Chapter 63: Genius Writer vs. Genius Actor (1)
No one dared to make a sound.
Even breathing felt like it might disrupt the flow.
Anyone who wasn’t currently reading their lines held their breath in silence.
The first scene belonged to actor Ha Seung-woo, who played the protagonist, Choi Hyun, just after graduating from the Central Police Academy, meeting his subordinates again.
“Welcome back, hyung.”
“How did the job go?”
“We cleared out all the illegal stuff first.”
“Do you really have to call me hyung? It’s been over three years since my father passed. Why am I the boss now?”
“What do you mean why? If it isn’t you, who else could lead us?”
“Haa… I’m a cop now, remember?”
Just from his voice alone, Choi Hyun’s heavy dilemma was palpable.
Born the son of a crime boss, raised like a little prince among gangsters.
He became a police officer because he refused to follow in his father’s footsteps—yet now everyone was still calling him “boss.”
If anyone found out, his face would be plastered across the internet and TV by the next morning.
“Anyway, did you get the apology?”
“Yes, I did.”
Before entering the academy, Choi Hyun had given his subordinates two orders:
1. Make proper amends and receive forgiveness from anyone harmed by the organization.
2. Clean up all illegal businesses.
A subordinate pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.
“You didn’t threaten anyone, right?”
“No, sir. But I did get beaten a lot for it, so… I have two implants now.”
He opened his mouth wide, showing his molars. Choi Hyun shook his head.
“From now on, the bar operates legally. And stop harassing the hostesses.”
“Yes, hyung.”
When the scene ended, applause filled the room.
“As expected of actor Ha Seung-woo. You can feel the level of quality even in a script reading.”
“I need to work harder.”
Despite the compliment, Ha Seung-woo didn’t look satisfied.
After a grueling 10-hour script reading, they finally wrapped up.
“Great work, everyone.”
After exchanging goodbyes, Kim Si-woo approached Park Jun-ho.
“Jun-ho.”
“Yes, Writer-nim.”
“Tired, right?”
“Oh—no, I’m fine. Is there something you want to talk about?”
“How about having a meal together?”
“I’d love to. May I talk to my manager first?”
“Of course, go ahead.”
While Jun-ho stepped away to inform his manager, Ha Seung-woo walked up to Si-woo.
“Writer Kim.”
“Yes, Actor Ha. You were great today. I could feel the emotion even in a reading.”
“You think so? But I trust you’re not satisfied with just this, right?”
“Well… I’d like to aim higher if we can.”
“I’d like to join that dinner too. Would that be alright?”
He asked to join the meal with Jun-ho and Si-woo.
“I’ll ask Jun-ho when he comes back.”
Jun-ho soon returned and agreed.
In the end, the three of them headed to a nearby restaurant.
The atmosphere was a bit stiff as they sat down together.
“What do you all want to eat?”
“I’ll have pork kimchi stew.”
“Same here.”
“Then we’ll get five portions. I have a feeling this conversation will take a while.”
Si-woo ordered five servings, then returned with two bottles of soju in his hands.
“Let’s have a drink.”
“Yes.”
Si-woo poured a shot for each of them and downed his in one go.
Then he opened the conversation with a blunt tone.
“Alright… first, Jun-ho.”
“Y-yes?”
“I know it might feel uncomfortable getting advice from a writer, but… this is the only way I can help right now. If it ever bothers you, please tell me at any time.”
“No, not at all… What kind of advice are you trying to give me?”
“It’s just… about the character. Let’s start with your character guide, shall we?”
“Yes!”
Park Jun-ho opened the detailed setting book—then instantly frowned.
“Writer-nim… what is this…?”
“That is the life of Kim Chun-ho, the serial killer you’ll be playing.”
Inside the file was a biography too brutal to easily put into words.
Abandoned by his parents as a child, raised in an orphanage, beaten relentlessly by the director. Growing up with bruised ribs and broken bones was normal to him.
And then, he was repeatedly assaulted by his older roommate.
His personality and humanity were destroyed long before he ever grew up.
And that was only the beginning of Kim Chun-ho’s life.
As Park Jun-ho read, he gulped down drinks, unable to endure it sober.
“What on earth is written in there…?”
Curious, Ha Seung-woo tried to look, but Kim Si-woo stopped him.
“No. You can’t. You’re the protagonist. Only the person playing that role is allowed to read it.”
“What?”
“It’s written on the first page. No one except the assigned actor may read this file.”
“…Understood.”
Reluctant but respectful, Ha Seung-woo sat back again.
“Writer-nim… can I even pull this off?”
Park Jun-ho’s confidence drained rapidly.
Even as an actor, could anyone truly embody this kind of character?
Could anyone act emotions too enormous to understand?
Acting begins with imitation.
But how was he supposed to imitate something so monstrous, so beyond normal human feeling?
“You can do it, Jun-ho.”
“…Haah.”
Even with encouragement, he couldn’t shake the doubt.
But he was an actor.
And an actor must perform.
He would have to understand Kim Chun-ho, empathize with him, and let him inside his own skin.
