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

Chapter 139 Box Office Flop and the Daily Bible Breakfast
The theater lights suddenly turned on completely.

The blinding incandescent light instantly dispelled the last image on the screen of the two figures kissing in the backlight.

Zhou Xiaoxiao rubbed her slightly sore eyes and let out a long, silent breath.

It felt like I had just finished an obstacle course where I was stepping in dog poop the whole time.

tired.

Tired.

The overly sentimental ending theme song was still ringing in my ears.

But their feet moved mechanically, following the flow of people outwards.

The complaints from the other moviegoers around me were like a flood that had been released:
"Holy crap... I survived the last half hour entirely on my phone! Was the screenwriter's brain filled with Ganges water?"

"The most amazing thing is the male lead's mother! She can boss the female lead around with a check for fifteen million... Did the director portray the chaebol's wife as a shrewish mother-in-law in a market? That aura..."

"And what about the male lead, Xu Chenghun?! He was so devoted in the beginning, like a character from a Qiong Yao novel, but after learning the truth, he went into a dark and furious rage, yelling, 'The whole world has betrayed me!' My god... and they actually reconciled in the end? This romance is more fragile than a shoddy construction project!"

"..."

The resentment of the crowd was so palpable that it materialized into billowing black smoke overhead.

In the bright hall.

The poster for "For Love or Money" still looks stunning.

Liu Yifei exudes an ethereal beauty, while Jiang Zaihun is deeply affectionate.

Looking at it now.

The poster has practically become the movie's biggest "anti-fraud app".

Zhou Xiaoxiao sighed and took out her phone to unlock it.

Fingers tapped rapidly on the screen.

I quickly swiped through the ticketing app and gave "Dewy Beauty" a 5-star rating.

The accompanying comments were laced with a strong sense of sarcasm:

[The 3 stars are entirely for the actors' good looks. Liu Yifei is like a goddess descended from heaven, and Jiang Zai-hoon is outrageously handsome. The chemistry between the two is the only thing that kept me watching the whole film. Plot? Director, can we have a serious talk?]

Click Publish.

She exited her own review page, swiped down, and opened the rating page for "Dewy Beauty".

Despite having only been released for one day, the ratings are already quite poor.

6.7 points.

However, the score is visibly declining.

The new comments on the homepage are almost entirely complaints:
[Director Gao, how are you going to repay me for the eyes you owe me?! One hour and forty-five minutes of torture!]

[0 points for the plot! Did the screenwriter write this with their feet? The trailer is a total rip-off! Even Liu Yifei's stunning beauty can't save this epically bad plot!]

[Is the director crazy, or am I? The female lead gets stabbed and can still run eight blocks while clutching her waist? The male lead's devoted character collapses and he instantly becomes a roaring emperor? And then there's a forced happy ending?! Director Gao! Please leave romance films alone! Go watch some historical dramas!]

[The male lead is undeniably handsome, but the director made him feel like a mere plot device. His early scenes of deep affection were breathtaking, but his emotional outburst after being dumped by Xing Lu... wow, that scene was definitely one of the few acting highlights in the entire film! The hurt and hatred in his eyes were absolutely brilliant! Unfortunately, it was completely overwhelmed by the melodramatic plot that followed! The director should take the blame!]

[3 points for Liu Yifei's face + Kang Jae-hoon's physique and face + the director's seemingly effortless but utterly disastrous plot. The male lead's Korean nationality was already a major point of contention, but surprisingly, Kang Jae-hoon actually practiced his Chinese lip-syncing to the post-production dubbing? That dedication deserves respect. But... director, the plot is absolutely terrible! Negative points, get out!]

There were also a few scattered five-star reviews, mostly for the appearance of the product.

[A feast for the eyes! Liu Yifei and Kang Jae-hoon are incredibly handsome! The plot doesn't matter, just admiring their looks is enough!]

Their chemistry is amazing! They're such a perfect match! They're locked in!

[Giving it five stars to lower my expectations! Haters, get out of here! Sissi and Oppa acted so well!]

……

I'm scrolling through the comments.

Zhou Xiaoxiao could basically predict it—

As more viewers are "tricked" into entering the theater, the rating will continue to drop.

