Gentle Visual Acting Genius Chapter 8 - Something Seems Off About the Soft Tofu

#Something Seems Off About the Soft Tofu

 

It has been a month since the public audition for <Fanatic>. As casting has now been finalized, the final processes before shooting—such as location scouting—are in full swing, keeping everyone busy.

 

Woohyun is engrossed in creating his character, the saint, juggling his time between the company practice room and home. The vibrant spring days have faded away, giving way to the gradually increasing heat of mid-June.

 

The much-anticipated drama <The Punisher: Vigilante> has finally started airing, drawing in fans who have been eagerly waiting. On its premiere day, Friday, <The Punisher: Vigilante> decided to kick things off with a bold move: airing the first two episodes back-to-back. Thanks to this, it achieved an impressive 9% viewership rating on its first day, stirring up excitement as it heads into its third episode.

 

The third episode, airing this Saturday afternoon, is significant for Woohyun as it features the character that has brought him to this moment: Geum Hoyoung. Because of this, Woohyun has invited his manager, Ma Junseok, and stylist, Yoon Seul, over to his newly moved-in apartment for a small viewing party to celebrate both the housewarming and the show.

 

His new two-room apartment, which had once been a stopping ground for many rookie actors at Tree Actors, is now his home. Although not excessively spacious, it is cozy and clean, a significant upgrade from his previous semi-basement room, and the mere act of waking up here lifts Woohyun’s spirits.

 

“Why am I so excited over just one scene?” He wonders aloud.

 

“I’m excited too! The acting you showed back then even led to your casting in <Fanatic>. Even though I couldn’t see it live, I have to watch the original broadcast!” Yoon Seul replies enthusiastically.

 

“Exactly! I wasn’t there, but Manager Kwon, who works with Nam Juwon hyung, said that Woohyun completely overshadowed him!” Ma Junseok chimes in.

 

Listening to the lively chatter of Ma Junseok and Yoon Seul as they set up fried chicken and tteokbokki on the table in front of the TV, Woohyun finds himself lost in a wave of emotions. It reminds him of his past life. Back then, he had been knocked around by Nam Juwon’s character, Jung Yikwang, and had caused such a stir in his own place just to see that one scene.

 

Having been given a new face and a chance to start over, this first role feels particularly special to Woohyun. He savors the excitement of that initial thrill once again, now coupled with a smile.

 

“Ooh, it’s starting!” 

 

Yoon Seul exclaims. “Come sit down quickly, oppa!” 

 

Before long, it’s 10 PM. With grand music playing, the title <The Punisher: Vigilante> appears on screen, marking the moment Woohyun’s performance will finally be unveiled to the world as the third episode begins.

 

***

 

Somewhere in South Korea at the same time. Lee Jihye, an ordinary office worker and a die-hard fan of Nam Juwon, known as “Only Nam Ju,” was watching the drama with her younger sister, who was one year younger than her, while munching on dried pollack and squid, along with some beer.

 

Kim Sunok, who worked as a housekeeper at the Geumseong Group’s main house in Pyeongchang-dong, decided to become a live-in housekeeper there to cover her daughter’s increasingly mounting hospital bills. She kept her head down, avoiding attention, quietly fulfilling her duties. Half a year had passed since she had immersed herself in this life.

 

One day, as she was about to head back upstairs after finishing a phone call with her sick daughter in the food storage room in the basement, she overheard something she shouldn’t have.

 

“Make sure there’s no gossip, okay? Be careful not to leave any traces. Before the shareholders’ meeting, we need to secure a majority before our father is declared incapacitated. Understood? Don’t worry about the declaration; Mr Son has already agreed to come with me.”

 

A man was speaking ominous words over the phone. It was Geum Hojung, the second son of the Geumseong Group, known as the ‘Mad Dog of Geumseong’. Sunok had inadvertently eavesdropped on a conspiracy he was plotting with his loyal subordinates to seize management rights.

 

Realizing the gravity of the absurd plot she had uncovered, she was stunned. Just as she tried to slip away unnoticed, she was caught by Geum Hojung, who sensed her presence.

 

Days later, her lifeless body was discovered at a construction site on the outskirts of Seoul.

 

The image of Jung Yikwang consoling her daughter, who is deeply saddened by her death and says that her mother would never die leaving her behind, while scenes of Geum Hojung enjoying leisure time without a hint of guilt intersected.

 

“Yoo Donghyuk is quite good, huh? He usually just plays those characters from youth dramas, but he’s not bad as a villain. These days, even idols can’t act, right?” 

 

“Uh-huh,” Lee Jihye replied absentmindedly while chewing on the squid.

