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

Chapter 151 Buying a House Leads to an Illegible Status

NEW Building underground parking garage.

The cold light shone on the empty concrete ground, and the air was filled with a faint smell of gasoline and dust.

Bae Suzy's van turned on its lights first.

She waved to Kang Jae-hoon through the lowered car window:
"See you after the New Year, Actor Jiang! Happy New Year!"

See you after the New Year. Happy New Year.

Kang Jae-hoon smiled and waved in response.

The taillights of the nanny van trace an arc behind the supporting pillar.

Kang Jae-hoon turned and walked toward his own van.

Instead of starting the car, Jin Dayuan, sitting in the driver's seat, turned his head to the side, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, and wore a very intriguing smile.

Kang Jae-hoon completely ignored his probing gaze and fastened his seatbelt as if nothing had happened.
"elder brother."

"Ok?"

Jin Dayuan raised an eyebrow, a playful smile still lingering on his lips.

There's something I'd like to discuss with you.

Kang Jae-hoon said bluntly, "I want to buy a house for Bible's parents."

......"

The playful look on Jin Dayuan's face vanished instantly:

"Buy a house? Where?"

"A two-bedroom apartment in Gaoyang City that is close to the subway station."

Kang Jae-hoon recalled, "I had some prior knowledge that if it were a full tax, it would be around 310 million?"

Jin Dayuan remained silent for a few seconds.

They did not immediately express their opinion.

quite a while.

He said slowly:

"Jae-hoon, in what capacity did you buy this house for your parents?"

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon's expression froze instantly.

Identity?

Lee Sung-kyung's...friend?
Roommates?

Or... is it the "prospective son-in-law" that her parents may have in mind, but they have never explicitly acknowledged?
Any identity.

None of these seem sufficient to justify directly gifting the other party's parents a property worth over 3 million yuan.

too heavy.

That's too...inappropriate.

Seeing Kang Jae-hoon's reaction, Kim Dae-won knew what was going on. He smiled, a toothpick dangling from his lips, and his tone became more serious:

"I don't object to buying a house. It's a good thing to be filial to elders."

"But the method has to be right."

“I suggest—buy it in the name of the Bible. Put the property deed in her name.”

"Then, on her birthday, I gave it to her as a gift."

"The elderly couple are used to a simple and honest life. Moving them into a new house that exceeds their financial means might not be a pleasant surprise, but rather a shock and a burden."

"Why not leave it to Lee Sung-kyung to handle, and let her decide for herself how to talk to her parents and how to settle them down?"

"After all, she knows her parents better."

Jiang Jae-hoon was stunned for a moment.

His eyes immediately lit up.

This method is indeed ingenious.

This not only resolved the awkwardness of her "identity" but also handed the initiative over to Lee Sung-kyung.

This also minimizes the psychological burden that might be placed on the elderly couple.

"Brother, you're right. Let's do it that way. I'll trouble you to help me contact the agency and the bank later; there are quite a few procedures involved."

"Small things."

Jin Dayuan waved his hand and started the engine.

Looking at the city lights rushing past the window, Kang Jae-hoon spoke again:

"Also...brother."

"Ok?"

"I want to buy a car."

Jin Dayuan dangled the toothpick in his mouth, letting out a short, ambiguous chuckle through his nose.

"It's time to buy a car, so you won't keep driving other people's cars."

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

He pursed his lips but didn't respond.

Just pretend you didn't understand.

Seeing this, Jin Dayuan's grin widened even further, and the toothpick he was holding twitched up and down.

"What style do you like? Sedan, SUV, or sports car? What brand? I'll take you to a car dealership tomorrow."

"It doesn't need to be that complicated."

Kang Jae-hoon immediately shook his head:
"It's just a means of transportation, as long as it's convenient for getting around. It needs to be relatively safe, not too spacious, and fuel-efficient. Brand... I don't have any particular requirements. You know I'm not particular about these things."

He told the truth.

The car was important to him.

As long as it can be opened, that's fine.

"Row."

Jin Dayuan readily agreed: "Then I'll take care of it and make sure I pick out a reliable mode of transportation for you."

He took the toothpick out of his mouth.

They were carelessly tossed into the car's small trash can.

The atmosphere inside the car seemed to relax as the topic of conversation came to an end.

We drove for another while.

Outside the window, neon lights flow and pedestrians hurry by; the festive atmosphere is already faintly visible in the decorations on the streets and alleys.

"Jaehoon."

"Ok?"

"There's something you should think about."

