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

Chapter 164 The price of "boyfriend power" is "bangs seal"?

Chapter 164 The price of "boyfriend power" is "bangs seal"?
The car starts.

The vehicle drove away smoothly.

The back of the carriage was filled with an intense, sweet rose scent.

Lee Sung-kyung turned her face slightly away from the enormous bouquet, gazing out the window at the rushing street scene. The car window reflected her blurred profile and the flamboyant bouquet beside her.

Kang Jae-hoon watched her from the other side for a long time.

Opening:
How long has he been bothering you?

"...not long after."

Actually.

Nam Joo-hyuk started his career when YG acquired Y+ Model Agency.

It was just a crush at the time.

It's just that recently, I don't know who encouraged them, that they dared to be so blatant.

We crossed an intersection.

Lee Sung-kyung suddenly turned her head.

The eyes shone brightly in the dim light of the carriage:

"And you? What brings you here today?"

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon pondered for a moment.

finally.

She chose to attribute all the credit for Lee Jong-suk's "tipping off" to her own "meticulous" observation skills:

“This morning you noticed I seemed hesitant to speak, and something seemed off. So I decided to come over and check on me tonight.”

Lee Sung-kyung let out a soft hum through her nose.

He buried most of his face back into the cold, fragrant petals:
"……have a finger in the pie."

The sound was muffled and unclear, trapped within the flowers.

However, the ending note is unusually soft and gentle.

See this.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned back in his chair.

A silent smile appeared on his lips.

It was quiet for a few seconds.

Lee Sung-kyung suddenly seemed to be burned by that gaze and abruptly pulled her face completely out of the flowers.

He glared at him fiercely:
"What are you looking at!"

Kang Jae-hoon's smile remained unchanged as he met her "angry glare" with an open and honest gaze.

"You look good."

"It looks especially beautiful when you're holding flowers."

"..."

front.

in the driver's seat.

Jin Dayuan turned the toothpick he was biting at the corner of his mouth in a different direction.

Lee Sung-kyung's profile softened as she turned her head, and the slight, unyielding curve of her lips was clearly reflected in the rearview mirror.

……

Downstairs at the apartment building in Seongsudong.

The car came to a complete stop.

The engine stopped.

"You go up first."

Kang Jae-hoon pushed open the door.

Lee Sung-kyung got out of the car carrying the huge bouquet of roses, as if she were holding a hot, precious treasure that she couldn't bear to throw away. She didn't answer or turn around; her high heels clicked rapidly on the ground as she walked straight towards the building entrance.

Kang Jae-hoon stood by the car watching her figure disappear inside before bending down to look into the car:

"Brother, thank you for your help today."

Jin Dayuan lowered the car window.

I twirled the toothpick between my fingers.

"It's my job."

"Brother, could you check the information on that Nam Joo-hyuk again?"

"Row."

The car window rolled up.

The black van silently merged into the nighttime traffic.

……

The motion-activated lights in the hallway came on with the sound of heavy footsteps.

The key turns.

The door opens.

Warm light streamed into the living room.

The enormous bouquet of Snow White roses was already placed in a huge frosted glass vase, dominating the very center of the dining table.

The air was still filled with the fragrance of flowers, mixed with the aroma of cooking food.

The sound of chopping vegetables came from the kitchen.

Lee Sung-kyung's silhouette, wearing an apron, was reflected on the glass sliding door.

The movements are neat.

Kang Jae-hoon took off his coat, hung it up, and changed into his pajamas.

I sat down on the sofa.

Turn on the TV with the remote control.

After searching, play "Reading Lips".

Not long after.

The noise in the kitchen has subsided.

Lee Sung-kyung brought out a steaming pot of soybean paste stew and placed it on a placemat.

Kang Jae-hoon stood up upon hearing the sound.

I quickly went over to help serve the dishes.

Golden-fried beef short ribs, mackerel, cold spinach salad, spicy stir-fried pork, and a small dish of pickled perilla leaves.

Kang Jae-hoon raised an eyebrow as he looked at the much more lavish spread than usual:
“How do you make so many?”

Lee Sung-kyung placed the last two bowls of rice on the table:
"Eat or not?"

"eat!"

The two sat down.

Lee Sung-kyung reached for the remote control on the coffee table.

"and many more."

Lee Sung-kyung turned her head to wait for him to continue.

"The director of this movie is the director of my new film. I'm looking at his previous works to understand his directing style."

Talk about it.

The Producers' production team is remarkably similar to The Heirs'.

I don't know if it's a competitive mentality.

Screenwriter Park Ji-eun even hired two directors to helm this drama.

among them.

The person in charge of directing the filming of the storyline is none other than the director of "Lip Reading Romance"—Yoon Sung-ho.

This person is two years older than Jiang Zaihun.

Previously, I had been involved in the independent film scene.

"Oh."

Lee Sung-kyung's gaze lingered on the screen for a few seconds before she silently put down the remote.

The only sounds at the dining table were the dialogue from the characters on TV and the slight clinking of the two people's bowls and chopsticks.

Dinner is over.

Kang Jae-hoon took the initiative to collect the bowls.

Lee Sung-kyung did not argue.

He sat down on the sofa, clutching the script for tomorrow's filming of "The Queen's Flower".

