Episode 462 Prologue (5)



The surrounding team members clung to Hwarin's absentminded state. Her condition was not good, even though the concert rehearsal was just around the corner.

"Hwarin! What's wrong? Snap out of it!"

"Dream... It's a dream. A dream."

"What?? Why is she acting like this?! What's this a dream?!!"

Several people ran over and shook the distraught Hwarin. Soon, members of her girl group, Elani, joined in.

"Huh?? Unnie! Unnie?? What's wrong? Why are you like this?"

"Hwarin! Come to your senses!!"

"No, she was looking at her phone, and then all of a sudden—!!"

Soon, the cell phone in Hwarin's hand was passed to one of the members. What was funny was—

"What on earth did you see— Huh?"

The member's eyes widened as she looked at Hwarin's phone screen.

"Wow!! Wow!!! No way!! Everyone, look at this!"

What she saw was an article from the Korean media.

『[Breaking News] Kang Woo-jin, Miley Cara in Love... Romance Rumors Explode in Hollywood / Photos』

Soon, several people checked the article, and chaos erupted. Everyone's eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.

"Oh my! Are these two actually dating?? Seriously? This isn't fake?"

"Wait a minute! I'll check for more articles!"

"Wow—this article is blowing up right now?? It's trending in Korea and even here in Japan!!"

"There's chaos in Hollywood too!"

"Kang Woo-jin dating Miley Cara... It's kind of eerie. I don't mean that in a bad way—I'm just genuinely surprised."

"They suit each other well. Honestly, Kang Woo-jin is a world star now, isn't he?"

"It didn't just happen—it was completely overlooked! But is this really true?? There are articles from every country, yet neither Kang Woo-jin nor Miley Cara has made a statement."

"They're probably talking to each other right now since they got caught by the paparazzi."

"It could just be a baseless rumor that got blown out of proportion."

"But if they really are dating, wouldn't they be considered a world-class couple?"

Amidst all the speculation and excitement, one of Elani's members suddenly noticed that Hwarin had disappeared. She quickly turned her head left and right, searching for her. Fortunately, Hwarin was sitting on a nearby sofa.

But, "They're saying Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara are dating... so why is she like this??"

Hwarin, sitting on the sofa, stared blankly into space, her soul seemingly absent.

"······"

At this point, one of the team members chimed in.

"But if the two of them really are dating, don't you think it'll be hard to focus when Beast and the Beauty is released?"

Because--.

News of Kang Woo-jin's rumored relationship didn't just shake Hwarin's team—it spread instantly to the Japanese public as well. Given the magnitude of the topic, it was only natural that the rumor of Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara's romance would become a hot issue.

"Did you see the news? Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara are dating??"

"I did! There's a huge article about it right now!"

"In the past, the Eerie sacrifice of a stranger Muramatsu Mifuyu appeared on a variety show and showed a lot of interest in Kang Woo-jin... I guess she's out of the picture now."

By morning, the Japanese public was already buzzing about Kang Woo-jin's dating rumors.

So what about Korea?

『Kang Woo-jin♥Miley Cara in love—The dating rumor that turned Hollywood upside down!』

『[Star Photo] Miley Cara spotted leaving Kang Woo-jin's LA home late at night / Photos』

『The Birth of a World-Star Couple! The Leading Stars: Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara』

In short, a media frenzy had erupted. The entire nation was abuzz. Hollywood had broken the news, and time zones didn't seem to matter.

『Hollywood in an uproar over Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara's dating rumors!』

『[Global Buzz] Overseas mega-community Nedit on fire: "Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara are dating?!"』

The rumor spread like wildfire across Korea, both online and offline.

Dating scandals--.They're one of the domestic media's and public's favorite topics. Adding to the hype, Kang Woo-jin was a national legend—someone who had achieved immense success and continued to do so. A figure who instilled a strong sense of pride in Koreans.

And this was his first-ever dating rumor.

『[Star Talk] Is Kang Woo-jin really the man of world-class actress and pop star Miley Cara? It's still speculation, as neither party has released a statement.』

Naturally, both the media and public were going wild.

-Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara are dating?? Did I read that right?

-Wow, seriously???

-I feel a little down... I want Woo-jin oppa to be happy... but dating news always feels bittersweet...

-His first dating scandal broke in Hollywood, LOL. Classy.

-Guys, Kang Woo-jin's dating rumor isn't confirmed yet, LOL. They haven't admitted it.

-Maybe a foreign news outlet jumped the gun, and now the rumor is snowballing.

-If this turns out to be false, the first outlet that reported it is doomed, LOL. The stakes are way too high now.

-I was just living my life... and suddenly, I saw an article saying Miley Cara is dating a Korean actor...

