Peninsula: From a supporting actor to the best actor in Chungmuro

Chapter 122 Returning Home After Filming and the Appointment at the Amusement Park

A black van was parked downstairs at the Seongsudong apartment building.

"arrive."

Kim Dae-won glanced at Kang Jae-hoon in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

He was holding a bouquet of flowers as the film wrapped up, staring unfocusedly out the window.

"Go back and get a good night's sleep."

Jin Dayuan opened the trunk button: "I'll pick you up at six o'clock and take you straight to the airport."

Kang Jae-hoon absentmindedly hummed in response.

The morning sun in May is warm but not scorching.

He stood downstairs at the apartment building and looked up at the familiar balcony—

The curtains are drawn; Lee Sung-kyung should be home.

He carried his suitcase up the stairs with a blank expression.

—The breakdown at the end of filming seemed to take something away, yet it also seemed like nothing had changed.

I deliberately used less force when inserting the key into the lock.

The door opened a crack.

The entryway floor was polished to a shine, and Lee Sung-kyung's white sneakers were neatly arranged on the first shelf of the shoe cabinet.

Kang Jae-hoon's slippers were still in the same spot.

He closed the door quietly.

A Minion-themed throw pillow has been added to the living room, and a newly bought mug sits on the coffee table.

Kang Jae-hoon placed his backpack next to his suitcase and lay back on the sofa.

There is a tiny crack in the ceiling.

He stared at the crack for a long time until a rustling sound came from the master bedroom.

The sound of slippers rubbing against the floor grew louder as it approached.

The sound of the doorknob turning rang out.

Lee Sung-kyung rubbed her eyes as she walked out, her nightgown strap slipping down to her elbow. She groggily headed towards the bathroom, then suddenly froze—

There was another person on the sofa.

"Axi..."

Lee Sung-kyung suddenly took a half step back, her back hitting the wall, instantly waking her from her drowsiness.

Kang Jae-hoon turned his head a beat late.

The morning light shone through the gauze curtains onto his face, where he still wore his blood-stained makeup.

His gold-rimmed glasses were nowhere to be found, and his hair was still in the messy style from Zhao Taiwu's last scene.

"Are you kidding me, pretending to be a ghost so early in the morning?"

Lee Sung-kyung glared at him fiercely: "When did you get back?"

"Just now."

"Finished?"

"Ah."

Lee Sung-kyung stared at him for a while, then turned and went back into the house.

The door closed very quietly.

Kang Jae-hoon could vaguely hear words like "Unnie," "The water pipe burst," and "Let's go this afternoon" coming from under the door.

After hanging up, she went straight into the bathroom.

The tap was running, and the sound of brushing teeth continued for a full three minutes.

As she came out, she glanced at Kang Jae-hoon, who was still lying on his back.

soon.

The sound of the refrigerator being opened and closed came from the kitchen.

The crisp sound of a frying pan hitting the stove.

The sizzling sound of eggs being cracked into the pan.

The roar of the coffee machine running.

Twenty minutes later.

Lee Sung-kyung came out carrying two plates—

Fried egg, bacon, toast, and sliced ​​apple.

Two iced Americanos.

Small pills containing vitamins and melatonin.

"eat."

She placed the plate on the coffee table and then sat cross-legged on the carpet.

Kang Jae-hoon slowly sat up.

The fried egg had crispy edges, and the bacon was fried to perfection.

Lee Sung-kyung picked up the remote and turned on the TV; the morning news broadcast immediately broke the silence.

"A train collision occurred on Seoul Metro Line 2 towards Simni Station, injuring 249 people."

The scene shifts to the accident scene, with a fleeting glimpse of the twisted carriage and the injured on a stretcher.

Lee Sung-kyung changed the channel expressionlessly.

Ms. Park is giving a speech:
"I should bear ultimate responsibility for the Sewol ferry disaster. The Japan Coast Guard is to be disbanded immediately, and the national emergency management system to be reorganized."

Change again.

The female host of the entertainment news has a sweet smile:

Voting for the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards is now officially open!

"..."

The nominees for Best New Actor in a Television Drama are as follows:

"Reply 1994 - Kim Sung-kyun".

"Reply 1994 - Jung Woo".

"The Heirs - Kang Jae-hoon".

"..."

Lee Sung-kyung's finger paused on the remote control for a moment.

"Congratulations."

Her voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

Kang Jae-hoon stared at the still of himself smiling brightly in the drama, and suddenly felt very unfamiliar.

