Chapter 469: Encroachment (5) |
Miley Cara. One of the most successful actresses and singers in Hollywood. But her peak was not the end. Recently, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Miley Cara was enjoying her second heyday, and it began after meeting Kang Woojin in Korea.
Since then, a lot had happened.
Everything had been a massive issue, but among them, one was Miley Cara confessing her feelings to Kang Woojin. Of course, this part was a top-secret matter to the public. Still, the press, which sniffed out the scent, broke the dating rumor, and it naturally rose to the surface. Since then, Miley Cara had hardly been able to meet Kang Woojin, let alone even contact him frequently.
First of all, both of them were too busy.
Well, Miley had a bit of free time, but Kang Woojin had none at all. Still, maybe it was just an excuse. Actually, Miley was wondering,
‘How will he respond?’
After the sudden dating rumor broke out, she was curious about how Kang Woojin would act. That’s why she didn’t make any statement and even refrained from contacting Woojin, observing his movements instead.
The problem was,
‘Why! Why isn’t he doing anything!’
Miley Cara, who had already confessed, honestly was feeling a little anxious. I mean, come on? Whether it was a rejection or giving her a bit of leeway, he could have done something, right? Since the confession came from Miley’s side, she thought Kang Woojin would give her at least a formulaic response.
But there was absolutely nothing.
Busy as he was, Kang Woojin was frantically handling his schedule. Naturally, the dating rumor didn’t die down and kept growing, but Miley Cara missed the timing to reach out to Woojin.
‘Ha- damn it!’
If only she had done something right after the rumor broke. Instead, she kept her distance, pretending to watch from afar, and now it was an awkward situation for her to reach out first.
‘If I contact him first and ask something, it’ll really look like I’m clinging.’
Although her mindset now was that it didn’t matter even if she clung a little after being the first to confess, Miley thought that if she pushed for it, she might come off as desperate and that Kang Woojin might dislike it. Plus, since they were both busy, it didn’t look good to pressure him for a response.
‘Ha- seriously, I’ve never been like this! This is a complete first!’
Until now, guys had always been the ones to come after her. It was the first time Miley Cara had ever waited so nervously like this. She didn’t have experience with this kind of situation, so she couldn’t do this or that. In the meantime, Kang Woojin’s 'Pierrot' was released, and his influence in Hollywood grew exponentially.
By that point, asking for a reply had become a foolish thing to do.
Just endure it, what’s the big deal, just endure it.
Miley calmed herself down and pretended to be composed, hiding her feelings. But inevitably, a faint sense of disappointment settled deep in her heart. When that feeling had grown enough, Miley Cara met Kang Woojin today at an event related to 'Beast and the Beauty'.
It had been quite a while since she’d seen him.
She had planned to greet him warmly, but for some reason, when Miley saw Kang Woojin in the waiting room, a cold tone came out instead.
“It’s been a while. So, you’re still alive.”
“Yes, fortunately.”
“Alright. If you have time after the event, let’s talk.”
“Sure.”
Their conversation after such a long time was brief and cold. Because of that, the staff around them thought the two actors had fought. Why though? Ah- because a fake dating rumor broke out? So they’re keeping their distance from each other? However, Miley Cara’s true feelings were a bit different.
‘You idiot! Why did you do that! Why did I act cold to him! Did I unconsciously let my pride get in the way??’
Miley Cara blamed herself for expressing her disappointment with a facade of indifference, pretending to be unbothered. Yet, Kang Woojin remained indifferent, showing no particular reaction. Just what kind of man was he? Thanks to that, Miley didn’t feel great throughout the entire event, and she kept sneaking glances at the well-dressed Kang Woojin.
‘......He’s exactly the same as usual.’
Kang Woojin, seated immediately to her right, had his usual calm demeanor. Again, only she was getting worked up, and Miley felt pathetic. And around this time, she had to admit again,
‘Whew, I must have fallen for Kang Woojin way too hard.’
She had already crossed a bridge she could not return from. Even though he was treating her like she didn’t matter, even with such a clear difference in emotional temperature, Miley couldn’t let go of Woojin easily.
‘But- from today on, I really need to start thinking about him less.’
It was at that moment that she made that promise to herself.
“......Though the current vibe suggests it was just a misunderstanding and that you’re simply colleagues, the public still wants a definitive answer! So- is it true or not?!”
A reporter attending the event threw a sharp question at Kang Woojin. Miley Cara, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snapped back to attention. What the hell did that crazy reporter just say! Don’t make me disappointed all over again! She had barely managed to calm down, and now the reporter was throwing fuel on the fire again.
