Episode 470: Encroachment (6)



A spacious living room in LA. A luxurious five-seater sofa sat in the center, exuding elegance at first glance. Seated comfortably with his legs crossed was Chris Hartnett, his hair casually tied back with a headband.

Despite his packed schedule—preparing for 'Guest' and wrapping up work for Perriot—today was a rare day off. Dressed in relaxed casual wear, Chris lounged back, phone in hand, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Kekekeke, man—Kang Woojin is something else."

He was watching a freshly uploaded YouTube video, his eyes glinting with amusement.

To be precise—

—["No, we are dating."]

It was the moment Kang Woojin publicly confirmed his relationship with Miley Cara at the' Beast and the Beauty' event. The clip seemed to be taken by a reporter on-site, and videos like this had already flooded YouTube, their views skyrocketing by the minute.

Chris let out a small chuckle.

"You really know how to capture people's attention. I should take a page out of your book someday."

Then, after a beat, he added lightly, "Well, first of all, congrats."

Without hesitation, he tapped Woojin's number and called.

Woojin picked up almost immediately.

"I'm busy."

-Click.*

The call ended just as fast.

Chris blinked, then snorted, shaking his head as he put his phone down.

"Damn, jealous bastard. This whole thing is going to be a mess for a while anyway."

Of course, it wasn't just Chris keeping an eye on the situation.

In another part of the industry, director Ahn Ga-bok had also caught wind of the news.

He let out a hearty laugh. "Well, well, this calls for a celebration."

Then, with a knowing smile, he mused, "But I have to say—admitting to the first dating rumor without hesitation? That's so Woojin."

The buzz spread like wildfire.

Not just among the actors of Perriot: The Birth of a Villain or the executives at Columbia Studios—but across the entire industry.

And that was just the beginning.

Director Danny Landis, Joseph Felton, and the rest of the 'John Persona' crew, who were set to meet Kang Woo-jin for the first time on set tomorrow, were thrown into an uproar. The A8 Media staff working on 'Guest' weren't faring much better.

At World Disney Pictures, the reactions were equally chaotic.

"Wow—this is the first time I've seen someone admit to a relationship like that."

"I was shocked too, but... thinking about it, it's totally Kang Woo-jin."

"Yeah. If you ask him, he'd probably just say, 'It's not that hard.'"

"Honestly? The reporters weren't exaggerating—this really is the 'couple of the century.'"

"What do you mean? They're literally the hottest stars in Hollywood right now! Though... Kang Woo-jin does have a habit of making a lot of noise."

With the addition of love to an already boiling pot of global hype, Hollywood found itself at a fever pitch. Foreign reporters went half-crazy.

From inside his van, Kang Woo-jin scrolled through the headlines, his pulse racing.

'Holy shit. Is this actually happening?! How many articles are dropping every second?!'

It felt like an unstoppable tidal wave crashing over Hollywood.

[ CNM → Kang Woo-jin openly declares his love for Miley Cara at the 'Beauty and the Beast' event!]

[ BBX → Hollywood's biggest dating rumor turns into reality: Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara confirmed as a couple!]

[ LA TIMES → [BREAKING] 'Beauty and the Beast' comes to life: Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara, the 'Couple of the Century!']

The moment Woo-jin admitted to dating Cara, the internet exploded.

Every major outlet used the same photos—Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara, whispering to each other on stage. Their hands intertwined as they left the venue. The perfect couple shot.

And as the foreign press went wild, the global fan reaction followed suit.

-OH MY GOD!!! THEY'RE ACTUALLY DATING?!?!-

-I CAN'T ACCEPT THIS. NO. THIS HAS TO BE A DREAM.-

-Get a grip, idiots. Look at the photos. It's real.-

-Honestly? They look really good together.-

-The way Woo-jin admitted it straight up... it totally gave me 'Rotting Hill' vibes.-

-F*ck. Miley is taken too now. Unbelievable.-

SNS, YouTube, and online forums were in absolute chaos.

💥 #1 in trending topics 💥 #1 in searches 💥 #1 in viral videos 💥 #1 in every single ranking possible

By noon, it wasn't just online—radio stations and talk shows across the U.S. were reporting on the story.

["Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara's dating revelation is shaking the entertainment industry, with the media hailing them as the 'Couple of the Century.'"]

And, of course—if Hollywood was losing its mind, then Korea was in total meltdown.

Even though it was still dawn there, every major portal site was already flooded with breaking news articles.

[B[REAKING] Kang Woo-jin ♥ Miley Cara—Live at the 'Beauty and the Beast' press conference, Woo-jin declares, "We're dating."]

["Distance doesn't matter! Korea-Hollywood's hottest couple is here."]

[ "Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara confirm their relationship—Foreign media call them the 'Couple of the Century'"]

Korea had already been buzzing with Perriot and Academy Awards hype, but this? This was on another level.