The TV presenter continued:
"...Voting will continue until May 26, and the awards ceremony will be held on May 27 at the Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University."

……

Kang Jae-hoon mechanically chewed the last piece of apple.

Lee Sung-kyung glanced at him and suddenly put down her chopsticks.

"To take a bath."

".Now?"

"if not?"

Without looking up, she commanded, "You still have bloodstains on you."

Kang Jae-hoon looked down at his shirt collar and saw that it was indeed stained with dark red prop blood.

He then slowly stood up and walked towards the bathroom.

When hot water was poured over his head, Kang Jae-hoon realized how haggard he looked in the mirror. His chin was covered in dark stubble, his eyelids were swollen, and the bruises on his collarbone were from the action scenes he had just filmed.

(Whose face is this?)
(Yoon Chan-young? Cho Tae-oh? Or...)

He reached out and wiped away the condensation on the mirror, staring at the blurry figure for a long time.

When Lee Sung-kyung came out of the shower, she was spraying perfume on her wrist.

"Wear that off-white linen shirt."

"which one?"

"This was a gift for your birthday last year."

"Oh."

Kang Jae-hoon opened the wardrobe and rummaged through the neatly folded shirts to find:

“Why are you wearing this?”

"Because it looks good."

Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if it were a universal truth.

When Kang Jae-hoon changed his clothes and came out of the bedroom.

Lee Sung-kyung had already changed her shoes and was waiting for him in the entryway.

"Where to?"

"You'll know when you go there."

Lee Sung-kyung pushed open the door and asked, "Are you coming or not?"

Sunlight streamed in obliquely through the hallway window, casting a patch of light on the floor.

Looking at Lee Sung-kyung's backlit figure, Kang Jae-hoon suddenly felt that the crack in the ceiling didn't seem so glaring anymore.

"Walk."

The midday sun is much more dazzling than the morning light.

The May wind, carrying the fragrance of flowers, swept past the amusement park gate.

Kang Jae-hoon stood in front of the ticket counter, staring blankly at Lee Sung-kyung's retreating figure as she took out her money to buy a ticket.

(Amusement park?)
(Why an amusement park?)

He subconsciously touched the mask on his face—thankfully, it covered him well.

Lee Sung-kyung suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the entrance. Kang Jae-hoon stumbled as she pulled him, almost bumping into a child next to him.

"Slow down. Why did you suddenly come here?"

"The tickets were a gift from the company."

Lee Sung-kyung replied without turning her head, "It will expire if you don't use it."

(That's a lie.)
Kang Jae-hoon stared at the ends of her hair, which were dyed light brown by the sunlight, and thought.

(I just saw her pay at the ticket window.)
But he didn't expose it.

The amusement park was bustling with noise.

The screams of the roller coaster, the music from the ice cream truck, and the laughter of the children mingled together.

Lee Sung-kyung stopped at a stall selling headbands and picked up two cartoon headbands—

One has pink rabbit ears, and the other has blue bear ears.

"Wear this."

Kang Jae-hoon took a half step back: "No..."

Lee Sung-kyung squinted, her right hand already reaching for her backpack—

(dumbbel?!)
(No way...)
Jiang Zai Xun resignedly lowered his head and let her put the bear ear headband on his head.

Lee Sung-kyung put on the rabbit ears herself, looked at herself in the mirror on the stall, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's go."

She turned and walked towards the carousel, but her hand secretly reached behind her—

Jiang Zai Xun looked at the hand hanging in mid-air, hesitated for two seconds, and then gently grasped it.

Lee Sung-kyung's palms are warm.

Its joints are clearly defined, exuding a sense of power.

He can easily lift a 10-kilogram dumbbell and also catch all his breakdowns.

The music from the carousel drew closer.

She paused for three seconds, then finally pulled him toward the roller coaster.

"Are you really going to sit here?"

Kang Jae-hoon looked up at the almost vertical drop track, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Lee Sung-kyung didn't answer, but simply handed the ticket to the ticket inspector.

The train slowly climbed higher, and the view became increasingly expansive.

At the moment of reaching the highest point, Kang Jae-hoon suddenly understood why Jo Tae-oh liked racing.

(The thrill of impending fall)

(Addictive.)
"what--"

The moment the feeling of weightlessness hit, Lee Sung-kyung's scream almost pierced his eardrums.

The wind howled and swept across my cheeks.

Kang Jae-hoon turned his head to look—

Lee Sung-kyung kept her eyes tightly closed. As the roller coaster plummeted, all her hair flew upwards, revealing her smooth forehead.

