A Genius Actor Appears Out of Nowhere - chapter 10

“What do you think you’re doing, you crazy bastard!”

This was an unmistakable provocation.
A provocation that practically screamed for a fight.
There was no way a man like Director Ban Ji-woong would take this lying down.

However, the Bong Seong-hwa standing here right now wasn’t Bong Seong-hwa.

“Who the fuck do you think you are!”
“What did you say, you piece of shit?”

He was Ban Ji-woong.
Although it had only been a brief ten minutes or so since he first encountered Ban Ji-woong, Bong Seong-hwa had already picked up on many of his traits.

That uniquely disgruntled expression.
Those sensitive, wildly glinting eyes.
That slouching, bad posture.
Even that rough, raspy voice.

He wasn’t simply mocking Ban Ji-woong.
He was truly acting as Ban Ji-woong.

“Are you seriously acting as me right now?”
“Then who else do I look like I’m acting as?”
“You’re really insane, aren’t you?”
“Are those words I should really be hearing from you right now?”

A scene that made the onlookers doubt their own eyes was unfolding inside the meat restaurant.

There were two Ban Ji-woongs.

To be fair, Bong Seong-hwa was far handsomer and taller, but he offset all of that to look completely like Ban Ji-woong.

“…Ha, ha-ha-ha. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

Ban Ji-woong burst out laughing like a madman.

“You’re a real psycho, aren’t you?”

When told to do a free monologue, he acted as the director himself.
And he wasn’t just trying to mock him, either.
In that short span of time, he had truly copied every single one of his speech mannerisms, facial expressions, and even subtle habits.
Though their faces looked entirely different from top to bottom, it almost felt as if he were looking into a mirror.

“Stop acting now and sit down.”

He wanted to put an end to this farce here.

Bong Seong-hwa’s acting ability?
He had seen more than enough.

“You’re good at acting. I’ll forgive your lack of manners, so just stop that and take a seat.”

He was a madman.
A man completely mad for acting.

To be this good at acting, and to have this kind of nerve on top of it?

At the very least, working with him wouldn’t be boring.

There were a few monster-like actors like this in the industry, and since Ban Ji-woong had worked with those types before, he had a rough idea of what kind of actor Bong Seong-hwa was.

“Why should I sit down?”
“……?”
“And what exactly are you forgiving me for?”

However, Bong Seong-hwa cut him off with a firm refusal.

“Didn’t you also feel that you lacked manners when watching yourself, Director Ban?”
“……Are you trying to lecture me right now?”
“I’m simply asking for your thoughts.”

He did feel it lacked manners.
He had felt his temper flare up thinking what kind of guy possessed so little courtesy.
Yet that very person had been himself.
Because he recognized that fact, he had found himself captivated by Bong Seong-hwa’s acting talent.

“I don’t know what kind of project you’ll be making, but at least with a director who has an attitude like this, I have no desire to work together.”

Saying so, Bong Seong-hwa quickly picked up and ate a few more pieces of Hanwoo beef.

After swallowing the meat, he bade farewell to Park Sang-hyun and the rest of the staff, then left the scene.

“……”
“……Wow.”
“……That’s insane.”

Director Ban Ji-woong stared blankly at the spot where Bong Seong-hwa had left.

The desolate scene remained silent, with only the sizzling sound of meat cooking in the air.

* * *

A villa neighborhood in Gwanak-gu lined with residential houses.
Bong Seong-hwa entered the rooftop apartment there.

Opening the door to his Seoul rental room, a familiar face was sitting inside, grilling pork belly.

“Oh, you’re back?”
“Why are you in my house every day instead of going to yours?”
“Going home is just lonely and quiet, man.”
“Ha, really now.”
“Isn’t it better that I’m here?”
“I don’t hate it.”
“Then that means you like it, pal.”

Bong Seong-hwa let out a chuckle as he looked at Lee Jin-sung.

“By the way, why pork belly?”
“Didn’t you say you had a team dinner after filming today?”
“Yeah.”
“So I held a team dinner by myself.”
“Is there even such a phrase as a solo team dinner?”
“I just made it up.”

Saying so, Lee Jin-sung expertly wrapped a piece of meat in lettuce and stuffed it into his mouth.

Even though he had just come back from eating Hanwoo beef, looking at the pork belly still looked delicious in its own way to Bong Seong-hwa.

Eventually, the two sat across from each other, sharing the pork belly.

“By the way, you worked at a nursing home for five years, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And you covered almost all your food and lodging there.”
“That’s right.”
“Didn’t you save up some money? Honestly, I don’t think you should be living in a rooftop apartment like this.”

Even if Bong Seong-hwa had worked for minimum wage there, it had been five years.

His salary would have increased during that time, and since food and board were covered by the nursing home, he should have been able to save up even more money.

“I spent it all.”
“You spent it?”
“Yeah.”
“Were you the type to indulge in luxury?”
“I didn’t splurge on luxury.”
“Then where did you spend it all?”
“There’s a place.”

Saying so, Bong Seong-hwa also wrapped a neat lettuce wrap and popped it in.

“Delicious.”
“Honestly, I think you’re pretty greedy when it comes to food.”
“I actually had a nickname back at the nursing home.”
“What was it?”
“Gutton.”
“What’s that?”
“The One Who Covets Food.”
“Pfft!”

Lee Jin-sung thought it somehow sounded like a nickname that fit him surprisingly well.

* * *

The team dinner for <Pinnacle