And the online reactions? Predictably unhinged.

-No... WOW... is this really happening?!?!-

-My heart is racing... I swear it was just yesterday that I was watching him as Park Dae-ri... Oppa... I'm so proud... 😭😭😭-

-LMAO, Woo-jin has always been like this. 'We're dating'—like it's no big deal. Just casually dropping a bomb like that.-

-Miley Cara is literally the top of the top in Hollywood. But honestly, Woo-jin has crazy star power too, so they match well.-

-?????????!!!?????? THIS IS INSANE!!!!-

-Imagine opening an article and seeing a Hollywood top star dating a Korean actor. What a timeline.-

-I knew Miley had a thing for Woo-jin ever since she played that villain. Lol. Just get married already.-

-Kang Woo-jin is officially a world-class thief now.-

And this was only the beginning.

Hollywood, Korea, and the entire world—

Everyone was watching Kang Woo-jin.

Both Online and Offline—The World Was on Fire.

"Mr. Kim!! Did you see the news?! Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara are actually dating!!"

"...Yeah, I saw it. Woo-jin answered really coolly."

"Did you watch the video, though?!"

"I did... How should I put it? It's complicated."

"His fans are losing their minds right now!!"

Kang Woo-jin was already a magnet for controversy, but this? This was the next level. The entire country was either celebrating or in chaos—blessings and curses thrown in equal measure.

And in Woo-jin's own home, things weren't any calmer.

"Ohhh! I told you!! I knew we'd get a blonde daughter-in-law!!"

"...You're getting ahead of yourself. They just started dating. Daughter-in-law? Seriously?"

"Hey, even the longest journey starts with the first step!"

Meanwhile, in another part of the house—

"WOW!!! My brother is dating Miley Cara?!?!"

Woo-jin's family chat was exploding. His friends' group chat wasn't any better. The sheer firepower of their messages was overwhelming.

-s this real?! -Is this allowed?!- -Is this the country we live in?!- -I'm so freaking jealous.-

And then—Hwarin.

Taking a break after wrapping up his concert, he stared at the news, completely still.

"...Ah—"

One word. That's all he could manage.

Not too far away, Hong Hye-yeon had a similar reaction.

"Uh... Wait. Really??"

But outside of a few exceptions, Woo-jin's industry colleagues? Most of them were in a celebratory mood.

And if Korea was on fire, Japan soon followed.

[[EXCLUSIVE] "Kang Woo-jin ♥ Miley Cara—Now Official! Korea in a Frenzy."]

And then, country after country joined in. The snowball effect was unreal. At this point, names like Kang Woo-jin, Miley Cara, Perriot, and 'Beast and the Beauty' were marketing gold—selling like hotcakes.

That Night—Woo-jin Finally Arrives Home.

Late at night, after the whirlwind of a day, Woo-jin stepped into his house.

"Ha—The schedule was manageable, but damn. Was it tighter because of all the calls?"

With a heavy sigh, he threw himself onto the bed in his second-floor bedroom. The second his body hit the mattress—

📱 RING RING—*

He groaned. His phone had been ringing nonstop all day. At this point, he was tempted to ignore it. But then—

"Ah."

His eyes widened. He sat up immediately.

📱 Miley Cara.

No—his girlfriend was calling.

A small smile tugged at his lips. Woo-jin pressed the phone to his ear, and before he could even say anything—

A familiar, affectionate voice greeted him.

"Are you home?"

A ticklish warmth spread through Woo-jin's chest.

'This... This is love!'

The call lasted for an hour.

And just like that, the next day arrived.

Monday, the 27th. Early morning.

—

Two Hours from Downtown LA – A Vast, Isolated Plain.

A seemingly endless stretch of road cut through barren land. Mountains loomed in the distance, but all that filled the space between them was dirt and silence. The only sign of civilization? A rundown, abandoned gas station standing like a relic of the past.

Traffic here was sparse—only the occasional car passing by. But today, something was different.

A massive film crew had set up camp.

Cranes hovered in the air, drones zipped around, and rows of high-end filming equipment surrounded the dilapidated station. Off to the side, a temporary waiting area had been set up, lined with chairs, tents, and cooling fans. The sheer scale of the operation made one thing clear—

Filming was about to begin.

Among the crew, two figures stood out.

Joseph Felton, a well-known producer with a towering, broad-shouldered frame, and beside him, a veteran of Hollywood—Director Danny Landis. The older man adjusted his round glasses as he paced near the road, inspecting the setup.

The entire highway was under strict lockdown.

And for good reason.

In just an hour, the first filming of 'John Persona' was set to begin. Unlike controlled indoor shots, today's scene was an outdoor car chase, and judging by the number of stunt cars and special effects equipment, the sequence was going to be explosive.

