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

Chapter 134: Back to square one
Kim Ji-won's probing still hung in the air.

How could Lee Sung-kyung not know that Lim Yoon-a visited the set?
She was one of the initial paid members of Kang Jae-hoon's personal DC site.

Later, the site administrator, Choi Min-ah, compiled and posted every itinerary, every behind-the-scenes photo, and every event photo and video, and she read them all.

She even revealed some of her schedules to the fansite admins.

Yoona visited the set in Jeju Island.

The fan site posted the Reuters photos immediately.

Including behind-the-scenes photos from the breakup scene where Im Yoon-ah makes a cameo appearance as the "ex-girlfriend".

This also includes a photo of Lim Yoon-ah and Kang Jae-hoon posing in front of the food truck he sent.

Every single one.

She has seen them all.

But the photo didn't seem to break through my defenses.

Instead, it was the comments from fans spamming "Yoonhoon CP" under Kang Jaehoon's DC fan page that angered her so much that she almost got hit on the foot while lifting weights at the gym.

Lee Sung-kyung found Kim Ji-won's little scheme naive and laughable.

She doesn't deny that she was experiencing a turmoil of emotions.

but--

Lee Sung-kyung would never perform in front of an "audience" like Kim Ji-won, who is clearly trying to provoke her.

They would never lose control on set in front of everyone.

Her emotions were like an undercurrent trapped beneath a thick layer of ice, surging but only able to break through the ice in front of certain people.

and so.

Lee Sung-kyung kicked Kang Jae-hoon without warning when they met in the corridor.

aside.

Kim Ji-won's smile faltered.

That carefully crafted line, "Yoona unnie came to visit the set too," was like a pebble thrown into the deep sea—

There was no sound, not even a bubble.

She had hoped to at least see a flicker of emotion in Lee Sung-kyung's eyes.

After all, according to her intelligence.

The relationship between Lee Sung-kyung and Kang Jae-hoon, who "lived under the same roof".

Shouldn't one at least have some possessiveness?

Especially when facing a "threat" of the level of Lim Yoon-a.

however.

The actress simply glanced at her calmly, uttered a single syllable "hmm," and then looked back at the center of the set.

That way.

It's like hearing Kim Ji-won say, "The weather is nice today."

Frustration crawled around in Kim Ji-won's heart like tiny insects, both itchy and numb. She tried to maintain the smile on her face, but felt the muscles in her cheeks stiffen.

On Jeju Island.

Lim Yoona is like a slippery jelly; if you don't take the bait, she can turn the tables on you.

We arrived in Seoul.

Lee Sung-kyung has once again become an unyielding block of ice.

If you throw a stone in, it won't even make a splash.

(These two women...)
(Are they all this difficult to deal with?!)

Kim Ji-won's inner self was already filled with resentment and frustration.

(Do you think it's easy for me?)
(For Crystal's happiness...)
(Even I, a die-hard fan of Channa, have personally stepped in to play matchmaker!)
(And the result?)
Yoona's side suffered a setback.

Lee Sung-kyung got a cold shoulder again.

Unfortunately, these two "love rivals" were both incredibly composed, making Kim Ji-won look like a clownish person jumping around with clumsy tactics.

She looked at Lee Sung-kyung's profile, which was mostly covered by a baseball cap and remained expressionless, and then thought of Im Yoon-a's gentle smile that was impeccable.

A sense of powerlessness welled up inside me.

(Okay…)
(If I can't afford to offend them, can't I at least avoid them?)
Kim Ji-won took a deep breath and forced a bigger, brighter, but noticeably stiff, professional fake smile:
"Unnie, please have a seat. I'll go see if the director needs any help!"

After saying that, without waiting for Lee Sung-kyung's response, she almost fled towards the monitor.

He was walking so fast he almost stepped on himself.

She stopped a short distance behind director Kwon Hyuk-chan, pretending to be intently watching the monitor screen and adjusting the details.

Actually.

My mind is a complete mess.

(This matchmaking business is so difficult to run!)

She silently tugged at the hem of her clothes, resignedly sighing inwardly for what felt like the umpteenth time today.

It seems that the bumpy road to reconciliation between Krystal Jung and Kang Jae-hoon was not something that could be accomplished overnight with just a few small "helping hands".

The road ahead is long, and comrades must continue to work hard.