‘Kang Woojin always goes straight to the point, so he’s definitely going to answer! Then I’ll be upset all over again!’
Just as Miley was furrowing her brows.
-Swish.
With an emotionless face, Kang Woojin turned his head. He looked at her. Miley Cara flinched and tried hard to suppress her nervousness. A brief moment of eye contact. Miley believed that Woojin was speaking to her with his eyes right now, saying he would just brush it off or claim that the dating rumor was false. Miley felt the same way too.
With over 200 reporters gathered and the entire 'Beast and the Beauty' team present, there was no need to put much weight on the question.
And yet, a sigh escaped her mouth.
‘Whew, right, I need to choose reality.’
A pushy, cold-hearted resignation settled in Miley. At the same time, Kang Woojin’s low, short voice spread through the mic he held.
“No, we are dating.”
As if waiting for this moment, Miley Cara exhaled again and smiled bitterly.
‘Right, we’re nothing. We’re just datin......huh?’
Then Miley’s blue eyes opened wide with a jolt. Her head, which had been lowered, snapped up. Her face filled with confusion, what did he just say? Dating? Did Kang Woojin just say that? No no, I must have misheard, right? While her blue eyes shook, Kang Woojin calmly met her gaze. His poker face remained unchanged, but he didn’t avoid Miley Cara’s eyes.
At this point, the hall, packed with over 200 reporters, fell silent.
“......”
“......”
Director Bill Rotner, Maria Armas, and the rest of the 'Beast and the Beauty' cast were all staring at Kang Woojin. Their faces were full of shock. Then one reporter, who finally came to his senses, blinked and asked again,
“Excuse me?? Mr. Woojin, what did you just say?”
With his gaze fixed on the dumbfounded Miley Cara, Kang Woojin answered again, calmly,
“We’re dating.”
That's when...
“......Ah-ah!!”
“Huh? Huh??! Ah!!!”
“Kang Woojin just said they’re dating, right?!”
“W-what! I spaced out for a second!!”
“Mr. Woojin!! Mr. Kang Woojin! Since when have you two been in a relationship?!”
The over 200 reporters who had been gathered in the hall recovered their lost wits. They suddenly started screaming and shouting, snapping photos like crazy of the two seated side by side on stage, Kang Woojin and the blonde Miley Cara.
-Pabababababak!!
Flashes exploded so brightly it felt blinding. But Kang Woojin, looking at Cara, and Miley Cara, looking at Woojin, their eye contact didn’t break. Woojin’s face was calm due to maintaining the concept, but internally, he was freaking out.
‘I said it!! Ugh!! I said it!! Shit! What do I do now??! What am I supposed to do now! Ah screw it! I’ll just throw out the line I prepared and wait!!’
Miley Cara, both outwardly and inwardly, felt exactly the same.
“......”
A massive shock. Kang Woojin’s answer, slammed down without any build-up or hint, made Miley Cara’s mind go blank. The endless shouting of reporters and barrage of camera flashes only intensified that feeling. Regardless of all that, Kang Woojin, his face firm as iron, unfazed.
-Swish.
Leaned toward Cara, who sat next to him with her blue eyes still wide open, and whispered quietly by her ear.
“Sorry for answering so late.”
Soon, with the initial shock slightly faded, Miley Cara smiled and replied,
“You're really eccentric, and… thank you.”
This two-shot was being captured by the cameras of countless reporters.
Meanwhile.
Following Kang Woojin’s “no backing down” declaration, the event hall for 'Beast and the Beauty' went absolutely wild. Reporters screamed, flashes exploded endlessly. Yet Director Bill Rotner seemed to have calmed down, as he merely chuckled.
“Haha, does this mean the ‘Beast’ and beauty ‘Bella’ are dating in real life too?”
Maria Armas, who was the first to suspect the relationship between Woojin and Cara, along with others didn't appear surprised.
‘I knew it!’
The actors slipped in their congratulations to Kang Woojin and Cara when they found the chance. Although the 'World Disney Pictures' staff were moving busily, they didn’t seem flustered.
The reason was simple.
Kang Woojin had already given a heads-up to 'World Disney Pictures'. In fact, he hadn’t ignored Cara’s confession, he had just been waiting for the right moment. And that moment was today. Naturally, he informed Disney in advance, and if they had objected, he had planned to pick another date. But 'World Disney Pictures' gave an easy, cool okay.