Director Landis observed the crew working on the vehicles, then gave a firm nod.

"Alright. Let's set up the sequence—driving, shooting, and the explosion."

Three identical cars stood in a row, each destined for a different fate.

🚗 Car #1: The clean, functional version—used for normal driving shots. 🚗 Car #2: The one that would be riddled with bullet holes or take impact. 🚗 Car #3: The one meant for the grand finale—flipping, rolling, and detonating.

From a moviegoer's perspective, they would all appear as one seamless vehicle. But in reality, each would be meticulously filmed in separate takes, with a combination of CG effects, stunt work, and practical explosions to tie everything together.

Even with safety precautions in place, car chases were unpredictable. The tension on set was undeniable.

Just then—

"Mr. Kang Woo-jin is arriving!!"

The moment those words rang out, heads turned.

The lead of John Persona—Kang Woo-jin—stepped onto the set, already in full costume. His face and head were smeared with dust and blood, his jeans and black knit sweater torn from fictional battle scars. Even though this was the first day of filming, his character had already gone through hell.

With his trademark cynical expression, Woo-jin scanned the chaotic scene.

'Wow.'

He kept a stoic face, but inside?

His mind was reeling.

'This is insane. They blocked off roads and wrecked multiple cars just for this sequence?!'

Technically, he had experience with car chase scenes—his work on 'Beneficial Evil' in Bangkok had prepared him well. He had also read (and experienced) the world of John Persona dozens of times through his unique ability.

Still—this was on another level.

'If we're talking pure outdoor scale, even Perriot and Beast and the Beauty don't compare to John Persona.'

As he processed the sheer magnitude of the production, a familiar voice called out.

"Woo-jin, let's go through the scene rehearsal with the director."

Turning, he saw a big-nosed man walking towards him—Ethan Smith, the stunt coordinator for John Persona. A veteran in Hollywood stunt work, Ethan had previously collaborated with Woo-jin on Beneficial Evil.

Nodding, Woo-jin followed him towards the director's tent.

Final Preparations – The Set Turns Serious.

Inside, Director Danny Landis and the core stunt team were gathered.

Laid out before them was the shooting storyboard, detailing every camera angle, explosion timing, and high-speed maneuver. The verbal rehearsal began, covering bullet storms, car flips, and violent crashes.

Despite the earlier buzz surrounding Woo-jin and Miley Cara's relationship, the mood on set had shifted drastically. The joking and murmurs died down as the reality of the stunt-heavy scene set in.

Watching from a few steps away was Choi Sung-geon, Woo-jin's longtime manager.

His arms were crossed, his brows slightly furrowed. Next to him, Joseph Felton, the massive producer, noticed his tension and spoke.

"Are you worried?"

Choi Sung-geon, now fairly fluent in English, shrugged.

"No matter how skilled Woo-jin is, accidents can always happen."

Felton chuckled, rubbing his chin.

"True. But we've run through this scene multiple times and removed as many risks as possible. He'll be fine."

Even so, Sung-geon's eyes remained fixed on Woo-jin.

Because in the film industry—especially with action scenes—things rarely go exactly as planned.

And soon, the cameras would roll.

"Hmm... I wonder if Woojin will be satisfied after watching the footage."

Soon, Joseph Felton, who was watching the scene where hundreds of staff members and Kang Woo-jin were gathered, smiled with satisfaction. To be exact, he was thrilled that Woo-jin was part of that picture.

"Finally, this day has come."

It had taken him too long.

About 40 minutes later, Kang Woo-jin got into the gray pickup truck for filming (driving), while three expensive-looking black passenger cars were set up behind him. The supporting actors in suits also took their positions. The pieces of a world filled with secret agents, espionage, crime, and action were coming together one by one.

*Thud!*

Kang Woo-jin, playing 'John Owen'—a man with dissociative identity disorder and memory loss—gave the signal that he was ready.

And then---"High—"

Hundreds of crew members cleared the filming area, and director Danny Landis, sitting in front of multiple monitors, called out the first cue.

"Action!!"

At that exact moment—*Woooosh!*

The pickup truck Woojin roared to life. A drone hovered above, while a tracking vehicle followed close behind.

Inside the truck—

"······"

The male protagonist, John Owen, had fully taken over.

Then, with a powerful exhaust roar, the truck shot forward, kicking up dust into the air.

*Boooooooooooom!!!*

The crank-in for John Persona was intense.

A Few Days Later.

Members of the Academy Awards committee—spread across various countries—were already reviewing numerous films and nominees.

As they spoke, one name was coming up more frequently.

"······Kang Woo-jin."

The frequency with which the name of the Korean actor Kang Woo-jin was mentioned was increasing.

"What kind of acting surpasses this method—"

It was escalating rapidly.