(never mind……)
(I guess I tried my best today.)
(Although it was to no avail.)
(Consider it... getting familiar with the 'enemy' tactics.)
Kim Ji-won glanced discreetly at the figure in the gray hoodie in the corner, then quickly looked away.

She took a bottle of water from the assistant director, twisted off the cap, and took two big gulps.

The cool water calmed my restlessness a little.

(Um!)
(Regroup and start again!)

(See you next time!)

Kim Ji-won clenched her small fist, cheered herself up, and then focused her gaze back on Kang Jae-hoon's face on the monitor screen.

Let's film a good movie first!

As for the grand plan to bring Jung Soo-jung and Kang Jae-hoon together...

We need to think about this carefully!

Slowly search for a breakthrough!
Adjust KPIs!

……

Lee Kwang-soo successfully completed the reshoots for several scenes.

Director Kwon Hyuk-chan watched the replay on the monitor several times, and after confirming that the expressions and lines were in place, he waved to his assistant.

The assistant immediately crossed out two lines on the shooting schedule.

Lee Kwang-soo almost immediately snapped out of character, smiling and bowing to the director and staff to express his gratitude.

"Thank you everyone! Thank you, Director!"

Director Kwon Hyuk-chan smiled and waved his hand:
"Kwangsoo-ssi, you've worked hard! The results are excellent!"

"..."

After a while of greetings.

Lee Kwang-soo then turned to Kang Jae-hoon and said, "I've completed my mission, I'll be going now."

"I'll take my brother."

Kang Jae-hoon followed.

The two walked side by side out of the film set.

People began to come and go in the corridor of the set, and the filming slogans of a film crew next door could be faintly heard.

"Hey, that's right!"

Lee Kwang-soo seemed to suddenly remember something, turned his head and said to Kang Jae-hoon:
"If you don't have any plans to have dinner together tonight, I've invited a few friends. I'd like to introduce you all."

Upon hearing this, Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously turned his head to look at Lee Sung-kyung, who was following behind him.

Lee Kwang-soo glanced in the direction of Kang Jae-hoon's gaze, and a knowing smile immediately spread across his face:

"Don't worry, don't worry! The Bible will go too!"

"..."

Lee Sung-kyung's brows, visible beneath the brim of her hat, were noticeably furrowed.
"I'll be there tonight..."

She tried to make excuses.

"A schedule? Personal matters? Weightlifting? Come on, it's settled!"

He didn't give Lee Sung-kyung a chance to refute him further, and directly concluded:
I'll send you the address later, Kakao!

"..."

The day's filming ended close to evening.

After confirming the last clip, director Kwon Hyuk-chan waved to everyone:

"You've worked hard today, let's call it a day!"

The film set instantly came alive.

The lighting crew began reeling in the cables, the props crew inventoried the items, and the costume assistants carried clothes hangers as they moved around.

Kang Jae-hoon returned to the temporary dressing room and carefully hung up the costume he had changed out of.

He glanced at his phone.

Lee Kwang-soo's Kakao message has arrived.

The address is a barbecue restaurant in Cheongdam-dong that requires reservations.

It was already dark outside the film set.

The van drove away from the Paju Film and Television Base and merged into the evening rush hour traffic.

The lights of Seoul flowed like a river of light outside the car window.

By the light of the neon lights flashing past the window, Kang Jae-hoon flipped through the printed schedule for tomorrow's filming.

The remaining scenes in Area B are all ready, and the scene transitions are extremely efficient.

Follow this pace.

If all goes well, the reshoots for the urban portion should be completed in about a week.

The car stopped in front of a low-key barbecue restaurant in Cheongdam-dong.

Push open the box door.

The sounds of lively conversation and the aroma of barbecue wafted over.

Several familiar faces sat around a long grill table.

Jo In-sung was smiling and talking to Lim Ju-hwan.

Cha Tae-hyun happily flipped the meat over the grill.

Do Kyungsoo quietly poured drinks for everyone.

Lee Kwang-soo, meanwhile, was excitedly recounting anecdotes from the set.

As for Lee Sung-kyung—

The moment she saw Kang Jae-hoon, the awkwardness she felt due to the unfamiliar environment vanished instantly.

"Greetings, seniors. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Kang Jae-hoon quickly bowed and greeted him.

Jo In-sung quickly smiled and waved his hand:
"Don't be so reserved, please sit down."

"We've come at the perfect time, the meat is just cooked!" Cha Tae-hyun chimed in.

Kang Jae-hoon sat down next to Lee Sung-kyung as instructed.

