Chapter 65: Genius Writer vs. Genius Actor (3)
Ha Seung-woo, who seemed to have some idea of what was happening to Park Jun-ho, hurriedly grabbed a paper bag nearby and held it to Jun-ho’s mouth.
“Breathe slowly. Slowly!”
Park Jun-ho inhaled and exhaled into the paper bag. Fortunately, as Seung-woo suspected, it was hyperventilation syndrome, and with quick first aid, his condition improved significantly.
Soon, the ambulance arrived, and Jun-ho was taken in with his manager and Kim Dong-su to a nearby hospital.
After hearing the manager’s explanation, the doctor drew arterial blood and performed lung and heart tests.
The results?
There were no issues with his heart or lungs. The doctor diagnosed it as a psychological problem that resulted in hyperventilation.
“It’s hyperventilation syndrome. Has this ever happened before?”
“No, it’s the first time.”
“It seems you’ve been under stress recently.”
Jun-ho knew exactly why but didn’t answer.
“Since it appears to be psychological, I recommend you visit psychiatry. For now, rest here for two hours. If nothing worsens, you may go home.”
When the doctor left, Jun-ho’s manager looked worriedly down at him. Sensing his gaze, Jun-ho spoke first.
“Hyung, I’m fine.”
“Jun-ho…”
“I chose this. I’m an actor. I have to do what I’m meant to do.”
He said he was fine, but Jun-ho’s hands were still trembling subtly.
‘That sensation… those emotions… they were too real.’
Even though the knife was a prop, he had killed the orphanage director and his family without the slightest hesitation.
No guilt. No pity. His mind was filled with rage so immense he couldn’t even think of those emotions.
When Kim Dong-su yelled “Cut,” he snapped out of it. Realizing he had forgotten it was acting shocked him deeply.
He felt like there was real, metallic-smelling blood on his hands, and he could barely breathe.
The moment he opened his eyes, he was already in the ambulance.
“Hyung. Please book a psychiatric appointment.”
“Yeah, okay. Just rest first.”
“Thanks. Tell the writer, director, and CEO I’m fine.”
When people, including Kim Si-woo, received the manager’s message, they finally sighed in relief.
“At least there’s no serious issue.”
“That’s good.”
After telling the others, Kim Si-woo headed home, his heart heavy with guilt.
If he hadn’t recommended Jun-ho for the role… no, if he hadn’t handed him the detailed character backstory out of anger toward Choi Do-hyun, pushing him further into the role, Jun-ho wouldn’t be suffering like this.
Not long after, the news spread online that Jun-ho had been hospitalized, which ironically helped begin the hype for the movie Gangster Detective.
Meanwhile, Choi Do-hyun and Shim Ji-young had begun filming their parts.
This movie was a fantasy historical romance comedy.
The protagonist, living in 2023, gets struck by lightning one day and wakes up in the body of a foolish Joseon king from the past.
To make things worse (or better), the queen looks exactly like a celebrity he’s always adored. He plans to enjoy power and beauty… but reality is harsh.
The king was exactly as his reputation implied—a lecherous, incompetent fool ignored by both queen and ministers.
Thus, in order to win the queen’s heart, the protagonist begins using future knowledge little by little, gradually improving the kingdom piece by piece.
When filming began, Choi Do-hyun proved his boast wasn’t bluff. His acting exploded, overturning the set.
His usual arrogance vanished. Before anyone knew it, he had become the foolish but endearing protagonist.
Even next to Shim Ji-young’s overwhelming presence, Do-hyun stole attention. He could only be called a genius actor.
Shim Ji-young herself acknowledged it… and suddenly, Kim Si-woo came to mind.
‘Our Si-woo… this time, it might be tough for him.’
***
After his visit to the hospital, Park Jun-ho took medication regularly, but when filming days approached, he stopped taking it the night before in order to immerse fully into his role.
While the medication eased his anxiety, it impaired concentration — fatal for his acting.
“Are you sure you’re okay? Tell us anytime if it’s too much.”
“I’m fine.”
This time, director Kim Dong-su prepared medical staff on standby at the set, just in case.
The moment Kim’s cue sign fell, Jun-ho began acting as the emaciated serial killer, Park Ki-chul.
Park Ki-chul, after killing the orphanage director and everyone who tormented him, walked the streets searching for a new outlet for his rage.
Young women, old women, elderly men, children — anyone weaker than him became his target.
He had already killed six people, yet managed to roam freely for one main reason: they all lived in the countryside.
Reports of their deaths were filed at least a month after their murder.
Of course, Park Ki-chul didn’t stay idle. He changed regions, switched outfits, evolved his methods, and gradually became more cunning.
Unfortunately, the area he chose next happened to be the hometown of the protagonist, Choi Hyun.
Armed with a hammer, Park Ki-chul roamed behind people, striking the back of their heads to knock them out before killing them.
“You bastard… It’s your fault… Your fault…”
Even long after the woman had died, Park Ki-chul kept strangling her, unaware she was already motionless.
He had already killed over five people after moving to Seoul, and though the police tried to track him down, they struggled.
Why? His fingerprints weren’t registered nationwide.
There are only two types of people in South Korea without registered fingerprints:
Minors… or illegal immigrants.
