indifferently. Then, all at once, director Shin Dongchun from the film Exorcism came to mind.
'So this was the indescribable feeling he meant.'
It was a moment of admiration born from misunderstanding, but completely unaware of that, PD Song Manwoo found a smile spreading across his face.
"Mr. Woojin, thank you very much. Thank you for giving me a precious opportunity that I would never have experienced in my life."
"No, it's fine."
"My goodness, now I owe you one. Miley Kara is an actress even top Hollywood directors would have trouble casting. For something like this, I feel like I ought to risk my life over it."
To PD Song Manwoo, this was truly the kind of opportunity that felt like heaven-sent luck. Perhaps no other Korean director would ever face the same situation in his lifetime, and for Song Manwoo, this would likely be the first and the last.
"Ah, but Mr. Woojin, have you discussed how much screen time Miley Kara would have?"
"I'll leave that to you. She said she would be fine with a small role or even just a cameo."
In other words, she was not only willing to make a brief cameo appearance, but would also accept a role with actual weight.
"So you're saying it would even be fine to give her dialogue and a character name?"
"Yes. I think it would be best to link her appearance to the overseas Bangkok location shoot that appears in episodes one and two of Beneficial Evil*."*
"You mean the CQC shoot? Then does that mean she would be connected to Jang Yeonwoo's past?"
"That would keep it clean."
"Then can I take this as confirmed?"
"Yes."
"All right."
PD Song Manwoo, who had been clenching his fist inwardly, suddenly ran into the wall of reality. Bringing in a top-tier superstar was miraculous, but the cost of that miracle would surely be beyond imagination.
"But if it's Kara… then about how much would her appearance fee be?"
Kang Woojin's response was immediate.
"It has already been paid."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
"But as a matter of courtesy, it would be best if you provided the basics, such as lodging and transportation."
"Of course."
"I'm sorry, PD-nim. I think I have to hang up now."
As if he were busy, Kang Woojin said goodbye quickly and ended the call. PD Song Manwoo slowly lowered the phone and sat there in a daze for a while. Then he remembered that earlier in the morning, stunt team leader Ethan Smith had also said something similarly shocking.
'Didn't he say some famous Hollywood actor was coming to Bangkok to watch Mr. Woojin's overseas shoot? And now Miley Kara too?'
Wherever Kara went, her large team followed with her.
'Why are so many Hollywood celebrities gathering like this? And all of them are connected to Mr. Woojin.'
It was all because of Kang Woojin.
The morning of the 20th, in Los Angeles.
Monday had passed, and Tuesday had arrived. Kang Woojin was inside a familiar giant studio dome. It was the very same place where Miley Kara's music video had been filmed a few days earlier. The shoot, which had been temporarily halted by the attack, had resumed.
This time, however, the on-site security was extremely tight.
The number of large-bodied security guards had tripled, and every single staff member involved underwent a thorough check. Naturally, Kang Woojin's staff were no exception. With intense security in place, the resumed music video shoot began.
Even so, the process itself was fairly similar.
Kang Woojin had to wear the same clothes as before. At one point, while watching Kara match choreography with the backup dancers, Woojin sincerely gave her a mental thumbs-up.
'She's a pro. A real pro.'
It was probably because his schedule had been taken into account, but resuming filming right after suffering such a serious attack was by no means easy, either mentally or physically. In any case, this music video shoot proceeded smoothly without major problems.
Even though it was his first time, Kang Woojin handled the filming naturally.
'Mm, it's not really difficult. There aren't any lines, and there's no choreography either.'
When the morning shoot wrapped up, a break was given while they prepared to move to another set. Kang Woojin changed clothes as well, taking off the tuxedo and changing into a shirt and jeans.
Around that time.
Shhh.
Choi Sunggeon, who looked clearly exhausted and whose tied hair was slightly disheveled, approached Woojin and showed him his phone.
"The ratings for episode two of Boy Friend: Remake have been released."
At some point, episode two of Boy Friend: Remake had aired, and the Japanese ratings were now being announced.
[Ratings]
Boy Friend: Remake / TBE / 15.5%
Magic Revolution / Fuji ETV / 9.3%
Strongest Spy / Tokyo ETV / 7.1%
Detective Conan / NHM / 5.9%
.
.
.
.
As he showed him the results, Choi Sunggeon grinned.
"The ratings went up again."
In fact, episode two of Boy Friend: Remake had recorded even higher ratings than episode one. Of course, the opening theme song sung by Kang Woojin, which was currently holding the No. 1 spot on the Oricon chart, was also still firmly staying in first place. Kang Woojin responded with only a brief answer and a calm expression.
"That's very nice."
But inside, he was giving himself a huge round of applause.
'Good! Very good!!'
He had not checked for himself, but by now, Japan and Korea were probably both overflowing with articles about Boy Friend: Remake.
Kara's music video shoot wrapped up late that night. By the time it ended, Kara and the hundred or so foreign staff members were all completely exhausted. Only Woojin still looked perfectly fine. The cleanup afterward also took quite a while.