"Kwangsoo said your filming went smoothly today? Come on, you've worked hard, have a drink first!"

Upon hearing this, Lee Sung-kyung naturally picked up the soju bottle beside her and poured a glass into the empty glass in front of Kang Jae-hoon.

Jiang Zai Xun drank it all in one gulp.

Lee Kwang-soo volunteered to act as the introducer.

"Need I say more about Jo In-sung? He's walking hormones!"

"Do Kyungsoo, our EXO's DO, a rising star in acting!"

"Cha Tae-hyun..."

"..."

Every time Lee Kwang-soo introduced someone, Kang Jae-hoon would immediately stand up, bow respectfully, and greet them.

He would smile and raise his glass in response when his name was called.

Until it was Lee Sung-kyung's turn—

"As for this one..."

Lee Kwang-soo's mischievous gaze swept between Kang Jae-hoon and Lee Sung-kyung, his smile becoming meaningful:

"Jae-hoon should know this much better than I do, right? Hmm? After all—"

"ah!"

Lee Sung-kyung grabbed a cherry tomato and threw it at Lee Kwang-soo.

"Oh--"

"Hahaha!"

"Kwang-soo!"

The private room was immediately filled with unspoken laughter and jeers.

The laughter gradually subsided.

Lee Kwang-soo then straightened his expression and formally introduced Kang Jae-hoon to everyone:
"This is Kang Jae-hoon, Hwang Jung-min's prized student. He just finished filming director Ryoo Seung-wan's 'Veteran' and is currently filming the web drama 'A Good Day.' His acting is truly superb! He's also a very genuine person!"

Upon hearing this, Kang Jae-hoon stood up and bowed again.

"Sit down, sit down, don't be shy."

Jo In-sung swallowed the food in his mouth and waved his hand:

“Kwang-soo’s friends are our friends.”

"Yes. Director Ryu Seung-wan's films are not easy to get into. Being chosen by him proves that you are indeed talented. We should have more opportunities to communicate in the future."

Cha Tae-hyun raised his glass in a gesture of respect.

Kang Jae-hoon quickly raised his glass in return.

Actually.

The reason why Kang Jae-hoon was able to be quickly accepted by seniors like Jo In-sung and Cha Tae-hyun is still the "Sewol ferry disaster".

His radio broadcast that was forcibly cut off, and his signature of "read" during his subsequent summons and investigation by the Ministry of Culture, earned him an intangible respect within the industry.

This respect has nothing to do with status.

Irrelevant background.

It's all about the backbone and clarity that comes with being on your feet at crucial moments.

For people at the level of Jo In-sung and Cha Tae-hyun—

Background connections are certainly important (resource sharing).

But when walking side by side, what they value more is whether they can be relied upon in critical moments and whether they have the courage to do so.

This is the key that truly allowed Kang Jae-hoon to gain entry into this inner circle.

……

The atmosphere at the dinner party quickly warmed up. The grilled meat sizzled, and the sake glasses clinked together.

Everyone started focusing on the food, chatting about interesting things in the industry, gossip from the film crew, and sharing the progress of their respective new projects.

Lee Kwang-soo is the mood-maker—

He cracked jokes and made witty remarks, keeping everyone laughing.

Of course, he would also steer the conversation toward Kang Jae-hoon at appropriate times.

This allows him to naturally integrate into the circle in a relaxed atmosphere.

Just as Kang Jae-hoon was about to raise his glass in a toast.

A hand with distinct knuckles suddenly reached out and snatched the wine glass from his face without a word.

—It's Lee Sung-kyung.

She expressionlessly placed the freshly poured glass of liquor onto the empty seat to her right with a thud.

Then he picked up the barley teapot next to him, filled an empty cup with warm tea, and pushed it over.

The whole process went smoothly.

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon looked at the steaming light brown tea in front of him, then at the soju that had been moved away. He opened his mouth, but in the end, only a whisper escaped his lips:
"……Oh."

Lee Kwang-soo was engrossed in chatting with Jo In-sung, but his eyes, as if equipped with radar, caught this subtle movement.

He immediately perked up and grinned:

"Wow! Kang Jae-hoon, you even have someone specifically to fend off drinks and change your tea?"

"He has a bad stomach. He drinks too much and has stomach pain in the middle of the night, calling an ambulance and disturbing people's sleep."

Lee Sung-kyung's reasoning was quite plausible.

Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously touched his stomach and muttered softly:
"...It's not that serious, is it?"

