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 something like this suits it well?"
"..."
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.
On 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 waist. 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, Miley Kara's side agreed to 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]
Inside the white rectangle with Beneficial Evil written on it, a new grade had been clearly engraved.
It was EX grade.
Until now, SSS+ had been the highest grade, but the top rank had just been raised.
When you saw a result like that, Woojin—
"Hehe, this is seriously amazing."
He shook his body purely out of excitement. There was not a sound of music anywhere around him, but he simply gave himself over to the thrill of the moment. In any case, it had been quite a long time since the grade had risen. In fact, it had stayed at SSS+ for a very long time. A lot of things had happened, but there had not been any major changes, so Woojin, who frequently came and went through the void space, had started to think SSS+ might be the final stage.
Thankfully, that was not the case.
[9/Script (Title: Beneficial Evil), EX Grade]
EX grade. At this point, it would not even be strange if there were ranks even higher than EX. After rhythmically shaking his body for quite a while, Kang Woojin barely managed to collect himself and looked back at the white rectangle labeled Beneficial Evil.
"The reason for the upgrade is obvious."
If he were to list the conditions clearly, there were three. CQC had been added to the Beneficial Evil script, and as a result, the Hollywood stunt team and Ethan Smith had joined the project.
And finally—
'Even Miley Kara.'
A global superstar had been cast. It was only a special appearance, but there had never been anything like this before in either Korea or Hollywood.
'Haha, anyone who hears this is going to be shocked.'
Unlike his usual expressionless face, a smile would not leave Kang Woojin's face. That was because he was faintly imagining the massive things that might happen in the future. EX grade. If something even stronger than SSS+ appeared in reality, what would it look like? Even with a simple calculation, it was obvious it would be far more destructive than Island of the Missing, which had drawn twenty million viewers.
In the end, Beneficial Evil itself was a project aimed at the entire world.
So it would not remain confined to the domestic market.
"Could Beneficial Evil take over the whole world?"
It was entirely possible. Right now, that might still sound somewhat unrealistic, but hadn't the report card said so? The void space had always given the right answer. In conclusion, this time would be no different.
Swoosh.
With a smile spreading across his lips, Woojin stretched again. To be honest, Kang Woojin had never once imagined something like world domination, so he could not picture it vividly. But every astonishing event always had a pioneer.
"All right, calm down first. Let's focus on what's in front of us."
Lately, that pioneer had always been Kang Woojin.
Later.
After returning to Korea on the 21st, Kang Woojin was immediately thrown into a brutally packed schedule without any rest. The Korean press welcomed that eagerly.
[[Star Talk] Kang Woojin Returns from LA and Starts a Photoshoot Without a Moment to Rest]
[Kang Woojin Starts His Schedule Immediately After Returning to Korea? What Happened Between Him and Miley Kara in LA?]
With so little information about Woojin's recent trip to LA, all kinds of speculative articles poured out. But Woojin had no time to pay attention to those. He had to deal with the pile of delayed work first.
'Ah, damn it, being in LA was heaven.'
It felt like hell had opened up the moment he returned, but work was still work. Firmly resetting his concept once again, Kang Woojin silently carried out his schedule.
One day, then two.
Meanwhile, the filming team that had boarded a plane at almost the same time as Woojin also returned to Korea.
[Beneficial Evil Team Returns to the Airport After Heading to Bangkok for Overseas Filming]
[Beneficial Evil Returns, PD Song Manwoo Looks Worn Out / Photo]
The drama Beneficial Evil team, which had gone to Bangkok, Thailand for overseas filming, had returned home. Articles were published with photos of PD Song Manwoo and Ethan Smith at the airport, along with references to Kang Woojin.
[Beneficial Evil Team Returns Without Kang Woojin, More Foreign Staff Added? / Photo]
Of course, there was also a short interview with PD Song Manwoo.
In a brief meeting with reporters at the airport, PD Song Manwoo stated that they had successfully completed the Bangkok shoot and that fortunately, it seemed they would be able to meet the viewers' expectations. He also said they would push forward with production immediately.
In short, it meant they would move quickly.
Then two more days passed.
Saturday the 24th. The weather was still hot, and it was already approaching late July. Miley Kara, who was in LA, was just as busy as Kang Woojin.
