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

Chapter 131 The Guest Star's Counterattack and the Food Truck's Probing

(A small crystal?)
(Couple's bracelet?)

Yoona's eyelashes trembled slightly, like butterfly wings.

This sentence contains a lot of information.

But there's no time to think about it now.

Because she had already sensed the sudden freeze in the atmosphere on set and Kim Ji-won's ill-intentioned probing.

"This bracelet is very pretty."

Yoona reached out and took the bracelet very naturally.

Her expression revealed nothing amiss; even the curve of her lips was perfectly timed.

It was as if they were simply admiring an ordinary prop.

"But I think..."

She suddenly held the bracelet up to the sunlight:
"Silver is too cold and lacks a sense of story. Perhaps a rose gold design would be more suitable? What do you think, Ji-won?"

"Uh... rose gold is indeed..."

Kim Ji-won never expected that Im Yoon-ah would suddenly turn the tables on her.

Because she wasn't fully prepared, she hesitated when answering.

The spellcasting rhythm was clearly interrupted.

(Damn it...)
(Why doesn't she play by the rules?)
Lim Yoona chuckled softly, then suddenly turned around and waved the bracelet in the direction of Director Kwon Hyukchan:

"What does the director think?"
"Ah? Oh!"

Director Kwon Hyuk-chan was caught off guard by being called out, and quickly cleared his throat, saying:
"Yoona-ssi's suggestion makes a lot of sense; rose gold better matches the warm feel of memories. Props team! Go and get her a rose gold one!"

"Thank you, Director, for taking my suggestion!"

Im Yoon-ah clasped her hands together and bowed slightly to thank director Kwon Hyuk-chan.

Her tone was full of surprise and humility.

It was as if being recognized by the director was a great honor.

Those doe-like eyes were sparkling.

Anyone who sees it will feel good about it.

Director Kwon Hyukchan was immediately flattered by this direct approach, and waved his hand repeatedly, saying, "Not at all, Yoona-ssi is too kind~".

aside.

Standing rooted to the spot, Kim Ji-won suddenly felt a surge of weakness in her chest—

Lim Yoona neither accepted the challenge nor revealed any weakness.

By not giving themselves the opportunity to continue their attack, they can even turn the tables and take control.

This is a combination of punches.

I was completely led by the nose.

Such an opponent...

Don't even mention that Crystal couldn't handle it...

Even Kim Ji-won herself had to admit—

Lim Yoon-a is indeed a near-perfect woman.

She maintained a gentle and polite smile throughout, leaving no room for criticism.

Kim Ji-won quietly stepped aside.

The brain starts to work rapidly.

I had been planning this behind the scenes all along.

Now that I'm actually facing off against Im Yoona, I realize just how formidable her strength is.

Gentle yet sharp.

Humility hides confidence.

She even defuses awkward situations with such ease.

(really……)
(Those who make it to the top are all shrewd and capable...)
but--

Kim Ji-won narrowed her eyes and glanced at Lim Yoon-ah, who was listening nonchalantly to Kang Jae-hoon explaining the details of the performance.

(If one plan fails, try another.)
She suddenly remembered the ambiguous and unclear cohabitation relationship between Kang Jae-hoon and Lee Sung-kyung.

If Yoona really has feelings for Kang Jae-hoon, then Lee Sung-kyung's existence is definitely an insurmountable obstacle.

only……

It seems rather deliberate to suddenly bring up Lee Sung-kyung now.

She needs to find a more natural opportunity.

……

The café's decor was bathed in a warm yet melancholic light.

Yoona sat by the window. Her makeup was much lighter than usual, and she had added contouring to her eyes, giving her a haggard beauty.

Kang Jae-hoon sat silently opposite her like a statue.

The "ex-girlfriend" character played by Lim Yoon-ah is a wealthy woman burdened with a family-arranged marriage.

When the male lead, played by Kang Jae-hoon, met her, he knew she was engaged, but he still fell in love with her without hesitation.

But ultimately, family pressure led to the severing of the relationship.

Her parents threatened to destroy the family business, and her fiancé's family even directly threatened to ruin his career. To protect him, she had no choice but to end the relationship herself.

This coffee shop scene was the last time she saw him.

"Action!"

The clapperboard snapped shut.

Lin Yoona slowly raised her head, her gaze falling on Kang Jae-hoon's face, as if looking through him into a more distant place.

Even if I call you...

Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear:

You can't answer it either.

Gently unfasten the bracelet's clasp with your fingers.

The rustling sound of the chain slipping was drowned out by the background music in the coffee shop.

Even if I wait for you downstairs at your house...

The rose gold bracelet was pushed into Kang Jae-hoon's palm.

"You can't come out either."

Yoona's voice had a carefully crafted hoarseness, like the exhaustion of someone who had cried all night.