"what?"

"I asked Kang Jae-hoon curiously."

"Financial management and investment".

Jin Dayuan put it very directly:

“You’re currently in your rising phase, so you should focus your energy on acting. But you have a long road ahead, and you can’t rely solely on your acting fees. You need some assets that can steadily appreciate in value, or reliable investment channels. Putting money in the bank and earning that little interest won’t keep up with inflation. You need to get it moving, to make money work for you.”

The light and shadow outside the window flickered on Kang Jae-hoon's profile.

He certainly understood what Kim Dae-won meant.

In South Korea's fiercely competitive entertainment industry.

"Neglecting one's main profession" and engaging in investment has almost become a standard survival skill for artists.

This is both an instinctive defense against the industry's high volatility and a way to monetize the natural advantages brought by fame.

But this investment...

It also has different levels of depth and complexity.

The most common and also the most basic option is opening a restaurant.

Especially barbecue restaurants and cafes with low barriers to entry that rely on celebrity endorsements to attract customers.

however.

These types of investments rely on impulsive spending by fans checking in, which easily leads to vicious competition and homogenization. Once the celebrity effect cools down, the operating pressure increases sharply.

Further up.

It's a semi-professional field that relies on industry resources and connections.

Such as opening a beauty salon, tutoring center, or plastic surgery hospital.

These types of investments have slightly higher professional barriers and more stable returns, but they also require more initial capital and management involvement.

However, the top-level investments that truly enter the capital game present a completely different picture—

That was the battleground for real estate, stocks, and even entertainment company share subscription rights.

There was no truly reliable connection to guide me into the field.

There is no strong professional team to support the analysis.

It was purely due to the artist's reckless act of barging in.

The consequences are often dire.

Many seemingly glamorous artists are unaware of market rules.

Believing so-called "insider information" or blindly following the hype.

They threw their hard-earned savings from filming into the stock market or futures market.

As a result, they were swallowed up completely, leaving not even bones in the turbulent waves of the financial market.

more than this.

They were deceived by some unscrupulous "investment experts" and "fund advisors".

For example, our Taegu once suffered a fraud of 11 billion won by a real estate company...

therefore.

This level of investment requires more than just fame; it requires massive initial capital, deep connections in the financial world, a keen business sense, and a skillful grasp of complex rules of the game.

But the problem is...

Kang Jae-hoon is lacking in every aspect.

"Don't worry. You have at least two or three films going to be released this year. I'll help you get some advertising deals to build up your initial capital."

"When the time is right, I'll keep an eye out for you." "Brother, I've been in this business for so many years. I wouldn't say my connections are all-powerful, but finding you a few reliable mentors shouldn't be a problem."

"Of course, if you want to expand your business, you need to find a trustworthy partner to work with."

"..."

A brief silence fell over the carriage.

The halo of streetlights glided rhythmically across the windshield.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned back in his chair, gazing at the city lights flashing past the window.

He knew that Jin Dayuan's words were all reasonable.

The entertainment industry is like rowing against the current; if you don't move forward, you fall behind.

The flowers and applause before your eyes may be fleeting.

The road ahead is long.

"Brother, I understand. Let's focus on making this year's work better first. As for the investment, we'll see what you say once the funds are in place."

This is what he means.

Leave professional matters to professionals.

Kim Dae-won was indeed the mentor he trusted most.

"Yes. Money can't be rushed; laying a solid foundation is more important."

The car turned a corner.

We drove onto the main road leading to the Seongsudong Apartment.

The next day.

nice weather.

Kim Dae-won drove his van with Kang Jae-hoon straight to a large car dealership in Gangnam, Seoul.

The sales consultant, dressed in a suit and tie, immediately changed to a respectful yet enthusiastic attitude when he saw Kim Dae-won walking with a confident stride and looking like a seasoned expert. He then glanced at Kang Jae-hoon behind him, who was wearing a hat and mask but had a tall and upright figure.

"Hello customer! What kind of car model would you like to see?"

Jin Dayuan casually put one hand in his pocket and gestured with his other hand as if he were completely at ease.

"For commuting, I need something safe, fuel-efficient, with moderate space, good value for money, and durable. SUV or sedan is fine, whichever suits me best."

He repeated Kang Jae-hoon's request clearly.

The salesperson understood immediately.

They were immediately led to several exhibition areas that better suited their positioning.

"This Santa Fe ix35 is a mid-size SUV with flexible space, good driving visibility, and decent off-road capability. It's available with either a 1.6T or a 2.0 naturally aspirated engine, and its fuel consumption is quite good for a new model..."