About two hours.
The cleanup did not finish until after 11 p.m., but Kang Woojin and Choi Sunggeon did not return to the hotel right away. There was an after-party at Miley Kara's house.
"Everyone really worked hard!"
Expensive champagne was the highlight of the party. With the exception of Woojin and Kara, everyone drank, though not to excess, and thoroughly enjoyed the after-party. The food was made by Kang Woojin himself, and bulgogi was served in two versions: soy sauce flavor and spicy.
The spicy bulgogi had been made for Kara.
Just as she had requested, it was extremely spicy, and the blonde Kara ended up with tears in her eyes while eating it.
"Ha— it's spicy, way too spicy!"
"You said you wanted something intense enough that you wouldn't even be able to think."
Overwhelmed by the heat of the Korean food, Kara eventually drank too much champagne and fell asleep almost immediately.
That was how Kang Woojin's LA schedule came to an end.
"Mm, a lot happened. But all things considered, it wasn't that bad."
A few hours later, Woojin boarded an early morning flight back to Korea.
The next morning, after Kang Woojin left LA.
It was inside Miley Kara's luxurious house. Half-asleep, she opened her eyes on the bed, blinked a few times, and suddenly shot upright.
"Ah!"
Her long blonde hair was slightly messy, but without even bothering to fix it, she headed downstairs wearing a hoodie that reached down to her thighs. In the spacious first-floor living room, her direct manager Jonathan was sitting on the sofa looking at a tablet. He lifted his head and smiled as he spoke.
"You're alive."
Kara asked hurriedly.
"Jonathan, where is Kang Woojin?"
"He already left for Korea."
"Ah, damn it."
Only then did Kara brush back her blonde hair with her fingers and scold herself for having gotten drunk and fallen asleep.
"I didn't even get to say goodbye."
"Couldn't you just send him a message?"
"Mm, I could… but we worked hard together for almost ten days. It feels a little disappointing."
At that moment, the thought 'When will I get to see him again?' brushed through Kara's mind. But she did not say it out loud, and Jonathan stood elegantly, patting her on the shoulder to reassure her.
"Don't worry. I saw him off on your behalf."
"..."
Kara, who had been moving her lips slightly, suddenly blurted something out to Jonathan.
"Actually, I already decided. The title track for this new album is going to be the song Woojin participated in."
A few hours later.
On the morning of the 21st, after a long flight, Kang Woojin finally arrived in Korea. The press had not been informed in advance, and because there had been slight changes to his LA schedule, there were no reporters waiting for him at the airport. Even so, hundreds of fans had gathered to see his arrival.
Photos of him arriving were already being uploaded to Instagram.
At that time, Kang Woojin was inside a black van speeding down the highway. The inside of the vehicle was quiet. Because of the long LA schedule, all the team members had fallen into a deep sleep. Of course, only Choi Sunggeon and Woojin were awake, and after letting out a huge yawn and tying his hair back up, Choi Sunggeon turned his head.
"The reporters are starting to catch on that you're back in Korea. Articles are spreading."
"Really?"
"Hehe, all kinds of speculation are flying around. Well, I guess they're dying of curiosity. Honestly, I'd be the same. Your chemistry with Kara in that song and music video was seriously insane."
Choi Sunggeon's smile deepened.
"Anyway, once the album work is complete, we already agreed that Miley Kara's side will announce it first before we release anything. The music video teaser is going to be revealed on Kara's YouTube channel first, and then we'll be able to use it."
"Yes, sir."
"That too, of course, but what I'm really looking forward to is Kara's special appearance in Beneficial Evil*."*
Choi Sunggeon rubbed his hands together with a wide grin.
"The announcement will come later, but once it's revealed, not just Korea, but Hollywood too… no, the entire world might go crazy."
That was not an exaggeration, considering the status of someone with Kara's global level of influence. Even then, it was obvious that the news would become a huge issue in Korea, Japan, and Hollywood alike.
Instead of answering, Kang Woojin suddenly moved his index finger.
Pook!
He picked up the script lying nearby and entered the void space. The reason was simple.
"Ah, damn, I almost yawned."
He had been trying to keep up a composed appearance, but he was just about to yawn. Considering the exhaustion that had piled up over nearly ten days, that was only natural. Soon after, Woojin threw off the mask, yawned several times, and stretched.
Then—
Shhh.
He walked toward the line of white rectangles. In truth, Kang Woojin had not entered the void space just to yawn. There was another reason. No, perhaps intuition or premonition would be the better word.
"Oh!! Right, there it is! Amazing!"
Looking at one of the white rectangles, specifically the one labeled Beneficial Evil, Kang Woojin started lightly dancing with his shoulders bouncing.
There was a reason for that. The grade for Beneficial Evil had been upgraded one level from its previous SSS+.
[9/Script (Title: Beneficial Evil), EX Grade]
A new rank he had never seen before was now displayed. EX Grade. Clearly, it was a higher level.
"Just like I expected! It got an even higher score."
He could not even begin to imagine just how destructive that would be.