For reference, the attack she had suffered was never revealed.
The only news spreading through overseas outlets was about Kara's new album.
The attack on Kara was serious enough to shake Hollywood, but given how quietly everything had been wrapped up, it was obvious Miley Kara's side had done everything possible to suppress media coverage. Completely burying it would be difficult, but for the time being, it seemed they had decided to minimize the damage it could do to Miley Kara.
In any case, Kara was trapped inside a large van on LA's congested roads.
"..."
It was around late morning. Traffic in downtown LA was especially bad that day, and Kara, with a cap pulled low over her blonde hair, rested her chin on her hand and stared out the window. Her blue eyes looked alive, and her face seemed lost in deep thought.
At that very moment—
Swoosh.
Jonathan, her manager, had just ended a phone call. He lowered his phone and spoke.
"Kara, do you want to face that woman?"
The woman he meant was the heavyset woman who had attacked Kara. At her manager's words, Kara shook her head without taking her eyes off the window.
"No."
"Understood. I get it."
Jonathan, who had been watching her with concern, changed the subject.
"The album work is almost done, so why do you still look so exhausted? Are you still bothered by what happened back then? If it's too hard, you can rest."
"No."
Kara finally turned her head and answered in her usual somewhat cool tone.
"It's not that. I'm just a little bored."
"Bored?"
"Don't worry."
"Is it because Mr. Kang Woojin went back?"
"Maybe?"
"It's true, you did seem excited when he was here."
"Having a guest around was much more fun than I expected."
As Kara took off her cap and fixed her blonde hair, Jonathan asked her another question with a cautious expression.
"…Are you really sure you're okay appearing in Mr. Kang Woojin's drama?"
"What about it?"
"I'm asking if it's too much for you. Of course, we owe him a debt. But if you collapse, it all becomes meaningless. And besides, you've never filmed outside Hollywood before, so there might be pressure."
A faint smile touched Miley Kara's red lips.
"If I thought it was too much, I wouldn't have agreed to it. Besides, he saved my life, so this much is nothing."
"Well, if that's what you say."
"And."
Kara stopped speaking for a moment and looked out the window, thinking of Kang Woojin. Or more precisely, thinking of the many works she had watched in order to understand him.
"It's interesting for me too. I've seen Kang Woojin's acting on screen, but I've never seen it with my own eyes. I've seen his other abilities, but I've never actually watched him act in person."
Jonathan let out a small sigh and took the tablet from the foreign staff member sitting to his right. The tablet contained Kara's tightly packed schedule.
"The title of the project is Beneficial Evil*, right? I'll contact them as quickly as possible, but did Mr. Kang Woojin ever explain anything about the drama to you?"*
"He told me about it. But not in detail. He only said it was a Netflix project and that it was an action-packed drama."
"Oh—action."
At that moment, Jonathan remembered the astonishing martial skill Woojin had shown when he rescued Kara.
"Now I'm getting excited too. His movements definitely weren't a coincidence."
"He was cool."
"What?"
"Hm?"
"Huh?"
"..."
Kara hesitated briefly, then closed her mouth. The words he was cool had slipped out unconsciously. So she quickly cleared her throat and changed the subject.
"Anyway, appearing in that drama has meaning for me too. But even that still isn't enough to repay what I owe."
Kara, who had been sitting with her legs crossed in an attempt to look comfortable, suddenly remembered Choi Sunggeon with his tied-back hair.
"They said his agency opened an overseas branch in LA, right?"
"Yes. I heard it was because of Mr. Kang Woojin's activities in Hollywood. With the momentum he has right now, it makes sense for them to be ambitious."
"…I heard the overseas branch still hasn't moved into an office yet. I want to give them essentials like furniture and vehicles."
In other words, she was offering to support BW Entertainment's still-empty overseas branch.
"Really? Understood. I'll handle it."
But Kara's gifts did not stop there.
"I need a house."
"A house?"
"Look into it. Somewhere near our place would be good, but somewhere near the overseas branch is fine too. Don't worry about the price."
"Why are you suddenly buying a house? You bought one just last year. Are you already tired of it? Moving too often isn't good."
"No. It's not for me."
"Then for who?"