 

While it was true that Yoo Donghyuk’s acting was commendable, what she was really waiting for was something else.

 

‘I saw a spoiler saying Seon Woohyun would appear in episode 3… When will he show up?’ She thought.

 

During a brief commercial break, Lee Jihye quickly scrolled through posts in drama communities on her phone. While a few praised Yoo Donghyuk’s acting, the majority were focused on one question:

 

[When does Seon Woohyun appear?]

[Show his face at 2 minutes 19 seconds, hurryyyyyyy!]
└ [Is it true that Seon Woohyun served in the military? How can that face be from the military?]
└ [But with that face, he must have been famous before; it doesn’t make sense he wasn’t;;;]

 

The man who briefly shook Lee Jihye, who had devoted her life solely to Nam Juwon, was none other than actor Seon Woohyun, known as ‘2-minute 19-second guy’ whose appearance excited fans everywhere.

 

As the 60-second ads ended, the drama resumed. The screen showed Jung Yikwang, who had come to investigate Kim Sunok’s death, entering the luxurious Geumseong Group’s main house in Pyeongchang-dong, where family members were gathered for a meal.

 

And at that moment:

 

[Spotted in a white dress shirt: Seon Woohyun appears!!!!]

[Crazy hawk eyes;;ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Look at him standing out even from afar; his face is so bright;;; he’s so handsome.]

[Not just a tofu face, but a solid gold face; elegance oozes from him.]

[Full score. Full score!]

 

“Oh, unnie, I just spotted a seriously handsome guy among those eating!” 

 

Even Lee Jihye’s younger sister, who usually didn’t care much for dramas or actors, couldn’t help but notice Seon Woohyun’s striking visuals.

 

Meanwhile, the drama was advancing quickly. As members of the Geumseong Group learned about Kim Sunok’s death, they each feigned alibis. Just then, a clear but strangely cold and detached voice cut through the tension.

 

“Ah… so that lady was Kim Sunok? Well, I guess I won’t be able to eat galbi-jjim tomorrow.”

 

A calm demeanor that makes it hard to believe he’s talking about someone’s death. A character who completely lacks empathy and emotion with that innocent and pure face, people wouldn’t even expect him to say such a thing.

 

The youngest member of the Geumseong Group, Geum Hoyoung, had delivered his only line. Upon hearing his words, Jung Yikwang’s face turned cold, and the two exchanged a gaze in the air—one filled with lethargy and detachment, the other with chilling tension.

 

“Holy… I got goosebumps. It’s really impactful when someone with a face like that says something so psychopathic.”

 

“But isn’t Geum Hojung the culprit? Still, Hoyoung seems way more dangerous… He’s seriously creepy.”

 

“Well, he didn’t commit a crime or anything.”

 

“But don’t you get the vibe that he totally could? Even if I were the main character, I’d keep an eye on him. Is he going to show up again? I hope he does.”

 

Unknowingly nodding at her sister’s last words, Lee Jihye and her sister got immersed in the drama again. The third episode swiftly passed its midpoint and headed towards the climax.

 

As more and more evidence surfaced, it became clear that Geum Hojung was the culprit behind Kim Sunok’s murder.

 

Despite this, the chairman of Geumseong Group, believing that even a child like Geum Hojung is still his flesh and blood, tried to cover up his crime using his power and wealth. However, the chairman eventually discovered that Geum Hojung was conspiring to declare him legally incompetent and force him to step down from the chairman’s position.

 

Thus, Geum Hojung, who ended up being abandoned by his own parents, went into hiding at a remote reservoir on the outskirts of the city. Cornered and desperate, he poured out his fury at Jung Yikwang, blaming him for everything.

 

“You did this to me! You trash bastard!”

 

“…You son of a bitch! Die!”

 

Splash!

 

But his desperate struggle was in vain.

 

In an instant, Jung Yikwang overpowered him, throwing him into the pitch-black waters of the reservoir, his scream echoing through the night.

 

Under the cold night sky, with the moonlight shining solely upon him as he stared at the lake, Jeong Yikwang took out a small black notebook, and drew a red line through the name ‘Geum Hojung’ written on his hit list.

 

At that moment, a flashback-like scene popped into his mind.

 

He recalled the sight of the youngest of the Geumseong Group, focused solely on his meal without showing a hint of emotion or sympathy for the death of another person.

 

Unconsciously, Jeong Yikwang started to write ‘Geum Hoyoung’ under Geum Hojung’s name, which was now crossed out.

 

But soon after, he shook his head and stopped his pen mid-movement.

 

“He hasn’t committed a crime. What am I doing…?”