"The Sonata 8 next to it is a sedan with a good streamlined design, comfortable ride, and balanced handling... This Elantra GT (Langdong Sedan) is more economical and practical, has a good reputation, and is fuel-efficient and durable..."

The sales consultant skillfully explained the features of different car models.

Kang Jae-hoon didn't offer much of an opinion throughout the entire process.

Simply following Jin Dayuan's footsteps and the sales consultant's introduction, my gaze calmly swept over the sleek lines of the car's exterior.

Jin Dayuan, on the other hand, appeared much more professional.

He circled around several cars that interested him, opened the doors, sat inside to feel the space, touched the interior materials, patted the seats, and then opened the hood to take a look (though he probably didn't really understand anything). He even kicked a tire (a gesture that made the salesperson's eye twitch), muttering to himself:

"Hmm, there's enough space..."

"The center console feels a bit too plasticky..."

"The fuel consumption figures are acceptable..."

He had the air of a seasoned buyer.

finally.

Jin Dayuan stopped in front of a new silver-gray Hyundai Santa Fe ix35.

"How about this one?" He patted the roof of the car and turned to ask Kang Jae-hoon.

Kang Jae-hoon also opened the car door and sat in to experience the driver's seat.

The space is indeed more spacious than that of a sedan.

It offers a wide field of vision.

The interior is not luxurious, but it is simple and practical.

"Want to test the power?" The sales consultant handed over the keys.

"Row."

Kang Jae-hoon started the car.

We slowly drove around the small indoor test track that was exclusively for the showroom.

Flexible steering.

Acceleration was smooth.

The engine noise is well isolated.

parking.

The engine is turned off.

Kang Jae-hoon got out of the driver's seat.

Looking at Kim Dae-won:
"Brother, this is fine."

He didn't even ask the price.

The salesperson's smile widened even more upon hearing that the deal had been made so quickly.
"No problem! We have plenty of stock right now, and the color selection is also..."

The following procedures were led by Kim Dae-won.

Choosing the color (Kang Jae-hoon had no objection to light silver-gray), discussing configuration details, signing the contract (Kim Dae-won reviewed it very carefully, confirming each clause), payment method (Kim Dae-won chose cash), scheduling the vehicle registration appointment...

Kang Jae-hoon is more like a quiet background figure, only writing when he needs to sign his name.

The complicated procedures were carried out in an orderly manner under Jin Dayuan's management.

signature.

stamp.

Swipe.

More than an hour later.

A brand-new light silver-gray Hyundai Santa Fe ix35 slowly drove out of the 4S store's rear garage.

It stopped next to Jin Dayuan's old car.

Jin Dayuan slapped the sturdy door panel of the Santa Fe, producing a dull thud.

"Drive carefully, new cars need a break-in period."

"Ah."

"Then I'll head out now; I have a ton of things to finish up for the New Year."

"Thank you for your hard work, brother. Happy New Year."

Kang Jae-hoon expressed his sincere gratitude.

"Okay, call me if you need anything."

Kim Dae-won climbed into his van.

Start the engine.

The windows are down.

She gestured with her chin as a farewell.

The car quickly merged into the traffic flow.

Kang Jae-hoon opened the car door and sat in the driver's seat of his first real new car – a silver-gray Hyundai Santa Fe.

The car was filled with a unique smell of new leather, plastic and cleaning agents.

The seat offers comfortable support.

Insert the key.

Start the engine.

The deep, rumbling sound was steady and powerful.

My mood soared as the car started moving smoothly.

His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel in a rhythmic pattern.

Humming an off-key tune.

Heading towards Seongsudong Apartments.

Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the windshield.

warm.

We drove into the familiar neighborhood of the apartment building.

slow down.

Turn into the underground parking lot entrance.

Go down the slope.

The car headlights swept across the parking space ahead.

A sleek, brightly colored sports car came into view.

Yoona's familiar white car.

Kang Jae-hoon's relaxed smile froze instantly.

The tune he was humming got stuck in his throat.

Calico cat! ! !
During this time...

I've been busy promoting since I got back from Nepal...

Then they organized a group reading of "Train to Busan"...

One thing after another...

He actually...

I almost forgot about the little princess!
He quickly parked the new car, turned off the engine, and got out.

I walked up to the white sports car and looked at it to confirm that it was the right one.

Take out your phone.

I found Yoona's number and dialed it.

(End of this chapter)