He could not judge Kim Chun-ho by common sense—
Because Kim Chun-ho’s life had never been common.
As Jun-ho sank deeper into the character notes, Si-woo and Seung-woo quietly ate their stew and took their shots of soju.
“Now then, Actor Ha Seung-woo, your turn.”
“Alright.”
Seung-woo opened his own setting file.
Unlike Jun-ho’s, his was not full of horrors.
At first glance, it was a story one could find in certain films or novels.
Born the son of a crime boss, treated like a prince among gangsters.
He overheard curses, threats, and illegal schemes on a daily basis.
His mother ran away, unable to endure his violent father.
Growing up, he was beaten and trained under the excuse that “a future boss must be strong.”
At age 20, his father died, and he inherited the organization—but refused it. The moment the funeral ended, he enlisted in the military.
His subordinates rejected his rejection, visiting him every day.
Once his identity was revealed, every soldier—peer, senior, junior, even the quartermaster and commanding officers—avoided him like a disease.
Eventually, he gave his subordinates an order:
If they wanted to serve him, then abandon everything illegal, seek out their victims, and ask for forgiveness—signed in writing.
He was certain most would abandon him.
But they didn’t.
They shut down illegal gambling dens, underground bars, loan shark businesses, and one by one visited their victims to apologize and receive signatures.
Meanwhile, the boy who had always dreamed of protecting others studied day and night after discharge and entered the Central Police Academy within a year.
“…It’s more ordinary than I expected.”
“It’s a movie, after all. But if the real person stood in front of you… would you say the same thing?”
“Well… no. Probably not.”
“Actor Ha.”
“Yes?”
“I watched Choi Do-hyun’s acting clips. His method acting is incredible. So if he’s coming at us, shouldn’t we show acting that can rival him— Maybe not full method, but something that matches his level?”
At those words, Ha Seung-woo’s fist tightened.
“On top of that, there’s Actress Shim Ji-young too. You’ve worked with her—you know she’s no pushover.”
“That’s true.”
“From today on, I’m counting on you. If there’s anything in the script you don’t understand, contact me anytime. That’s the only help I can give you.”
“Understood.”
At Si-woo’s words, Ha Seung-woo also hardened his resolve.
And so, the three men spent their time in the restaurant—not eating, but reading the script and character files.
***
The next morning, Kim Si-woo’s smartphone buzzed.
“Who’s calling this early?”
When he checked, there were dozens of messages and one incoming call.
[Jung Se-yeon]
“What’s going on so early?”
—Hello? Why are you answering so late?!
“I was sleeping.”
—Wake up earlier!
“Yes…”
—So, did the script reading go well?
“Yeah. They’re all pros, after all.”
Jung Se-yeon cursed Choi Do-hyun for a while, then cheered Si-woo on. But she claimed neutrality because she was also supporting Shim Ji-young.
—Ah! And it’ll be released next week.
“What will?”
—The song! Did you forget about our promise?
“Already? Does music get finished that fast?”
—I was planning a comeback anyway. It’s not a title track, but I worked on it like one. Make sure you listen.
“Of course I will.”
Just knowing a song was made for him made his chest tighten.
A singer he once loved was writing a song for him.
He didn’t know what this emotion was exactly, but one thing was clear:
It felt good.
—So please take care of my movie too, Writer Kim Si-woo.
“Yes. I’ll do my best.”
After hanging up, he tried to start writing—
—but dozens of unread messages still remained.
Bzzz.
His phone vibrated again as soon as he turned on his computer.
It seemed clear.
He wouldn’t be able to write anything until filming was over.
“Yes, Jun-ho?”
—Writer-nim, is your schedule open today? I’d like to show you some acting…
“Alright. Let’s meet for lunch.”
—Yes! Thank you, writer-nim. Lunch is on me.
If the day had ended there, it would’ve been a pleasant one.
But instead, the requests kept coming.
One after another, actors contacted him—Seung-woo, supporting roles, even minor ones.
Annoyed, Si-woo finally shouted:
“Fine! If you’re all going to be like this, just go live together!”
And then… that’s exactly what happened.
***
One week later, Kim Si-woo was staying in Jeju Island, living together with the cast of Gangster Detective and Director Kim Dong-su.
“What? How did I end up here…?”
To immerse into their roles, everyone stayed in character even off-camera.
Actors playing Seung-woo’s subordinates still called him “Boss,” and Seung-woo acted and spoke like a justice-obsessed police leader.
As for Park Jun-ho…
Honestly, he seemed slightly deranged.
With his naturally intimidating face, a little madness on top made him terrifying.
But worst of all—
There were dozens of actors, and only two people giving feedback:
Kim Dong-su
And
Kim Si-woo.
And because Si-woo was somehow far more popular, he barely had a moment to eat, constantly reviewing acting and giving feedback.
As he kept watching the same scenes over and over, Si-woo reached the peak of mental exhaustion.
Please… someone save me.
Still, the more he suffered, the more the actors improved.
Their acting, their understanding of the characters, their immersion, their teamwork—
All skyrocketed.