(turn out to be……)
(She also has times when she's afraid.)
This realization made Kang Jae-hoon inexplicably want to laugh.

He extended his index finger and gently pried open Lee Sung-kyung's tightly closed eyelids:

"Enjoying the scenery."

"Kang! Jae! Hoon!"

Lee Sung-kyung's roar was torn apart by the roar of the roller coaster.

The next second—

"boom!"

Immediately afterwards, a fist slammed into his shoulder.

"boom!"

He grimaced in pain, but burst out laughing as the roller coaster climbed higher again.

really weird.

The gloomy mood clinging to me is now being blown away by the wind of the roller coaster.

When the train finally came to a slow, steady stop, Lee Sung-kyung's lips had lost all color.

She staggered down the steps, and after a full minute of regaining her balance by holding onto the railing, she finally spoke:
"...Let's go ride the carousel."

His voice trembled slightly.

Seeing her knees buckle, Kang Jae-hoon suddenly knelt down:

"Carry you on my back?"

"……roll."

Lee Sung-kyung pushed him away, but almost knelt on the ground because her legs were too weak.

Kang Jae-hoon quickly grabbed her waist:
"Why are you trying to be strong?"

"I want you to manage."

Lee Sung-kyung shook off his hand and staggered toward the carousel.

in the sun.

The rabbit ear headband on her head was tilted to one side, which looked strangely comical.

Suddenly remembering something, Kang Jae-hoon took out his phone and snapped a picture of her back.

(Save it.)
(I'll laugh at her when I'm old.)
The music from the carousel was light and melodious.

Lee Sung-kyung chose a pure white wooden horse, while Kang Jae-hoon mounted the brown one next to it.

After three laps, her legs were no longer weak when she jumped off the rocking horse.

"Want to go to the haunted house?"

"what?"

Kang Jae-hoon looked up and saw that she was pointing at the gloomy ancient castle building not far away.

The entrance is marked with a sign that reads "Zombie Hospital," and the people queuing are mostly couples.

"you sure?"

Kang Jae-hoon raised an eyebrow: "I was almost scared to tears on the roller coaster just now."

Lee Sung-kyung sneered: "Whoever cries is a little dog."

……

The interior of the haunted house was colder than I had imagined.

Under the dim red light, the dilapidated hospital corridor was filled with "corpses".

Lee Sung-kyung walked ahead with steady steps—until a "zombie" suddenly pounced out of the cabinet.

"what!"

She suddenly stepped back, her back bumping into Jiang Zaixun's arms.

Kang Jae-hoon instinctively hugged her:
"It's nothing, it's fake."

"I know!"

Lee Sung-kyung was stubborn, but she held onto his arm tightly.

For the rest of the journey, she practically clung to Kang Jae-hoon.

Kang Jae-hoon suppressed a laugh and deliberately slowed his pace.

(So ​​that's what she's afraid of?)

As I turned a corner, a mournful cry suddenly came from ahead.

Lee Sung-kyung paused in her steps.

Kang Jae-hoon felt her fingers digging into his arm.

"or……"

He was about to suggest turning back when Lee Sung-kyung took a deep breath and pulled him to continue walking forward.

"What's there to be afraid of? It's all just people in disguise."

As soon as the words fell——

Suddenly, a "corpse" hung down from the ceiling, its pale face right in front of the two people.

"Xiba!"

Lee Sung-kyung threw a punch—

"boom!"

The "corpse" let out a muffled groan, covered its nose, and staggered backward.

Kang Jae-hoon was dumbfounded.

Lee Sung-kyung was also stunned.

"Yeah, sorry!"

She hurriedly apologized, grabbed Kang Jae-hoon, and ran away.

A staff member's aggrieved voice came from behind:
"This counts as a work injury!"

……

The two were panting heavily when they rushed out of the haunted house.

Lee Sung-kyung's bunny ear headband had fallen off at some point, and her hair was all messy. Kang Jae-hoon's bear ears were also crooked to one side, making him look extremely comical.

They looked at each other and suddenly burst out laughing at the same time.

next second.

Lee Sung-kyung suddenly stopped smiling and punched Kang Jae-hoon:
"Don't show that disgusting smile."

Kang Jae-hoon winced and clutched his shoulder, saying, "I didn't—"

Without saying a word, Lee Sung-kyung took out her phone, turned on the front camera, and shoved it directly into his face.

On the screen—

A mocking smile, reminiscent of Cho Tae-oh, graced the corners of Kang Jae-hoon's mouth.

That condescending, slightly indifferent curve.