Looking back at the comments praising Kang Jae-hoon for being "dedicated," having "natural acting skills," and "accurate lip-syncing,"...

Zhou Xiaoxiao opened the ticket purchase page again and looked at his face on the poster.

He is indeed handsome.

The acting was indeed... like carving a flower in a cesspool.

Pity.

……

The hotel's high-floor suites have tightly sealed blackout curtains.

There was still a faint smell of leftover takeout in the air.

Kang Jae-hoon was jolted awake.

It's not an alarm clock.

The phone was buzzing and vibrating on the bedside table, its screen so bright it was almost blinding in the dim room.

He pulled off his blindfold and groped for his phone.

The agent's name was displayed on the screen.

Kang Jae-hoon propped himself up against the headboard and cleared his slightly dry throat.

Swipe to answer:

"What's wrong, brother?"

"The first-day box office figures are out!"

Jin Dayuan's voice quickly recited a string of numbers:
"With a screening rate of 15%, it grossed 1011 million, accounting for 18.6% of yesterday's total box office. It ranked second in the daily box office chart."

"1011 million?!"

Kang Jae-hoon immediately perked up and sat up straighter:

"...Number of moviegoers?!"

"Holy crap... What?! 1011 million RMB in box office revenue!"

"RMB... oh."

Kang Jae-hoon then realized what was happening.

Rubbed his eyes.

The slight excitement that the data had just stirred up was instantly suppressed.

"So... is this box office performance considered good?"

There was a moment or two of silence on the other end of the phone.

It seems that Kim Dae-won is crafting more euphemistic language.

But in the end, I chose to be straightforward:
"Compared to the film's investment scale, cast, and the massive pre-release publicity campaign... this start is definitely below expectations."

"The first day's sales were so low that they even fell below the industry's expectations for the overall market... The screening rate will definitely be significantly reduced in the future."

"If this trend continues, the production company won't even break even, let alone make a profit. Most likely... they'll lose money."

In fact, when a movie fails at the box office, the blame for the losses doesn't always fall on the actors.

There could be countless reasons—

Script, director, editor, marketing strategy, and even release date luck.

But as one of the leading actors.

Kang Jae-hoon will inevitably be associated with comments such as "box office poison" and "lack of appeal".

Especially considering that the lead actor has an overseas background.

At yesterday's premiere.

After watching the complete film, Kang Jae-hoon felt a chill run down his spine.

That feeling...

It's like knowing the building's foundation was unstable, but not expecting it to collapse so badly.

Actually, if we had followed that script and filmed it steadily...

I wouldn't dare say it was amazing.

It is very promising to get a passing score of seven or above, or even gain some positive word-of-mouth and box office revenue.

But what is ultimately presented on the screen is a completely different scene.

I don't know what the director's considerations were.

The details and foreshadowing that support the characters and make the story stand out were cut out piecemeal.

The entire film feels like it was forcibly crammed into an ill-fitting "beautiful yet tragic romance" framework, with awkwardness and illogical breaks throughout.

"Ugh……"

Jin Dayuan sighed on the other end of the phone.

This sigh wasn't entirely one of despair.

He changed the subject:
"But then again..."

"The filming is done, and I've already received my payment."

"We haven't missed a single day of the publicity we were supposed to do; we've fulfilled our duties responsibly, absolutely no problem!"

Kang Jae-hoon's lips twitched slightly.

Jin Dayuan's words may be rough, but they make a valid point.

The paycheck went straight into his pocket.

They also successfully completed the workflow.

Ultimately, the fate of the film is not entirely within their control.

This could be considered Kang Jae-hoon's first true leading role on the big screen.

It would be a lie to say that I was completely unmoved.

He certainly hopes that his efforts will translate into excellent works on screen and gain the audience's recognition.

But when the film itself deviates from the path of art.

The box office and critical failures seem to be another helpless footnote.

"Don't take it too hard."

Jin Dayuan seemed to sense the slight unease on the other end of the phone, and his voice softened slightly:
"Your performance in this promotion is evident to everyone in the industry, and your reputation among the general public hasn't suffered either. On the contrary, your dedication has earned you points."