Lee Sung-kyung turned and glared at him:
"Want to try?"

Kang Jae-hoon immediately fell silent.

He obediently picked up the cup of barley tea and took a sip.

The warm tea dispelled some of the awkwardness.

He secretly glanced at Lee Sung-kyung's profile.

The slight unease I felt from being controlled was inexplicably replaced by a sense of warmth.

Lee Kwang-soo saw this and was secretly pleased, so he deliberately spoke loudly to Jo In-sung:

“Yincheng, look! How virtuous our Jing Sheng is! It's really great that she married Jung-hoon…”

The words were not finished.

A freshly grilled, sizzling piece of pork belly flew precisely into his open mouth.

"Eat your flesh!"

Lee Sung-kyung took back the serving chopsticks, her tone remaining flat.

But her ears seemed to be tinged with a barely perceptible blush under the warm yellow light of the private room.

Lee Kwang-soo winced as the barbecue burned his teeth, but he couldn't bear to spit it out.

This little incident filled the private room with a cheerful atmosphere.

……

The dinner party lasted until late at night before ending.

The group, still slightly tipsy, said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

The early autumn evening breeze carried a slight chill, dispelling the lingering smell of barbecue smoke from our clothes.

Before leaving, Lee Kwang-soo winked at Kang Jae-hoon, only to be met with a silent glare from Lee Sung-kyung.

Kang Jae-hoon looked down and swiped his phone screen, carefully noting down the new phone numbers and Kakao IDs he had just acquired.

A taxi is parked on the side of the road.

Kang Jae-hoon opened the back door and habitually stepped aside to let Lee Sung-kyung get in first.

Without hesitation, she bent down and crawled inside.

The car drove away from the bustling Cheongdam-dong, crossed the Han River Bridge, and finally stopped in front of the familiar five-story apartment building in Seongsu-dong.

The motion-activated lights in the hallway turned on immediately.

The dim light shone on the staircase, which was marked by the passage of time.

Kang Jae-hoon followed Lee Sung-kyung up the steps one by one.

Take out the key.

Turn the door lock.

A soft "click" sounded.

The door opened.

A long-lost scent, a blend of faint cleaning agent and familiar lavender, wafted towards me.

The motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on automatically.

Soft light illuminated the small space.

Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously looked up at the ceiling—

The small crack that had appeared due to a leak from upstairs has now been repaired smoothly, leaving only a light-colored mark of freshly applied putty, almost invisible.

"I am back."

Kang Jae-hoon said in a low voice.

It's as if it's being spoken to the room.

Lee Sung-kyung didn't respond, but simply kicked her canvas shoes into the lower shelf of the shoe cabinet with a deft motion.

Everything in the living room remained the same.

The angle at which the sofa cushions were placed, the empty glass of water on the coffee table, and even the remote control were still placed next to the armrest of the sofa where Li Sheng often sat.

It was as if Kang Jae-hoon had only gone out for a walk during the four months he was away.

His gaze swept over the familiar furnishings.

An indescribable sense of security slowly enveloped me, easing the fatigue and sense of displacement accumulated from long hours of filming.

Like a small boat that has been adrift for a long time, it has finally returned to the harbor where it should dock.

Kang Jae-hoon nestled in the sofa and closed his eyes.

The effects of alcohol and fatigue surged even more intensely.

He could almost hear the weary groans emanating from the very marrow of his bones.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of running water in the bathroom stopped.

The sound of light footsteps approached.

Kang Jae-hoon slightly opened his eyes.

Lee Sung-kyung, her face still damp from a shower, stood in front of him holding a glass.

"Drinked."

Kang Jae-hoon looked down at the swirling white liquid in the glass, then looked up at her. Lee Sung-kyung's expression didn't change; she still had that indifferent look that said, "I'm just afraid you'll disturb me," but the way she put the milk in her glass was forceful and demanding.

"Oh."

"Go to bed early."

Lee Sung-kyung left those words behind and turned to walk towards her room.

"Bible."

Kang Jae-hoon called out to her from behind.

"Ok?"

"that……"

Kang Jae-hoon organized his thoughts and said:

"The ceiling... is it fixed?"

"Yeah. It was fixed not long after you left. Any later and the turtle that the kid upstairs keeps would have crawled down the crack."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Kang Jae-hoon responded, his gaze still fixed on the almost invisible light-colored mark on the ceiling.

The room was quiet.