 

Though he sighed self-deprecatingly, Jeong Yikwang couldn’t erase the unsettling feeling lingering inside him as he walked away from the reservoir.

 

With that, episode 3 came to an end.

 

That night, episode 3 of <The Punisher: Vigilante> recorded a peak viewership rating of 15%.

 

***

 

[<The Punisher>: Where is the Boundary of Judgment? Geum Hoyoung, who made Jung Yikwang question himself. Will he appear again?]

[The Eye Contact between Nam Juwon and Seon Woohyun. A peak viewership of 15%. The Saturday Night Visual Bombshell.]

[Yoo Donghyuk and Seon Woohyun. The Crazy Visual Brothers of the Geumseong Group.]

[<The Punisher> The Culprit is Caught, But Something Still Feels Off. The Psychopath Hidden in the Geumseong Group, Geum Hoyoung. Will He Become a Villain?]

[An Impactful Debut. What Kind of Acting Will Seon Woohyun Show in <Fanatic>?]

 

The morning after the third episode of <The Punisher> aired, the top spots in the entertainment news rankings were filled with articles about the show. Among them, the articles getting the most comments were about the character Geum Hoyoung and Seon Woohyun himself.

 

Woohyun feeling extremely excited at how great he looked on screen last night, he ended up going on a drinking spree until the third round with Ma Junseok and Yoon Seul. Now nursing a hangover with honey water, he scrolled through the article reactions.

 

[Wow, I never thought he’d act that intense with that face. And he did it well. Crazy.]

[He’s seriously handsome;;; Isn’t Yoo Donghyuk supposed to be an idol center? But he couldn’t hold a candle to him.]
└[ㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇ I’ve been a hardcore fan of Yoo Donghyuk since his debut, but I felt myself wavering yesterday…]
└[But doesn’t he have that ‘rich heir’ look? Since they didn’t show anything about his past, maybe he really is a chaebol third-generation raised delicately somewhere?]

[It’s fascinating that he made his debut as a villain when he doesn’t look like one at all. If he starred in a rom-com with that face, I’d definitely watch itㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[WTF, just imagining him saying something like “Noona” or “Sunbae” with that face is already making my heart hurt;]

└[That’s called chest pain, go see a doctor.]
   └[S…hit…]

[But doesn’t it feel like Geum Hoyoung will show up again? Honestly, he left a stronger impression than Geum Hojung in Episode 3.]

[ㅇㅇㅇㅇ I feel like he’s going to cause some serious trouble later on. Even though Geum Hojung died, it didn’t really feel satisfying;]

[Geum Hojung and Geum Hoyoung… Look at how miserably Geumseong Group failed at raising their kids, lololololol.]

[LMAO but if you look at just their faces, they actually hit the jackpot in farming, lololol.]

[Now that I think about it, Geum Hoyoung’s face flashed briefly during the teaser when they were showing the kill list characters. At 2:19. So, he’s 100% confirmed as a villain.]

[The part where Jung Yikwang almost wrote his name at the end was probably a subtle hint too, right?]

 

From the now-familiar compliments on his visuals to the heated analyses of his portrayal of Geum Hoyoung, the reactions were ablaze. Especially the comments on the final scene made even Woohyun wonder if that really was the intention.

 

“That wasn’t supposed to be the last scene…”

 

In the original script for Episode 3 given to him during filming, the final scene was Jung Yikwang confirming Geum Ho-jung’s death and drawing a red line through his name.

 

“Did they change it because of me? At this rate, am I really going to appear again?”

 

With a series of positive reviews and encouraging comments, Woohyun’s head filled with wild thoughts as he faced his first Sunday morning in his new home.

 

Just then, a call came in from Ma Junseok.

 

“Hello, hyung, is your hangover okay?”

 

“Ah, I’m fine. By the way, did you see the reactions? It’s crazy, right? They said the peak viewership was when you were on screen!”

 

“Haha. Yes. Seeing myself on TV makes it feel real now… It’s still hard to believe. But anyway, what’s up? I don’t have any schedules today.”

 

“Ah, right, let me get straight to the point. After Punisher aired yesterday, OTBC reached out to Team Leader Ji this morning.”

 

“For what?”

 

Nam Juwon belonged to Actor Team 1, not Team Leader Ji’s Team 2. If OTBC contacted Ji Soyoung, the Team 2 Leader, it must have something to do with him.

 

Just as the ‘Could it be…?’ thought started to cross his mind, he heard Ma Jun-seok’s excited voice.

 

“They want to bring back the character Geum Hoyoung for the second half!”

 

“Really?!”

 

A piece of great news that instantly wiped away his hangover.

 

Woohyun’s imagination turned into reality.