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon responded, but it was impossible to tell whether he was being perfunctory or sincere.

hang up the phone.

I tossed my phone onto the messy bed.

Kang Jae-hoon sat for a few minutes before lifting the covers and getting out of bed.

The person in the bathroom mirror had pale blue under-eyes and messy, slept-in look hair.

Turn on the tap.

I scooped up some cold water and splashed it forcefully on my face.

The biting cold cleared his muddled mind a little.

The roadshow schedule remains packed for the next few days.

Movie theater meet-and-greets, media interviews, TV appearances...

But the atmosphere was clearly different.

During the Q&A session, questions about the plot's logic began to emerge.

The reporter's questions were also met with more cautious scrutiny.

It's no longer just about "sweetness" and "couple vibes".

Following the key points given by the team, Kang Jae-hoon tried his best to steer the conversation toward the character's inner struggles and the challenges of the performance.

In response to the criticism, he spoke sincerely, admitting that some plot points were "indeed quite dramatic," but he always emphasized his commitment to the role and his respect for the director's creative vision.

A routine smile.

A standardized, procedural response.

Everything is going according to plan.

We made it to November 14th.

The intensive first week of roadshows has come to an end.

The box office figures are presented in a cold, hard way—

Just over 3500 million.

This number seems acceptable on its own.

However, when looking at "Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2," directed by Du Qifeng, which raked in 1.39 million yuan in its opening week, the disastrous failure of "For Love or Money" became as inescapable as a shadow.

The collapse in word-of-mouth led to a sharp drop in box office revenue.

Poor box office performance led to a sharp reduction in cinema screenings.

This has created a vicious cycle that is accelerating the slide into the abyss.

Breaking even is already a pipe dream.

Losses are a foregone conclusion.

The capital city before departure.

Producer Wang Lei organized a brief farewell party.

Liu Yifei also came.

She was dressed simply and modestly, and her face showed obvious signs of fatigue.

Clearly, the film's performance did have some impact on her.

Producer Wang Lei maintained a businessman's composure on the surface, but his words were frank:

"We will continue to follow up on overseas distribution. The Korean release is basically confirmed for the end of January. We hope to see Jae-hoon in the promotional materials at that time."

Kang Jae-hoon raised his glass and said solemnly:
"it is my responsibility."

He was fully aware of his responsibilities as an actor, regardless of how the film turned out.

Director Gao remained silent.

Faced with such results.

He also seemed unwilling to talk much about his artistic gains and losses.

But in the end, he just patted Kang Jae-hoon on the shoulder:

"Thank you for your hard work. It was a pleasure to film this together. Let's work together again next time."

His words carried a hint of forced nonchalance.

However, they both knew that the "next time" was a long way off.

Politeness and regret were enveloped by the night.

The banquet came to an end.

……

The plane landed at Gimpo Airport.

It was already getting dark.

The air was crisp and dry, typical of late autumn in Seoul.

Kang Jae-hoon and Kim Dae-won retrieved their luggage and walked silently to the parking lot.

Jin Dayuan pressed the car key, and the familiar black van in the distance flashed its lights.

The car drove into the familiar streets and alleys of Seongsudong.

Kim Dae-won parked the car downstairs at the apartment building and helped Kang Jae-hoon carry his suitcase down.
"I'll pick you up early tomorrow morning to go to the film set for a meeting. Get a good night's sleep tonight and clear your mind completely."

"Ah."

The motion-activated lights in the hallway illuminated a dim, yellowish glow.

The key turns.

The door opens.

The familiar, homey scent wafts over you.

The living room lights were off.

The light from the motion-sensor light in the entryway barely illuminated a small area.

very quiet.

The only living thing in the apartment seemed to be the wind he brought in when he opened the door.

Kang Jae-hoon closed the door behind him.

I casually placed my suitcase in the corner of the entryway.

My gaze instinctively searched for that familiar outline in the darkness—

sofa.

coffee table.

Kitchen island.

Everything was the same as when he left.

Even the placement of the remote control hasn't changed.

But the unique aura of Lee Sung-kyung is very faint.

Kang Jae-hoon groped his way to the sofa.

