Gang Ro-jun appeared at the script reading room for *Like a Ghost World*. The Japanese actors, who had been chattering vigorously until moments ago, gasped and looked at Ro-jun, and the gaze of Suzuki Rie—who had perceived Japan’s top male actors as squid or cuttlefish—
*Swish.*
—settled once more on Ro-jun’s face through the gaps between the actors.
‘……??’
She realized in an instant that something was strange. Naturally, it concerned Gang Ro-jun’s visuals.
‘Wh-what?? Ro-jun’s face…it seems several times more handsome—’
She was probably the one who knew Gang Ro-jun best in this reading room. She had watched *That 100%* dozens of times. Along with that, she had seen Gang Ro-jun often too. She had watched *Rental Lover* as well. She had been surprised watching *4th Lover* too, but the Gang Ro-jun who appeared before her eyes today was a visual that far surpassed even then.
‘Plastic surgery?? No, no. Plastic surgery makes no sense. What on earth is it?’
Suzuki Rie had thought Ro-jun’s face was unbelievable even when he first appeared on *That 100%*. But that hadn’t been the end?
She naturally let her mouth fall open.
Suzuki Rie’s reaction was only natural. What she had seen was Gang Ro-jun before he possessed the passive ‘Intimidation,’ when his appearance stat was 100 points. The current Ro-jun was 150 points in appearance alone.
The other Japanese actors, who had no way of knowing this, looked at Gang Ro-jun right before their eyes and thought:
‘……Wh-what is this. It’s hard to move my body.’
‘Crazy. Can a human really be this handsome??’
‘This…isn’t something we can judge?’
‘It’s not just that he’s handsome—his eyes and the atmosphere he gives off are too intense. Damn, he didn’t hear what I said just now, did he?’
They screamed internally, feeling deep sighs along with embarrassment or shame.
Just who had they been evaluating?
His aura was far too overwhelming to talk about appearance, if nothing else. Though he was simply wearing an indifferent expression, the hearts of several actresses in the reading room were already pounding. Around this time, Gang Ro-jun, who wore a blue shirt with a short padded jacket draped over it, tilted his head to himself.
‘Why is everyone’s reaction so flat? Ah, maybe because of my Intimidation??’
All the Japanese actors were stiff. Anyway, Ro-jun greeted the actors once more.
“Hello.”
Only then did the Japanese actors, as if ice had melted, respond with half-forced smiles and half-awkward grins.
“Ah, hello.”
“Nice to meet you, wow—you’re really handsome.”
“Author Ro-jun. I enjoyed *Rental Lover*.”
More than ten Japanese actors hurriedly threw greetings at him. However, to Ro-jun, it felt less like being greeted by actors and more like being greeted by unfamiliar Japanese people.
“Yes. Thank you. I look forward to working with you today.”
The actors poured out praise at Gang Ro-jun’s fluent Japanese.
“I had heard, but you really speak Japanese well.”
“Right. I look forward to working with you today, Author. Or should I say, Actor?”
For several minutes, Gang Ro-jun exchanged greetings with the Japanese actors, among whom was Suzuki Rie, who had stood up at some point.
“I’m Ro-jun.”
“…I’m Suzuki Rie.”
Without realizing it, she extended her hand. She had requested a handshake. In response, Ro-jun smiled faintly with his eyes, took Suzuki Rie’s hand, and shook it. Soon, Suzuki Rie, who stole a glance at Gang Ro-jun as he brushed past her, was dazed by the warmth still lingering on her hand.
‘That outrageous face plus a great voice. He’s a monster—if he let his guard down, he’d charm anyone.’
Around this point, Gang Ro-jun had seized the flow of the reading room. To the extent that Director Kim Ki-baek, who had followed in behind Ro-jun, was sure of it.
‘He just appeared and greeted them, yet his presence is exploding. Well, even at a glance, no one here has an aura like our Ro-jun.’
Japan’s top actors had been thoroughly defeated by newbie actor—or rather, author—Gang Ro-jun. This was something not only Director Kim Ki-baek but also most of the actors in the reading room must have felt.
Ro-jun, the center of attention, looked at the character sheet placed on the two parallel rows of desks.
*‘Is this my seat?’*
Seeing the name of the role he would play, he pulled out the chair.
*‘Murata Sho’*
Next, he picked up the stack of paper within reach. No, it was the script book for *Like a Ghost World*. The title stamped on the purple cover. The opened script was densely packed with stage directions and lines in Japanese. The script that had been changed to Japanese for Gang Ro-jun. Seeing it on site, he felt rather strange.
*Swish.*
At the same time, dozens of people poured into the reading room. The production team of *Like a Ghost World* and Netflix Japan personnel. All the actors including Ro-jun stood up, and a foreigner with a familiar face spotted Gang Ro-jun while greeting.
“Author Ro-jun.”