This breakup scene was similar to the one Kang Jae-hoon was in on the set of "For Love or Money"—

It was all a one-woman show by the woman.

The camera zooms in for a close-up.

Yoona looked up, revealing red-rimmed eyes.

A sob caught in his throat at the perfect moment, stopping right at the word "no," and the trembling at the end of the sentence made Kang Jae-hoon's fingers involuntarily curl up.

Kang Jae-hoon's response demonstrated even greater skill.

He remained silent throughout.

But the twitching of his eye muscles betrayed his attempt to hold back tears.

When Lim Yoona said, "Please live your life well," Kang Jae-hoon suddenly looked up and blinked.

This off-script action almost made the director call "cut," but it appeared incredibly realistic on the monitor.
It felt as if someone had a knife to his throat, and even breathing was painful.

"Crack!"

Director Kwon Hyuk-chan watched this performance repeatedly.

Im Yoon-ah's lines are full of skillful fragmentation, while Kang Jae-hoon's high wall of silence is more penetrating.

With just a few subtle body movements, he could convey the extreme heartbreak and restraint of a man.

It successfully shifted the audience's focus from Yoona's beauty to the tragedy of the character.

Director Kwon Hyuk-chan had already witnessed Kang Jae-hoon's control of rhythm and performance details, so he wasn't particularly impressed.

On the contrary, Yoona's performance really surprised him.

In his memory, Yoona's past film and television works, such as "Love Rain" and "Prime Minister and I", were disastrous.

Stiff facial expressions, exaggerated crying scenes, and an artificiality that always feels like a music video shoot...

We invited her to make a cameo appearance this time.

It was all about leveraging the popularity of being the "face of Girls' Generation".

I was thinking of just taking a few nice shots.

Adding more close-ups during post-production editing can generate fan interest.

But I really didn't expect it...

Yoona delivered the most nuanced performance of her career.

She strikes a perfect balance between the pride and vulnerability of a wealthy heiress.

The trembling in my fingertips when I took off the bracelet was not a physiological reaction that I was acting out, but rather a genuine empathy that had penetrated to the very core of the character.

The final syllable of "live a good life" contained three parts resoluteness and seven parts reluctance, and even the rhythm of his breathing was precisely timed to the turning point in the character's psychology.

This completely overturned Kwon Hyukchan's stereotypical perception of "idol actors".

(When did this girl suddenly become so perceptive?)
Kwon Hyukchan stroked his chin, recalling the preparation process before filming—

At that time, Kang Jae-hoon and Im Yoon-ah discussed things in hushed tones in a corner for a long time.

He originally thought it was just about rehearsing lines.

Looking back now, it was probably Kang Jae-hoon who helped her understand the character's emotional logic. Kwon Hyuk-chan looked across the monitor towards the center of the set—

Kang Jae-hoon remained seated in his chair, saying nothing.

They seemed to be still immersed in the afterglow of the character and unable to detach themselves, or perhaps they were maintaining their emotional state in preparation for a possible reshoot.

At this time.

Lim Yoona walked to his side and snapped her fingers in front of his eyes:

"He's come back to life."

As if waking from a dream, Jiang Zai Xun turned his head and met her crescent-shaped eyes.

The next second—

Im Yoona suddenly reached out and ruffled his hair.

Her movements were natural and carried a hint of intimacy.

It maintains the comfortable distance between friends, yet harbors a warmth that surpasses ordinary friendship.

Like the perfect heat when sharing a stove on a winter night.

It's warm but not scorching, giving people peace of mind.

behind the monitor.

Director Kwon Hyuk-chan watched the interaction between the two, stroking his chin as he pondered:

Should we reveal this behind-the-scenes story of "Lim Yoona's rapid improvement in acting skills" to the media?
It can both promote the new drama, give Im Yoon-ah a boost, and also give Kang Jae-hoon the label of "acting coach"...

(Perfect!)

……

The sun sets in the west.

Lim Yoon-ah and Kang Jae-hoon sat side by side on wooden chairs in the backyard of the guesthouse, while the sound of waves crashing on the shore could be heard in the distance.

Have you started smoking lately?

Kang Jae-hoon turned his head in surprise:

"how do you know?"

"You smell of smoke."

Yoona pointed to his shirt collar:

"And, my fingers are a little yellow."

Kang Jae-hoon looked down at his fingertips, remained silent for a moment, and then whispered:

"...Filming is stressful."

(Is filming stressful?)
(What kind of pressure could there be in filming a romance drama?)

(Is this his first time playing the male lead and carrying the ratings?)

(That reason is actually quite plausible...)
But Yoona always felt that wasn't what it meant.

She didn't ask any further questions, but instead rummaged in her bag and pulled out a box of throat lozenges, handing it to him.