-They've done so many projects together, LOL. I hope they're happy if it's true.

-If this is real, a world-class couple has been born!!

The same chaos unfolded in the Korean entertainment industry. Kang Woo-jin's agency, BW Entertainment, was in full panic mode. Other actors from the same agency, like Hong Hye-yeon and Ryu Jung-min, were also caught up in the frenzy.

"That's ridiculous!!! Why isn't Seong-geon's answering my calls!!"

"Hey, Hong Hye-yeon, why are you getting worked up?"

Everyone in Korea who knew Kang Woo-jin was now watching him with great interest.

And then there was his family. Kang Woo-chul, Seo Hyun-mi, and Kang Hyun-ah. Naturally, they heard about Kang Woo-jin's dating rumor almost immediately.

Kang Woo-chul looked bewildered.

"Oh, my son is dating?"

Seo Hyun-mi, however, was unfazed. "Is that so strange? He's in his prime."

"So... this Hollywood actress is going to be our daughter-in-law?"

"Are you crazy? You've lost it. Snap out of it."

"Hmm— I guess I can accept a blonde daughter-in-law too."

"Are you seriously crazy?"

Woo-jin's parents were surprisingly unfazed. Maybe it was because they didn't know much about Hollywood. On the other hand, his younger sister, Kang Hyun-ah, had been frantically scrolling through articles on her phone, screaming.

"Wow!! No! Wow!!! This is insane!"

However, Kang Woo-jin's family had more pressing matters to worry about than dating rumors. Seo Hyun-mi smacked Kang Hyun-ah on the butt as she spoke.

"Stop fooling around and go pack your bags! Weren't you the one freaking out about leaving in two days?"

"No, Mom! My brother is dating Miley Cara??!! Miley Cara is literally Hollywood's top star! Aarghh! But my brother isn't answering his phone!"

"Are you out of your mind?! You're the president of his fan club! Stop bothering him and go pack your bags!!"

They were scheduled to leave for LA on the 5th—exactly two days later.

"Oh, by the way, I'm so excited! Woo-jin said we can watch a Hollywood movie on location."

Because they had received an invitation from Kang Woo-jin himself.

Tickets to see Perriot. It was one of 33 theaters worldwide set for an early premiere on the 9th. So, Kang Woo-chul, Seo Hyun-mi, and Kang Hyun-ah would soon be heading to LA.

"Do you think we'll get to see Woo-jin in person?"

"Of course! He said he'd be there for the stage greeting and would show his face for a bit."

"Will the whole theater be filled with foreigners??"

Of course, they weren't the only ones flying to LA for the Perriot premiere.

"Mom, Dad! The theater won't be full of only foreigners, right?? I heard that Korean actors and other staff members will be there too! because The movie Perriot was directed by Ahn Ga-bok!"

A large number of people from Korea were making the trip as well.

February 5th, LA—Morning.

Hollywood was already buzzing with major headlines. But the most explosive of them all was the dating rumor between Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara, which had broken out two days earlier. Articles about it had flooded Hollywood and the entire U.S., and the buzz had only intensified.

But that wasn't all. Social media was on fire, and their names were trending non-stop on YouTube and online forums. The attention was so overwhelming that Kang Woo-jin's and Miley Cara's social media accounts and YouTube channels were practically crashing under the traffic.

The world's public reaction was impossible to measure.

Even at this very moment, the frenzy continued.

Meanwhile, inside a black van, a blonde woman sat quietly as the vehicle started moving. It was Miley Cara. Due to the chaos surrounding her, she had pulled her hat low over her face. As soon as the car started, the manager sitting next to her let out a long sigh.

"Whew—what the hell is going on?" Cara smiled faintly, gazing out the window.

"Jonathan, stop it. You've been saying that since yesterday."

"Hey, Miley. Are you really just going to sit back and do nothing? No matter how I look at it, we need to take action."

"Taking action? You mean doing nothing?"

"······Do you even realize the entire world is in chaos because of you right now?"

The manager sighed again but suddenly remembered something. He turned to Cara and asked,

"Did you really confess to Kang Woo-jin first?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"How many times do you have to ask?"

The manager, who had been scratching his head, sighed and replied.

"I just can't imagine Miley Cara confessing to a guy first—" Cara, smiling as if she had no idea what he was talking about, showed her phone to her manager. On the screen, one of the two photos included in the dating rumors was displayed—a picture of Kang Woo-jin and Cara talking.

"Didn't this photo come out well? I should save it."

"······Yeah. It did come out well. Phew—" The manager, who had been sighing nonstop, spoke as if he had almost given up.

"So, how long are you going to let this situation drag on?" Cara shrugged, casually crossing her legs in the opposite direction.

"Let's just leave it for now. I'm curious to see what Kang Woo-jin will do."