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon rubbed his face, somewhat embarrassed: "Muscle memory."

Lee Sung-kyung snorted and put her phone away.
"So what if you have good acting skills?"

"...And now?"

Kang Jae-hoon once again revealed what he considered to be his most authentic Kang Jae-hoon smile.

Lee Sung-kyung stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and pinched his cheeks, pulling them apart:
"It's much more pleasing to the eye."

"It hurts..."

"Go sit there."

Kang Jae-hoon looked in the direction she was pointing—

The giant Ferris wheel turned slowly in the sunlight, its glass cabins reflecting golden light.

"Would you like to sit down?"

"if not?"

Manager Li Sheng said confidently, "Since we're already here..."

(Since we're already here.)
These are probably the four most powerful words in the world.

Kang Jae-hoon resignedly followed and joined the queue.

The Ferris wheel slowly rises.

Sunlight streamed through the glass enclosure, making it feel warm and cozy.

The entire landscape of Seoul unfolds beneath your feet.

The Han River, like a silver ribbon, meanders through the heart of the city.

When the Ferris wheel reaches its highest point.

The ringing of the cell phone shattered the peaceful and warm atmosphere.

"Okay, I'll be there in half an hour."

"Is something wrong?"

"Ah."

Lee Sung-kyung put her phone in her bag: "I'm going to the film set."

"I send you?"

"Need not."

Lee Sung-kyung shook her head: "My assistant is waiting at the door."

As the hatch opened, she suddenly turned around:
"Smile?"

Kang Jae-hoon tried to tug at the corners of his mouth—

This time, it's a genuine smile, one that truly belongs to Kang Jae-hoon.

Lee Sung-kyung turned and left with satisfaction.

His silhouette was as dashing as a superhero who had just completed a mission.

As Kang Jae-hoon watched her figure disappear into the crowd, he suddenly felt—

Mayday in Seoul is wonderful.

Back in his apartment, Kang Jae-hoon placed the headband on the bedside table and fell asleep immediately.

I slept soundly until dusk, without a single dream.

It was exactly 6 p.m.

There was a knock on the door on time.

Kang Jae-hoon rubbed his eyes and opened the door. Kim Dae-won glanced up at him and suddenly froze:

"you……"

Kang Jae-hoon scratched his messy, sleep-grown hair:

"what happened?"

"nothing."

Jin Dayuan put away his phone and looked him up and down:
"Well, his eyes look much more normal now."

Jiang Zai Xun blinked, puzzled, and casually said:
"I went to the amusement park this morning."

"amusement park?"

Jin Dayuan followed in, looking incredulous: "You yourself?"

"And the Bible."

Kim Dae-won raised his eyebrows high: "Oh—"

The "oh" was drawn out with a lot of hesitation.

Jiang Zai Xun blushed and coughed lightly:
"Just browsing around."

"Carousel?"

"Ah."

"Haunted house?"

"……Um."

Jin Dayuan suddenly leaned closer and asked mysteriously:

Are you still going to the concert?

Kang Jae-hoon paused on the backpack chain:
"……go."

"Tsk, tsk."

Jin Dayuan shook his head: "You brat..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his eyes said it all—

(After a date at the amusement park, they fly to see a girl group concert?)
(What a jerk!)

Kang Jae-hoon pretended not to understand his gaze and picked up his backpack:
"Let's go, don't miss our flight."

Dusk is falling.

The streets of Seongsu-dong were bathed in the orange-red glow of the setting sun.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the car window, watching the familiar street scene rush past—

Office workers smoking outside a convenience store, high school students heading to tutoring classes, and elderly women walking their dogs.

As the car drove onto the Hanjiang Bridge, the sunset was at its most vibrant.

The river water shimmered with golden light, and the 63 Building in the distance looked like a golden nail that pinned the sky and the earth together.

Kim Dae-won glanced at the silent Kang Jae-hoon through the rearview mirror:

"Take a nap? I'll wake you up at the airport."

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon closed his eyes, but couldn't fall asleep.

Amidst the hum of the engine, he recalled what Lee Sung-kyung had said on the Ferris wheel—

"Smile?"

(turn out to be……)
(She had already discovered it.)
Incheon Airport was brightly lit, like daytime.

Wearing a mask and a baseball cap, Kang Jae-hoon blended into the crowd and was not conspicuous.

Jin Dayuan, familiar with the area, led him through the VIP channel, and the check-in and security check were completed in one go.

"Would you like to eat something before boarding?"

"casual."

Kang Jae-hoon sat down in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the VIP lounge, watching the planes take off and land on the runway.