Turn on the wall light.

Soft light shone down.

It illuminated the empty living room.

On the coffee table in the living room.

A not-too-thick document lay there quietly.

There's a... small dumbbell on top?

Kang Jae-hoon chuckled slightly.

This way of compressing files is very Lee Sung-kyung-like.

He walked over.

Remove that cool little dumbbell.

The cover of the document below was revealed.

Four large, bold black characters were printed on the white cardboard—

The Queen's Flower.

Below that is a slightly smaller subtitle—

Whose blood and tears are soaked in her floral crown?
Kang Jae-hoon picked up the script and casually flipped through a few pages.

The paper made a crisp rubbing sound.

My gaze quickly swept over the densely packed, categorized titles, character descriptions, and preliminary outlines...

The core of the plot seems to revolve around identity swapping and family entanglements—

An ambitious mother, in order to join the ranks of the chaebol, did not hesitate to exchange her own flesh and blood for ten million won, so that she could change her identity and go to New York to study cooking.

Years later.

At the height of her success and just as she was about to be crowned "Queen," she unexpectedly encountered the daughter she had abandoned.

The tower built of lies is teetering on the brink of collapse.

The rope of blood ties binds two women with vastly different fates, pushing them into an endless abyss of revenge, redemption, and humanity.

The actress who played the abandoned daughter had her name prominently displayed on the homepage.

Lee Sung-kyung.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze lingered on that name for a moment.

She first made her mark last year in the drama "It's Okay, That's Love," playing the role of "Wu Shao Nv" who had a brief but unique appearance.

Until now.

However, in just half a year...

This girl, who was almost a self-taught professional, faced skepticism regarding her identity as a "model and actress."

She's already firmly secured the second female lead role in an MBC special weekend drama. And judging from the script and the depth of the character...

This is by no means a decorative, side-by-side role.

The synopsis reveals struggles, potential conflicts, and the complex human nature surrounding the concept of "mother," which is ultimately confronted, creating dramatic tension and room for exploration.

we can even say……

Is she a truly substantial second female lead?

Kang Jae-hoon closed the script.

Go to the refrigerator and open the door.

A wave of cold air hit me.

The warm orange light illuminated the genuine smile in his eyes.

"so good……"

Kang Jae-hoon's lips unconsciously curved upwards.

I'm happy for her.

This is a real, significant step forward.

He had planned to wait for Lee Sung-kyung to return in the living room, say hello, and then go back to his bedroom to rest.

But the body is more honest than the will.

The fatigue from the long flight, combined with the drowsiness accumulated during the promotional period for "For Love or Money," surged in like a tidal wave.

My eyelids are so heavy I can't lift them.

My body sank into the soft indentation of the sofa, and even moving a finger felt like a struggle.

The last thought before losing consciousness was:

I'll just take a nap and wait for her to come back...

……

Consciousness slowly awakened amidst a peculiar warm sensation.

My eyelids were stuck together so tightly that I had to force myself to open them a crack.

The living room curtains were not fully drawn.

The pale blue light of late autumn before dawn seeped in through the window.

The wall lamp had been turned off sometime ago.

Through my blurry vision, I realized that a thick, familiar wool blanket had appeared on me without my noticing.

It carries a familiar scent, unique to Lee Sung-kyung.

The blanket was carefully placed over the person.

The edges were tucked tightly around his neck and sides.

Make sure there are no gaps where cold air can get in.

The cushions piled on the sofa were also tidied up, making Kang Jae-hoon's sleeping posture less awkward.

The living room was quiet.

The air was cool and clean.

Only the distant sound of the kitchen refrigerator compressor humming softly and rhythmically.

as well as--

It came from the direction of the restroom.

A discontinuous, extremely faint sound, like the grinding of teeth by some small rodent?
Hiss... hiss... hiss...

It took Kang Jae-hoon a few seconds for his tired brain to identify the source of the sound.

He propped himself up and listened intently.

The sound is clearer.

It's not teeth grinding.

more like...

breathy sound?

Is it trying to imitate a sound made by forcefully exhaling air from the mouth?
Kang Jae-hoon rubbed his eyes.

He lifted the blanket very gently.