"Didn't I tell you you can call me when you're stressed? Here, help me calm down."

Kang Jae-hoon took the candy, his fingertip accidentally touching her nail—

Her neatly trimmed nails were painted with light pink nail polish, which shimmered like pearls in the twilight.

The original "I'm afraid of conveying negative emotions to you" in my throat has turned into:

"……Thanks."

Looking at the gradually darkening sunset in the distance, Lim Yoona said casually:

"You acted so well in that scene. Even though you didn't have any lines, you could make people feel the turmoil in your heart just with your eyes."

"It's basically about... emptying your mind and letting your emotions flow naturally."

"Relax..."

Yoona repeated it thoughtfully.

Kang Jae-hoon nodded:

"Yes, the thing I fear most in acting is acting itself."

"Speak of it."

Im Yoona suddenly turned to him, her eyes crinkling as she asked, "Were those methods of emotional control you taught me taught by Hwang Jung-min?"

"Partly yes. And some I figured out myself."

"Figure it out yourself? Like the suppressed pain of a breakup scene? Could it be..."

Yoona tilted her head, her hair falling naturally over her shoulders, and deliberately dragged out her words: "—It's based on personal experience, right?"

Kang Jae-hoon's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Just kidding! Our teacher Jiang is so professional, it must be the result of observing life."

The words fell.

Lin Yoona tapped her fingertips lightly on the armrest of the wooden chair.

My gaze fell upon the twilight where the sea and sky met in the distance.

Kang Jae-hoon's momentary stiffness just now said it all—

He has indeed been in relationships.

And they hadn't been broken up for long.

Furthermore, considering Kim Ji-won's deliberate mention of the "couple's bracelet" and the name "Soo-jung" on set...

The answer is ready to come out.

(Jung Soo-jung...)
She calmly recalled the details of that night at the SBS Entertainment Awards—

Krystal Jung maintained a cold expression throughout, her gaze fixed on him like a knife.

(So ​​they were already dating back then?)

The timeline quickly formed in my mind—

From the completion of filming for "The Heirs" to the entertainment awards, and now...

(About six months at most.)
(With such busy schedules, how many times can celebrities actually meet up?)

(Once a week?)

(Even less?)

(This level of interaction...)
(Could he also make that kind of expression when acting out a breakup scene?)
This realization suddenly made Yoona feel a subtle unease.

This emotion came suddenly, yet it was perfectly reasonable.

She knew Kang Jae-hoon even earlier.

From their first encounter while dubbing "Despicable Me 2," to their perfect partnership on a radio show, and now to their "co-parenting" relationship with their calico cat...

(I've kept these fish for so long...)
(How did some young girl with blond hair manage to steal it?)
(Really...)
(This is infuriating.)
(but……)
(You've broken up now, haven't you?)

A sea breeze swept by, bringing a touch of coolness.

Yoona adjusted her coat, composed herself, and continued casually:

"Life isn't a script. There's no predetermined happy ending, and no chance to start over. So we should cherish the present, shouldn't we?"

Kang Jae-hoon turned his head and looked at her gentle, smiling eyes.

Suddenly I felt something loosen in my chest.

"I think I... messed up something."

"for example?"

Yoona asked casually, as if she were just talking about today's weather.

"for example……"

Jiang Zaixun took a deep breath:

"They bring the emotions from the play into reality, yet they can't distinguish between the play and reality."

"There is no right or wrong in feelings, only whether they are compatible or not."

Yoona suddenly reached out and gently touched the wrinkle between his brows with her fingertips:
"Don't frown, it will leave a mark."

The intimate gesture was so natural, like breathing, that Kang Jae-hoon didn't even have time to dodge.

"It's like choosing a script. No matter how good the role is, you have to give it up if there's a scheduling conflict, right?"

Kang Jae-hoon stared at her blankly.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a soft golden hue on Yoona's profile. A faint smile played on her lips, but her eyes were so deep they seemed to see right through people.

(yes……)
(The emotions are just like in the script.)
(What's missed is missed.)
The last rays of sunset sank below the horizon, and night quietly descended.

at this time--

"Jaehoon oppa!"

Kim Ji-won's voice suddenly interrupted.

Kang Jae-hoon turned his head and asked:

"what happened?"

"Lee Sung-kyung unnie sent you a food truck as a gesture of support~"

"We're right outside the guesthouse now!"

She deliberately emphasized the words "Lee Sung-kyung," but her eyes were fixed on Yoona's reaction.

Yoona's smile remains gentle and perfect.

Her fingers, which were tidying up her hair that had been ruffled by the night wind, paused almost imperceptibly.

(ha!)
(really……)
Kim Ji-won mentally made a victory sign.

(This is going to be interesting.)
(End of this chapter)