Jin Dayuan returned carrying two bowls of noodles with soybean paste:
"Here, this is our last Korean meal of the day."

"."

As the plane took off, the lights of Seoul gradually dimmed below us.

Two hours and fifteen minutes later.

The lights of Narita Airport were faintly visible beneath the clouds.

As the plane began its descent, Kang Jae-hoon finally saw the Tokyo night view clearly—

The dense array of lights cascaded across the ground like a silver river, while the outline lights of skyscrapers created an exaggerated city skyline.

The neon signs of Shinjuku shimmered in the night, and the Tokyo Tower, like a glowing needle, pierced the night sky.

The vibrations from the plane's wheels hitting the runway woke Jin Dayuan.

He took off his eye mask and asked sleepily:

"arrive?"

"Ah."

The neon lights at Narita Airport painted the night sky a purplish-red hue.

On the way to the concert venue, the dazzling night view of Tokyo came into view.

The towering Tokyo Skytree glowed with blue light, the luxury store windows in Ginza glittered like jewelry boxes, and the crowds at Shibuya Crossing resembled a colorful river.

Even the most ordinary convenience store signs are three times brighter than those in Seoul.

(In comparison...)
(Seoul really does feel like a big rural area.)
Kang Jae-hoon suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

South Koreans always love to boast that Seoul is a world-class city.

Only by standing on the streets of Tokyo can one truly appreciate what the infrastructure of a "developed country" looks like.

The car slowly came to a stop outside the concert venue, and Kang Jae-hoon was stunned by the sight before him—

Tens of thousands of fans packed the area outside the venue, their fluorescent support items creating a sea of ​​light in the night. A huge Girls' Generation banner in Japanese hung on the exterior wall of the venue, and long, winding queues formed at the merchandise booths.

"This is only the Wednesday session..."

Kim Dae-won gasped, "Japanese fans are truly crazy."

Kang Jae-hoon lowered his hat brim and followed Kim Dae-won through the crowd. The air was filled with conversations in Japanese, Korean, and even Chinese, and many fans were holding up light boards that read "Girls' Generation Forever".

(The invasion of Japan has been successful to this extent)

(No wonder they are the "representative of national entertainment and cultural exports".)
Jin Dayuan took out his phone and made a call.

A short while later, a man wearing a work badge jogged out from the side door.

After confirming their identities, he greeted them with a smile:
"Did the journey go smoothly?"

"smoothly."

During the greetings, they were led to a special passage marked "Staff Only".

The corridor was covered with posters of Girls' Generation's Japanese tour.

Im Yoona's individual close-up appears almost every three photos.

After passing through several winding corridors, the view suddenly opened up before me—

The stage is right there.

Nearly a hundred black leather chairs are placed on both sides of the "I"-shaped aisle extending from the T-shaped stage.

This position is almost parallel to the stage, so there's absolutely no need to look at the big screen.

"Wow……"

Jin Dayuan couldn't help but whistle: "This is an amazing spot."

The manager smiled and handed over two bottles of ice water and a light stick:

"Yoona specifically instructed us to enjoy the performance."

"Thanks……"

As soon as Kang Jae-hoon sat down, he noticed several familiar Japanese celebrities sitting not far away, talking in hushed tones. Further away were several middle-aged men in suits, who looked like record company executives.

As the stadium lights suddenly went out, the entire venue fell silent instantly.

The big screen began playing a special opening video message from Girls' Generation for this tour.

The plot is rather childish and juvenile.

It was a nine-person plan to steal the art museum's treasures.

The storyline is similar to that of AOA's "Cat Walk Light and Charming" music video.

The video has finished playing.

SM's signature green laser lights illuminated the entire venue.

The screams of tens of thousands of fans erupted instantly.

The rising platform in the center of the stage suddenly lit up.

Nine figures appeared in the dry ice smoke.

"Tokyo--"

"Ready?"

All eight members responded in unison: "Go!"

As the intro to "Motorcycle" began, tens of thousands of light sticks lit up in a pinkish-rose color at the same time.

The sight of nine pairs of long legs kicking out in unison triggered a deafening roar of screams.

As Kang Jae-hoon gazed at the radiant Lim Yoon-ah on stage, he vaguely recalled the girl who had whispered on the radio, "Your smile is like healing."

At this moment, she danced like an elf under the spotlight, wearing ten-centimeter high heels. Every wave was precise to the millimeter, and every glance was captivatingly charming.

(So ​​this is what a real idol is like.)

(End of this chapter)