It was Tom Cavil, Chief Director of Netflix Japan. With his yellow curly hair, he approached Ro-jun smiling and introduced a man attached to his side who gave off a generally gloomy atmosphere.
“Author, this is the PD in charge of directing *Like a Ghost World*.”
The director PD with bloodshot eyes greeted Gang Ro-jun.
“I’m finally meeting you, Author. I’m Noguchi Ken.”
He looked like he might collapse at any moment. Ro-jun bowed his head, thinking he somehow resembled PD U Han-seok from the past, who had pulled all-nighters for several days.
“Hello.”
“I really enjoyed reading the work. I will direct with all my life.”
After a brief conversation, Director PD Noguchi Ken seated himself at the front of the parallel desks, the actors sat back down, and Tom Cavil and others put their bottoms on makeshift chairs at the back. With everyone who was supposed to come having arrived, the script reading officially began.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Noguchi Ken, in charge of *Like a Ghost World*.”
The director PD started with his self-introduction and moved on to the author.
“Author Ro-jun, as you all know, the author has also taken on the role of ‘Murata Sho’ as an actor.”
Applause followed.
*Clap, clap, clap, clap.*
The introductions proceeded quickly. With over twenty actors plus Netflix Japan. With Tom Cavil’s words of encouragement ending it, PD Noguchi Ken opened the script before him.
“Then let us begin the table read for *Like a Ghost World*.”
After that.
While Gang Ro-jun was in the midst of the table read, many photos of him were circulating in Korea.
《[Star Photo] Gimpo Airport Fully Charged with ‘Ro-jun’s’ Handsomeness / Photo》
《‘Vanguard’ Ro-jun, Perfect 365 Days! A Moving Visual》
《Ro-jun Departing for Japan, ‘The Airport Like a Runway’ / Photo》
《Hundreds of People Flocked to See Ro-jun…Already a Star!》
These were, of course, cuts taken at the airport, and the situation in Japan was no different. The members of *Vanguard* at GN Entertainment were browsing articles about Ro-jun even while eating lunch.
Sihu exclaimed repeatedly.
“Look at the fans swarming! Even I can’t resist Actor Ro-jun.”
Gang Min was curious about the script reading.
“I wonder what the reading room in Japan is like. I should’ve followed Ro-jun hyung pretending to be his manager.”
Do-gyeong’s tone was dry, but his shoulders shot up to the sky.
“Ro-jun hyung’s face is insane today. Those Japanese actors are pitiful.”
Around this time, the A&R team had gone out to a filming studio. In a vast space like a logistics warehouse, dozens of people were busy constructing according to blueprints. The A&R team was checking the space in front of one section.
“It’s not bad?”
“Yeah, it came out well as desired.”
This place was one of the sets where *Vanguard’s* music video would be filmed.
“For now, this set is confirmed.”
The first set was approved.
Meanwhile, Gang Ro-jun in Japan sat quietly listening to the director PD’s stage directions and the actors’ lines.
‘Hmm.’
He wasn’t making any reactions for the moment. Currently, under PD Noguchi Ken’s discretion, they were doing the reading for Part 3.
*Like a Ghost World* had an overall worldview connecting ten parts, but it was an omnibus format with different stories in each episode. The male lead was a detective, and the cases that detective experienced were the main stories. Therefore, the male actor playing the protagonist detective had the most lines.
Ro-jun glanced at the Japanese top actor sitting across from him.
‘Is that Endo Takuto?’
Endo Takuto, with long hair and an overwhelmingly noble appearance, was famous in Japan as an acting-heavy actor.
‘He has many hit works too.’
Naturally, Gang Ro-jun had searched the actors of *Like a Ghost World*, and among them, he had looked through the most information about Endo Takuto, who played the male lead. Soon, without showing anything on his face, Ro-jun listened deeply to the actors’ lines, including Endo Takuto’s.
Thirty minutes passed like that.
The reading flowed mechanically, one could say, and when Part 3’s reading ended, PD Noguchi Ken fluttered the script and muttered.
“Now for Part 1, the subtitle ‘The Vanished Women.’”
Here, Chief Tom Cavil from the makeshift chair side thought:
*‘It’s Author Ro-jun’s turn.’*
Director Kim Ki-baek and most of the personnel fixed their gazes on Gang Ro-jun. Since Ro-jun was one of the main leads of Part 1. Suzuki Rie and the Japanese actors, whose cheeks were flushed, did the same. They all glanced at Gang Ro-jun repeatedly.
Curiosity along with subtle doubt lingered in their eyes.
‘His Japanese is good, but his acting…will it be okay?’
Then the director PD recited additional stage directions in Japanese.
“Scene #3. Night. Detective Nagai steps into Kabukicho, dazzling with lights.”
“Leaving behind drunkards and those handing out business cards, he stands before a large mixed red and yellow sign. It is the host club that is his destination. Detective Nagai clicks his tongue, seemingly in a bad mood.”