"Kang Woo-jin isn't saying anything either. What if the silence between the two of you drags on too long? No, that won't do. It'll just lead to pointless rumors and damage your image."

Miley Cara hummed softly, her expression slightly mischievous.

"Then why not just make it clear? We're not dating, but I was the one who confessed first."

At that moment, the manager's mouth dropped open.

Meanwhile, at Columbia Studios

The Perriot: The Birth of a Villain team had gathered in the conference room. Only the production team was present—none of the actors were in attendance. Director Ahn Ga-bok sat among them, along with executives from Columbia Studios, producer Nora Foster, and other key figures. The discussion centered around the upcoming pre-release, just four days away.

"When will ticket sales open for the 33 theaters?"

"In a few hours. At noon today, all time slots across all 33 theaters will go on sale simultaneously. We've ensured there are plenty of showings available."

"What about recent promotions?"

"We've already doubled the number of pre-release screenings, starting from a week in advance."

Then, a bald executive brought up a different topic—Kang Woo-jin.

"What do you think about this situation with Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara?"

"Honestly, it's not a problem for us at all. If anything, isn't this a blessing?"

"That's right. Look at the media—they're all talking about Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara. Public interest has skyrocketed."

"I don't know how Beast and the Beauty will handle this, but for us? This is an absolute windfall. Kang Woo-jin was already a hot topic, and now, just a few days before the pre-release, this happens?"

"The more Kang Woo-jin's name is mentioned, the higher Perriot's popularity climbs."

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had been listening quietly, suddenly turned to the executives and asked a different question—still about Woo-jin, but on another topic.

"Did Kang Woo-jin confirm his next movie, Bat: Birth of a Hero?"

The bald executive nodded with a knowing smile.

"I was just about to bring that up. I got a call from him yesterday. We still need to finalize the contract, but the Joker in "Bat: Birth of a Hero" will be Kang Woo-jin."

That meant that after Perriot, Kang Woo-jin would continue his role as Joker in Bat: Birth of a Hero.

Then, the bald executive's expression turned serious as he looked directly at Director Ahn Ga-bok.

"What about you, Director? Have you given any thought to the proposal we made?"

All eyes, including Nora Foster's, were now fixed on Director Ahn Ga-bok. The bald executive spoke again.

"Please, Direct the birth of a hero."

Director Ahn Ga-bok paused for a moment, recalling the previous proposal.

'Honestly, I was planning to take a break after Perriot, but... I feel like I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I let this opportunity slip away. And then there's Kang Woo-jin, too.'

With a determined expression, he looked at the Columbia Studios executives and, in his deep, seasoned voice, gave his answer.

"Yes, I will direct Bat: Birth of a Hero."

A Few Hours Later – Just Past Noon

A massive film studio in LA was bustling with activity. Dozens of foreign staff members moved efficiently, setting up around an actor positioned at the center of the set.

The actor in question—Kang Woo-jin—stood sharply dressed in a tailored suit.

*Click! Click! Tit tit!*

"Nice! I love it!"

He was in the middle of a photoshoot for the cover of a prestigious international magazine. Having grown accustomed to the demands of pictorial shoots, Woo-jin effortlessly changed poses and outfits, adapting to the camera's lens with practiced ease.

Meanwhile, several members of the foreign staff were whispering among themselves, their eyes darting toward him. It wasn't hard to guess what they were discussing.

Miley Cara. But whatever.

"Oh! Woojin! That was amazing! Let's take a short break. Check the remaining wardrobe options, and we'll resume in ten minutes!"

With that, Woo-jin was given a brief reprieve. As expected, he returned to his seat, now dressed in a darker, more intense concept. One of the team members handed him a water bottle and his phone.

Just then—*Whoooosh, whoooosh.*

His phone vibrated persistently. Woo-jin glanced at the screen, his expression remaining unreadable as he read the caller ID.

[Chris Hartnett].

'Did he call just to tease me again?'

Ever since the dating rumors exploded, Woo-jin had been flooded with messages and calls. Among them was Chris Hartnett, who had grown close to him. At first, Chris had congratulated him—but soon enough, he had started teasing him mercilessly.

Woo-jin considered ignoring the call, but after a brief hesitation, he picked up.

He deliberately raised his voice.

"I'm busy."

On the other end, Chris got straight to the point.

"Woojin, I'm at Columbia Studios right now. Did you get the news?"

"What?"

Chris exhaled sharply.

"I'm talking about Perriot: The Birth of a Villain. Ticket sales went live a little while ago—at noon."

Oh. Right. The reminder sparked Woo-jin's memory.

"I know. What about it?"

Chris didn't hesitate.

"All showings—every single time slot, in all 33 theaters—are completely sold out for opening day."