Wearing soft slippers.

Silently, I followed the direction from which the sound came.

I walked to the bathroom door.

The door was ajar.

Kang Jae-hoon stood in the shadows by the door.

My gaze followed the crack in the door and peered inside.

Lee Sung-kyung, standing in front of the mirror, was clearly reflected in the mirror.

She had obviously just woken up.

Her hair was casually tied into a messy little bun at the back of her head.

She was looking in the mirror at that moment.

It seems like he's trying to make a look that's "sarcastic," "indifferent," and "stubborn."

He tried hard to bring out the sparkle in his eyes.

Lift your chin slightly.

His brows furrowed.

The corners of his mouth still held the stiff curve from that strange pronunciation gesture.

Two expressions are clashing on their faces.

The resulting expression reflected in the mirror was—

It's like enduring some kind of immense pain.

And he didn't forget to roll his eyes at the other person with disdain and warning.

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

The face in the mirror, contorted in an attempt to appear somewhat comical.

And the title on the script cover, "The Queen's Flower," is full of melodramatic tension.

This creates a strange and endearing contrast.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the cold wooden edge of the door frame.

The corners of his mouth twitched upwards silently.

The lingering melancholy from the box office failure of "For Love or Money" gradually dissipated without me even realizing it.

to be frank.

The scene shows Lee Sung-kyung desperately trying to control her facial expressions in front of the script and in the mirror, completely disregarding her image.

This was the first time he had ever encountered it.

It's a little sour.

It's a bit soft.

But more than anything, I wanted to laugh.

at the same time.

Lee Sung-kyung seemed quite dissatisfied with the expression she had just made.

His shoulders slumped down to the naked eye.

She suddenly closed her eyes.

He shook his head vigorously.

She flicked away the few stray hairs that were getting in her way.

Then I opened my eyes again!
Try to regulate your breathing.

Slowly pull open one—

Ok……

Perhaps the intention was to portray the complex mix of hatred, resentment, and vulnerability a daughter feels when facing her birth mother?
result.

The final image captured in the mirror...

It turned out to be someone with three parts stubbornness, three parts confusion, and four parts wondering, "Who are you? Why am I here?"

A major failure in managing facial expressions.

Kang Jae-hoon finally couldn't hold back.

A very faint breath sound escaping from deep in the throat.

So softly that only he himself could hear it.

but.

In the excessively quiet morning, when you can even hear your own heartbeat.

At the moment when Lee Sung-kyung was so engrossed in "applying makeup in front of the mirror".

This is a breathy sound.

It was no less than a thunderclap!
Lee Sung-kyung's body stiffened instantly.

All her movements froze on the spot!

one second.

two seconds.

At an extremely, extremely slow speed.

With a sense of panic, thinking, "Impossible! I must have misheard."

slowly.

slowly.

Extremely difficult.

He turned around and faced the door.

They met Kang Jae-hoon's face, which was clearly showing a smile he couldn't hide, from the shadows by the doorway.

"..."

In Lee Sung-kyung's round eyes.

All the complex emotions I had just worked so hard to cultivate collapsed in an instant.

All that remained was a vast blank space, a mixture of shame, indignation, bewilderment, and the thought, "Why now of all times?"

"Kang—Jae—Hoon—!"

After a brief pause.

A suppressed, almost broken roar of extreme shame exploded in the small bathroom.

Kang Jae-hoon acts faster than he thinks.

Almost at the same moment she turned around!

"boom--!"

He slammed the bathroom door shut inwards!
The door panel slammed shut the instant Lee Sung-kyung lunged at it.

It shielded her from her fiery gaze and the rage emanating from her, aroused by the thought of her "most embarrassing moment being witnessed."

"You just saw that, didn't you?! What are you laughing at! Open the door! Kang Jae-hoon!"

Lee Sung-kyung's voice, even through the door, carried a physical impact, along with the "click-clack" sound of the doorknob being frantically twisted.

"I won't open it!"

Even with his back against the door, Kang Jae-hoon could feel the thin door shaking violently.

The door handle hinges groaned under the strain.

"Stop turning it! The lock is going to break!"