There was only a faint humming sound when the refrigerator was running.

Lee Sung-kyung stopped at the door of her room, her hand on the doorknob, but she didn't go in immediately.

What do you want to eat tomorrow morning?

Seafood noodles.

Kang Jae-hoon blurted it out almost without thinking. Then, a little embarrassed, he added:
"I haven't eaten in a long time."

"……understood."

The doorknob turned gently.

"Bible."

Kang Jae-hoon's voice rang out again.

Lee Sung-kyung paused, turned her head slightly, revealing half of her face.

"Thank you."

Lee Sung-kyung did not respond.

The fingers resting on the doorknob seemed to curl up almost imperceptibly.

"Click."

The door was closed gently.

It blocked out the light from the living room and also blocked out all the slightest sounds.

Kang Jae-hoon sat alone on the sofa in the living room and slowly finished his glass of milk.

He was completely enveloped by the long-lost tranquility and familiar atmosphere of "home".

His nerves, which had been taut for months, finally relaxed, and a wave of exhaustion washed over him. He didn't even have the strength to walk back to his room; his body sank deeper and deeper into the soft sofa, his eyelids so heavy he could no longer lift them.

……

The next morning.

Kang Jae-hoon was abruptly pulled from his deep sleep by a domineering yet vibrant aroma.

The rich seafood broth, combined with the spicy aroma of kimchi, forcefully proclaims its presence.

He opened his eyes groggily.

Consciousness was still lingering in a dull feeling brought on by excessively restful sleep.

The sky outside the window was bright with sunlight.

He blinked, then blinked again, his muddled brain struggling to pinpoint the time and place.

(What time is it?)
(Still in Jeju Island? Shanghai? Vienna?)

He grabbed the phone that was on the coffee table.

My fingertips touched the cold screen.

Turn it on.

The screen displays a large number in the center: 8:17 AM.

hum-

It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head!
Kang Jae-hoon abruptly threw off the thin blanket that had been covering him without him noticing, and rushed into the bathroom like a cannonball.

—The filming started at nine o'clock!
The cold water splashed on his face jolted him completely awake.

I was so flustered while brushing my teeth that I almost used Lee Sung-kyung's facial cleanser as toothpaste.

Just as he rushed out of the bathroom with his wet, messy hair, Lee Sung-kyung came out of the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl and slammed it onto the dining table.

"Have a meal."

She seemed oblivious to Kang Jae-hoon's dire situation.

"We're going to be late!"

Kang Jae-hoon stared at the bowl of bright red seafood noodles, piled high with shrimp, squid rings, clams, and mussels, with a soft-boiled egg nestled in it, when his stomach started growling uncontrollably.

"what ever."

Lee Sung-kyung pulled out a chair, sat down, and picked up a piece of noodles with her chopsticks, blowing on it to cool it down.

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon glanced at the bowl of steaming noodles, then at Lee Sung-kyung's expressionless face—

Which has a more serious consequence: being late or disobeying Lee Sung-kyung's orders?
He had the answer almost without thinking.

Time is tight.

He didn't care that it was hot; he picked up a large mouthful of noodles, blew on it twice, and stuffed it into his mouth.

The piping hot noodles and delicious broth instantly fill your mouth.

The familiar taste powerfully awakened his taste buds and strangely soothed his earlier panic.

Kang Jae-hoon practically wolfed down his food.

Just as I finished gulping down the last mouthful of soup, two short, loud car horns blared downstairs—

"Bang! Bang!"

It's the Jin Dynasty!

The timing was perfect!
Kang Jae-hoon sprang up from his chair as if he had been sprung from a spring.

He grabbed his backpack.

I rushed to the entrance hall.

He shoved his foot into his sneakers without even having time to tie the laces.

"I'm leaving!"

He didn't care whether Lee Sung-kyung responded or not, and rushed out after opening the door.

boom!
The door closed behind him.

The sound of him running hurriedly down the stairs could be heard in the hallway.

The apartment returned to quiet.

A few seconds later.

Lee Sung-kyung looked at the bowl of noodles that had been completely eaten, with hardly any soup left, and the corners of her mouth seemed to twitch slightly upwards.

outside the window.

Kim Dae-won's black van, carrying its passengers, was merging into Seoul's busy morning traffic.

The engine noise faded into the distance.

In this small apartment in Seongsu-dong, only the sound of water rushing against the bowl could be heard.

Everything seems to have returned to square one.

(End of this chapter)