Apparently, this issue would actually help 'Beast and the Beauty' gain more traction.
They even congratulated Kang Woojin.
Truly, Hollywood seemed to have a different culture altogether.
Whatever the case, Kang Woojin officially acknowledged his relationship with Cara, just as he had prepared, just as he had planned. As usual, he sprinkled in his no-backing-down vibe.
The result was a huge success.
So, while maintaining a composed expression as part of the concept, Kang Woojin, meeting eyes with Cara, was shouting with joy inside.
‘Success! This was pretty damn awesome, wasn’t it??!’
Then doubt started creeping in.
‘......Wait, is this real? Miley Cara in front of me is my girlfriend??’
A moment that felt entirely disconnected from reality, but seeing Miley Cara smiling made it feel real. A flash of his past self crossed Kang Woojin’s mind.
‘Oh- shit, I was just an overworked guy at a design company, and now I’m dating that Miley Cara.’
The faces of his family and best friends also came to mind. His best friends would probably go crazy. Something like, ‘You? Dating Miley Cara?!’ would be the exact reaction. Then, beside him, Cara smiled and leaned into Woojin’s ear. A pleasant scent wafted toward Woojin.
“You really can’t do anything quietly, can you?”
"Do you dislike that?"
“Nope. Not at all.”
Just then, the noisy reporters redirected their questions. This time, their target was Miley Cara.
“Miley!! Are the two of you really in a relationship?!!”
Cara, with her blonde hair braided in a single line, showed the reporters a deep smile. It was the first real smile she had shown all day.
“We are seeing each other. So, please look upon us favorably."
The event hall soon became nearly uncontrollable as the reporters went into a frenzy. Because of that, the 'Beast and the Beauty' event had to end quickly, and all the actors, including Kang Woojin and Miley Cara, exited the stage.
At that moment.
“Th-there!!”
“Oooh!!”
A few reporters, who had been furiously snapping photos of the departing actors, pointed at Cara and Kang Woojin. They had spotted an irresistible scene.
"Hands! They're leaving holding hands!!"
Kang Woojin and Cara were exiting the stage hand-in-hand. And naturally.
-Pababababak!
That moment was captured thoroughly by the cameras of over 200 reporters. When Woojin and the 'Beast and the Beauty' team reached the hallway outside the hall, Cara, still holding Woojin’s hand, murmured softly to him,
"Were you surprised? When I suddenly held your hand."
Uh, totally. His heart almost exploded. Inside, the real Kang Woojin was letting out something close to a scream, but with so many eyes around, he kept a composed face and answered calmly. He subtly mixed in sincerity.
“Yes, I was surprised.”
“Liar. Be honest, you were popular even before you became an actor, weren’t you?”
“Hmm, not really.”
At that moment, Maria Armas jumped into the conversation from the crowd.
"What? That modesty doesn't suit you. Is it even possible to be unpopular with that face?"
Miley Cara, who suddenly frowned sharply, growled.
"Don't interfere, and don't talk to Woojin unnecessarily."
“Yes, yes- got it.”
Director Bill Rotner, watching the scene fondly, placed a hand on Kang Woojin’s shoulder and whispered.
“You’ve gained a lot through ‘Beast and the Beauty'. Now all that’s left is for you to earn the love and recognition of the fans. As the ‘Beast', of course. I need to hurry up with the editing.”
With that, Director Bill Rotner left the group. The actors also started to scatter one by one. It was about time for Kang Woojin and Miley Cara to part ways as well, they both had their next schedules to get to. With hardly any experience in this sort of thing, Woojin maintained his poker face while agonizing inside.
‘What should I say here? Should I say “Let’s talk soon”? No, that’s a Korean farewell!’
Thankfully, it was Miley Cara who spoke first.
“I’ll call you.”
It was simpler than he expected.
About an hour later, after parting ways with Miley Cara and finishing up his conversation with 'World Disney Pictures', Kang Woojin got into the van.
“Yoo-hoo!!”
"Woo~~~~~"
"That's our man!!!"
His team showered him with cheers and congratulations. Choi Sung-gun, with his trademark ponytail and already in the know, clapped for Woojin and then showed him a tablet.
“You probably guessed it, but Hollywood is glowing pink. Just look, it’s all about you two.”
The foreign press was already halfway losing it over the story of the 'couple of the century'.
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TL Note: Hi, this novel is now complete on Patreon. I will post new chapters daily for free readers, but if you wish, you can read all of it on my Patreon.
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