"If he ends up working in Hollywood, he'll need the overseas branch, but he'll also need a comfortable place to stay."
"For Mr. Kang Woojin?"
"Yeah."
Miley Kara answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I want to get a house for him to stay in whenever he's in LA."
Sunday the 25th, Korea.
It was morning. The place was a studio apartment. Several desks were piled together in the living room, and papers were scattered all over them. Looking more closely, it was somehow a familiar place. Naturally so. It was writer Choi Nana's workspace.
At that exact moment—
Click.
The door opened, and the slim writer Choi Nana, wearing round glasses, stepped into the living room. She quickly checked the time.
"He'll be here soon."
Just then, the doorbell rang. Startled, Choi Nana checked the intercom. A familiar face appeared. It was Kim Sohyang, the representative of Netflix Korea. Choi Nana hurriedly opened the door. Kim Sohyang stood there with a warm smile.
"Hello, writer."
Feeling slightly tense, writer Choi Nana bowed deeply.
"Ah, please come in!"
Still looking relaxed, Kim Sohyang handed over the box of drinks she had brought.
"It feels nice to be welcomed by a writer who has produced two successful works. As I said on the phone, congratulations on the success of the Boy Friend: Remake project."
Writer Choi Nana, shy by nature, flapped her hands in a fluster.
"Thank you! But I didn't do anything! It was all thanks to the production team and Mr. Kang Woojin."
"Still, you're the original author, so you absolutely deserve to be congratulated. Did you have a good trip to Bangkok?"
"Yes! I worked hard."
"I'm looking forward to hearing all about it."
Kim Sohyang smiled brightly and slowly stepped into the living room. Choi Nana hurriedly cleared the piled-up desks and pulled out a chair.
"Please, sit down!"
"Thank you. By the way, has PD Song Manwoo not arrived yet?"
"No, no, I got a message saying he's almost here."
"Ah—"
"Would you like tea, or coffee?"
"Coffee, please."
Why had Kim Sohyang, effectively the head of Netflix Korea, come to the studio this morning? The reason for the meeting was soon revealed by Kim Sohyang herself.
"By the way, did you hear why PD Song Manwoo suddenly called this meeting?"
"What? Ah, no. I got a call yesterday, and he said he wanted to come by my workspace."
"Hmm— I was surprised too. He specifically said it would be just the three of us meeting here in your workspace."
"He said it was something really important."
"Do you think something serious happened?"
At that exact moment—
♬♪
The doorbell rang again. As expected, writer Choi Nana hurried to the door and opened it. There stood PD Song Manwoo, wearing a black windbreaker and smiling brightly.
"Good morning—"
He looked to be in a much better mood than expected, and writer Choi Nana was slightly surprised as she greeted him.
"Uh… hello. But PD-nim, did something good happen?"
"Hm? Hahaha, yes, yes. Something huge. Something that could shake the world."
"What?"
After taking off his shoes, PD Song Manwoo glanced at the curious, head-tilting Choi Nana, then spotted Kim Sohyang in the living room.
"Hello. Looks like I'm the last one."
"No, I just got here too. But you really do look like you're in a good mood."
"Hahaha. Let's sit down first."
PD Song Manwoo sat across from Kim Sohyang, and Choi Nana adjusted her round glasses as she took the seat beside him. Soon after, Song Manwoo took out his phone and clasped his hands together. Letting out a small breath, he finally spoke.
"The reason I asked for only the three of us to meet is because what I'm about to say is highly confidential."
The first to react was Kim Sohyang, whose brows twitched slightly.
"Confidential?"
"Yes. For now, only the three of us need to know this."
"…What on earth is going on?"
Sensing the seriousness of the situation, both Kim Sohyang and writer Choi Nana put on solemn expressions. Meanwhile, PD Song Manwoo, as calm as ever, quietly delivered the news while looking between the two women.
"Miley Kara is going to join our Beneficial Evil project."
For a brief moment, silence fell over the room. The entire workspace went still.
"..."
"..."
Kim Sohyang and Choi Nana stared at Song Manwoo and did nothing but blink.
That lasted for about five seconds.
Interestingly, the two women spoke at the exact same time.
"What?"
"What?"
Their eyes seemed to be shouting, What kind of nonsense is this?