Thus, as police moved further away from suspecting him, the number of victims continued rising.
“Cut! Check Jun-ho’s condition quickly.”
Whenever filming ended, Kim Dong-su made Jun-ho the top priority. And every time they shot a murder scene, Jun-ho experienced hyperventilation symptoms again.
Everyone looked at him with concern, but they couldn’t bring themselves to stop him.
No one dared intervene—not when they understood how deeply he burned for his craft.
As time passed, filming neared its end.
Park Ki-chul murdered a hostess working at an entertainment bar run by Choi Hyun’s subordinates. This stirred their movement.
Soon, Choi Hyun’s men located Park Ki-chul.
Upon hearing this, Choi Hyun acted alone, captured Park Ki-chul, and a spectacular action sequence emerged with it.
The filming ended with Park Ki-chul being sentenced to life imprisonment in court.
“It’s finally over.”
“You really worked hard.”
“Writer… do you think this is enough to beat that bastard Choi Do-hyun?”
“Of course. Just focus on your treatment, Jun-ho.”
Kim Si-woo felt he needed to write Jun-ho a new script right away.
Immersing himself in a different character might help him forget Park Ki-chul faster.
During the film, Jun-ho had lost a shocking 20 kilograms.
He barely ate, saying he had no appetite — maybe one meal per day, at most.
Seeing this, the staff became even more determined. Their spirits burned bright.
The actors had finished their roles.
What remained was now the staff’s mission.
They couldn’t let the footage—created by an actor who practically collapsed for the role—go to waste.
However, there was something most of the staff didn’t know:
Director Kim Dong-su, a small portion of the crew, and Park Jun-ho… had secretly filmed one last scene.
And so, the showdown with Choi Do-hyun drew near.
***
Time passed, and the movie’s release day drew near.
In the meantime, from premieres to promotional events, the actors worked without a break.
Park Jun-ho, however, couldn’t participate due to his treatment schedule. Feeling guilty, he did whatever he could — promoting the film on his personal social media to help in any way possible.
That morning, Kim Si-woo woke up with sleepy eyes, turned on his phone, and browsed the news. As expected, articles comparing his film and Choi Do-hyun’s were everywhere.
[“Gangster Detective vs. The King Has Changed — Who Will Win?”]
“Yeah… I wonder who will win…”
At first, Kim Si-woo only wanted to put Choi Do-hyun in his place. But as time went on, that feeling faded.
Now he only hoped that everyone’s effort would not go to waste.
According to what he’d heard, their film had received tremendous praise at its early screenings.
And “The King Has Changed” was also being hailed as an exceptional work.
“But there’s one thing they don’t know…”
Kim Si-woo called Lee Hae-soo, who had promised to watch the movie with him.
“Hae-soo, are you busy?”
– Yes… I’m always busy.
“Oh… I see. Then maybe we can watch the movie some other time…”
The moment he mentioned the word “movie,” her typing stopped.
– When are you watching it? Tell me the date, I’ll take a day off.
“How about this Thursday at noon?”
– Okay. Thursday at noon, then.
“I’ll text you the location.”
– Yes, Si-woo.
No longer did they call each other Writer or Attorney. They simply used each other’s names now.
On the day of the date, Lee Hae-soo spent a considerable amount of money on a Cheongdam-dong salon, getting her hair and makeup done before dressing at her best.
Arriving on time, she saw Kim Si-woo waiting neatly and waved toward her. She hurriedly ran over.
“When did you get here?”
“Just now. Let’s eat first.”
“Yes!”
After a simple meal, the two headed into a theater in Seoul.
Kim Si-woo showed his pre-booked tickets, and they entered the screening room.
“Si-woo… this is…?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
They had not stepped into the screening for Gangster Detective — but for The King Has Changed.
“Let’s watch this first, then go see Gangster Detective afterward.”
“Ah! O-Okay.”
Realizing they’d be watching two movies together, her heart beat a little faster.
Soon the lights dimmed, and The King Has Changed began.
The story started normally.
Very normal…
At least, until Choi Do-hyun appeared on screen.
The moment he did, the audience’s attention visibly sharpened. His acting was undeniably impressive.
And the Queen Dowager, played by Shim Ji-young, elevated his performance even more — like giving wings to his talent.
[TL Note: Dowager — specifically the widow of a previous king who is alive during the reign of the current king.]
When the movie ended, Kim Si-woo couldn’t help but admire it.
The storyline was good, but what truly shined was Choi Do-hyun’s performance.
An emotional portrayal, delivered in full.
Now, he understood why the man had been so confident.
As they walked out, he asked:
“How was it?”
“To be honest… it was really good.”
Feeling guilty complimenting a rival, Lee Hae-soo spoke in a tiny voice.
“Really? That’s good. I liked it too.”
“You’re… okay with that?”
Worried that he might feel discouraged, she looked at him. Yet Kim Si-woo looked relaxed — even confident.
“Of course. I’m fine. Come on, let’s go watch my movie.”
“Ah… yes.”
She followed him, hand in hand, into the next theater. And inside Kim Si-woo’s mind, only one thought echoed with certainty:
‘This time, our movie wins.’
Because “Gangster Detective” still has a hidden trump card.