The noise inside the door stopped for two seconds.

It seems that Lee Sung-kyung is also assessing the quality of the door panel and her own destructive potential.

silence.

A silence tinged with gritted teeth.

A few seconds later.

"Dong dong!"

Two dull, warning punches slammed into the door.

“I’m warning you! Forget what you just saw! Otherwise…”

The sound came through the door, muffled but still powerful.

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the door, listening as the silence returned inside.

Only the faint sound of suppressed, deep breaths could be heard.

He exhaled silently, slowly and deliberately.

A slight noise soon came from the kitchen.

Spread the seaweed out flat.

Spread the seasoned sushi rice evenly quickly.

Ham strips, crab stick shreds, and cucumber strips are neatly arranged.

Quickly roll up and compact.

Cut it cleanly.

His movements were so fluid and natural that it was as if he wasn't the one who had almost been "physically dismantled" just moments before.

Sandwiches are simpler.

Whole wheat toast sandwiched with thick slices of tomato and crisp romaine lettuce hearts.

The coffee machine hummed.

The dark brown, icy liquid was precisely poured into a tall glass filled with ice cubes.

The entire process is handled with cold.

Absolutely no cooking!
Absolutely no oil residue!
We ensure that every step of the process is completed in an absolutely safe and sterile environment!

Eliminate any sparks that could potentially trigger a secondary explosion!
Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting bright patches of light onto the countertop.

Everything seemed...too quiet and peaceful.

When Lee Sung-kyung walked out of the bathroom expressionlessly, a brightly colored and crisp breakfast was already laid out on the dining table.

Pull out the chair.

sit down.

Pick up your own sandwich.

There was a click.

It looked like it had bitten off the neck of something.

Jiang Zai Xun looked at her, trying to appear calm.

He tried his best to suppress the urge to smile.

He quickly lowered his head, picked up his coffee cup, and took a big gulp.

The icy liquid almost froze directly onto the top of my head.

He tried to suppress his cough, but the hint of a smile couldn't be hidden and leaked out from his slightly trembling shoulders.

"cough……"

In return, I was met with a death stare from the other side that could freeze coffee ice cubes.

Lee Sung-kyung's glare at him clearly said: You dare to laugh out loud?

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon immediately pursed his lips.

He forcefully suppressed the smile that almost spilled out.

Sit upright.

Pick up the sandwich.

Bury your head.

Focus intently on eating it.

The two of them began their unusually quiet breakfast in silence.

The only sound in the air was the faint sound of chewing food.

Just as this delicate tranquility was about to last until the end of breakfast—

"Beep beep! Beep beep beep—!"

downstairs.

The Jin Dayuan brand irritable death warrant rang precisely on time, penetrating the distance of five floors and the window glass.

Kang Jae-hoon swallowed the last bite of his sandwich, then immediately got up and quickly walked into the bathroom.

Turn on the tap.

I splashed some cold water on my face haphazardly.

Put toothpaste on a toothbrush and put it in your mouth.

I swiped it a few times without really doing anything.

Rinse your mouth with water.

I grabbed a towel and wiped the water droplets off my face.

I rushed back to my room and put on my clothes.

Then, he hurriedly took out a square object tightly wrapped in thick, shockproof bubble wrap from his suitcase—

That was the "military pay" that he had specially carried back in his own body, which the teacher had specifically requested.

In arms.

Kang Jae-hoon rushed towards the entrance without stopping.

"I'm leaving!"

He bent down to change his shoes.

He called out again towards the restaurant.

Lee Sung-kyung still had her back to him.

She continued to nibble elegantly on her eggless salad sandwich.

He simply raised one hand and casually waved it behind him.

I understand now.

He didn't even turn his head.

When Kang Jae-hoon reached for the doorknob, he paused for a moment.

Suddenly turned around.

The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile again.

This time he didn't try to hide it.

He laughed out loud, clearly.
"You acted very hard! Keep it up!"

The voice just fell.

Kang Jae-hoon then slipped out the door.

"Bang!"

The door closed quickly behind them.

They blocked Lee Sung-kyung's last, intense gaze, a gaze that seemed to burn two holes in his back.

(End of this chapter)