As soon as the stage direction ended, Endo Takuto with long hair, who played ‘Detective Nagai,’ opened his mouth.
“Tch, it smells foul from here.”
The PD, taking the baton again, recited the stage direction.
“Detective Nagai enters the host club grumbling, and after calling for the host he wants, while waiting in the room, a man with handsome looks enters.”
Now it was Gang Ro-jun’s turn. However, Ro-jun wasn’t acting rashly; the atmosphere was quite calm. There was no need to panic. He had been steadily practicing acting all this time.
‘I already finished learning the role.’
The role of ‘Murata Sho’ that he would play had been thoroughly learned long ago. For an instant, Suzuki Rie watching Ro-jun narrowed her brows slightly.
‘Huh?’
She had every reason to. Because the air around Gang Ro-jun that had been maintained until just now changed in an instant. Soft and flexible. Like cold water. But not to the point of freezing. It was cool, yet also glamorous.
His expression, that is.
“Detective?”
One word. The line Ro-jun uttered in Japanese resounded throughout the reading room. Yet for some reason, the eyes of the Japanese actors grew slightly larger.
Diction and vocalization.
Even in a short line, they were felt effortlessly. The character’s form, personality, voice tone, and intonation, all of it.
‘……His tone was low when greeting earlier, but now it’s completely changed to smooth. As if that had been his voice from the start.’
Ro-jun erased his own scent and simply became ‘Murata Sho,’ greeting Detective Nagai.
“I heard you requested me.”
A faint smile. Yet mechanical. A capitalistic smile ingrained in the body from years in the workplace. Thanks to Gang Ro-jun showing the character’s color with just one expression.
“……”
The male lead Endo Takuto faltered briefly before returning as ‘Detective Nagai.’
“Disgusting words. I didn’t request you, I just called you.”
“Yes. By all means. But I’m a bit expensive.”
“I know. I saw your face plastered huge on that sign up there, dammit.”
Gang Ro-jun deepened his mechanical smile toward Endo Takuto. Saying with his eyes and atmosphere: if you’re not going to pay, get lost. But ‘Detective Nagai’ nonchalantly brought up the main point.
“You heard? Four women who came to this host club have already gone missing.”
“Is that so.”
“……Look at the photos first.”
Part 1’s subtitle of *Like a Ghost World* was ‘The Vanished Women,’ and the actual content was also about female customers who had come to the host club going missing one by one as the incident unfolded. There, ‘Murata Sho,’ played by Gang Ro-jun, was the role of a legendary number-one host. But a character with some mystery mixed in.
Such a Ro-jun tilted his head slightly. Eyes upward. As if thinking about something.
“I wouldn’t know, I meet so many people.”
“They’re all women who met you and then vanished without a trace. Was there no separate contact or anything?”
Arms crossed, upper body leaning slightly forward. Gang Ro-jun lightly shook his head.
“That’s something amateurs do. I’m a professional.”
Around this point, the surrounding Japanese actors gasped. How could he be so natural?
‘Until just now, he was just an absurdly handsome idol. But now……I can only see him as a host.’
Not a single person, not one, existed who could challenge Ro-jun’s acting. Not even PD Noguchi Ken handling this reading.
He rather, watching Gang Ro-jun’s facial acting right now, thought:
‘He’s wary but doesn’t show it. The overall atmosphere is water, but the voice spat out of his mouth has oil in it. Water and oil. That unmixable quality is strangely, forcibly contained in one bowl.’
It was a moment that gave one goosebumps.
‘A bright countenance, yet it also seems eerie. How can he express such profound meanings…with only his eyes and expression? That’s the author—no, that can’t be a rookie actor.’
Leading and seizing control. That was what was being said of Gang Ro-jun. A situation where the tempo was controlled with a single line, a single expression. At this, the male lead Endo Takuto, whose tension had shot up, swallowed dryly and then dredged up ‘Detective Nagai’ again.
“Pro or whatever! Cooperate properly with the investigation! Don’t writhe around like a snake!”
An excited ‘Detective Nagai.’ It was written that way in the actual script too, but Gang Ro-jun looking straight at it was displeased.
‘That’s not right.’
It was just when PD Noguchi Ken was about to recite the stage direction.
“‘Detective Nagai,’ shoots up.”
“Excuse me there.”
Gang Ro-jun, who had thoroughly shed the scent of ‘Murata Sho’ he had been acting as, suddenly raised his hand and cut off the PD. Then he spoke to Endo Takuto across from him, Japan’s top actor and male lead. No, it was directing.
“Your acting was a bit over the top just now.”
Gang Ro-jun was someone not even Chief Director Tom Cavil could treat carelessly—even before being an actor of *Like a Ghost World*.
“That’s not an ‘I’m acting!’ tone there.”
Because he was the author.