After cleaning up the kitchen, Kang Jae-hoon sat back down next to Lee Sung-kyung to continue watching "Reading Lips".

Wait until the movie ends.

Kang Jae-hoon informed Lee Sung-kyung and returned to his bedroom.

He opened his notebook on the desk.

[Director's Style]

picture...

I've only written two words.

My phone screen vibrated in the corner of my desk—a text message from Jin Dayuan.

Click to open.

The content is very concise:
Nam Joo-hyuk

YG Model Contract → Actor Department.

I transferred my visa last year.

We are currently in talks about "Who Are You: School 2015".

Background: Parents divorced, middle class, no special connections.

……

School 2015?
Kang Jae-hoon followed the clues.

They quickly learned the director's name—Li Yingfu.

This Li Yingfu...

He's the director of "Descendants of the Sun," the very show for which he just signed a contract today!

Kim Eun-sook's third partner!
For an instant.

A thought, tinged with a dark and smug satisfaction, suddenly pierced my mind—

Although "School 2015" is not a top-tier resource.

But it is indeed a good stepping stone for newcomers.

If I were to mention it even briefly to writer Kim Eun-sook...

seem.

Replacing an unsigned newcomer might only take a few words.

next second.

He shook his head violently.

It was as if he wanted to shake that thought off.

When did I become so narrow-minded?

It's like a vicious senior who's been angered by a young upstart and is now resorting to his authority.

Using Kim Eun-sook's connections for a rival in love who was just run over and covered in dirt in the parking lot and was no threat at all.

What was the price paid?

What will Kim Eun-sook think of him?

A narrow-minded, bullying, and self-serving man who uses project resources for personal grudges?

How much is this contemptuous impression worth?

The character played by Nam Joo-hyuk disappears...

Where are the profits?

He wasn't even a threat!

stupid.

So stupid.

Kang Jae-hoon gritted his teeth secretly.

Put the phone back on the table.

My gaze returned to the lit-up notebook.

Continue working at your desk.

—Yin Chenghao's way of handling emotional conflicts...

—Using real-world spatial partitions such as window frames/door frames... to emphasize the alienation caused by physical distance between characters...

—The use of close-up shots creates a sense of emotional pressure…

……

The next few days.

Kang Jae-hoon had no intention of touching Nam Joo-hyuk's resources.

But his silver-gray Hyundai Santa Fe would always be parked on time in the back area of the MBC Ilsan Production Center.

Always holding a different bouquet in her arms—

Today it's a huge bouquet of creamy-colored daisies, tomorrow it's irises like purple mist, and the day after tomorrow it's tulips leaping like flames.

Lee Sung-kyung emerged from the back door of the photography studio.

I could always spot that figure leaning against the car and that cluster of colorful flowers swaying in the twilight.

Despite the fact that it was still below zero degrees Celsius on the lips:
"Don't come."

"In the way."

"It costs money."

However, the time she spent in the kitchen preparing dinner while wearing an apron was noticeably longer.

The dishes on the table steadily expanded from three to five.

And during this period.

Nam Joo-hyuk never appeared again.

Perhaps it was the audition for "School 2015" that distracted her, or perhaps it was the "boyfriend power" of Kang Jae-hoon that night in the parking lot that completely deterred her.

4 month 1 day.

Night.

A cold spring breeze swept across the open area outside the MBC production center.

Lee Sung-kyung pushed open the heavy curtain at the back of the film set.

My gaze habitually swept over that familiar parking area.

He's still here.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the car.

In her arms was a large bunch of vibrant, deep red peonies, their petals intricately layered, like a handful of solidified flames.

She walked over in a few steps.

"Give."

Kang Jae-hoon handed over the flowers:
"The machine will be turned on tomorrow, so I probably won't be able to pick you up for the next while."

"Oh."

Two seconds passed.

Lee Sung-kyung then added, as if remembering what she was going to say:
"Who needs you to answer? Don't I have legs of my own?"

"My uncle gave it to me."

His voice carried a tone of utter self-assurance.

"you……"

Lee Sung-kyung suddenly looked up, the light from the streetlamp reflecting in her wide eyes:

"...Don't shout!"

The words have not yet fallen.

Kang Jae-hoon reached out without warning—

His long arms passed through the dancing peonies in her embrace, pulling her directly into his arms!
"Hey! What are you doing..."

"do not move."

Kang Jae-hoon's chin rested against her forehead:

"Nam Joo-hyuk is here. We're about to be exposed."

The phrase "the mistake is about to be exposed" seems to have a magical power.

Lee Sung-kyung's body really stopped moving.

She even shrank a little closer to him, trying to hide herself more completely in the shadow formed by his embrace and the huge bouquet of flowers.

The night wind carried the mischievousness unique to April Fool's Day.

She could feel the wind blowing the hem of Kang Jae-hoon's coat across her calves.

It was a bit chilly.

But the part pressed tightly against my front was so warm that it made me lose consciousness.

They were kept in this enclosure.

Time seemed to be stretched out, yet also fragmented by the wind.

I do not know how long it has been.

The person in his arms stirred slightly, the sound muffled by the fabric of his sweater:

"...Have they left?"

The sound was so soft it was like a whisper, almost swallowed by the wind.

Kang Jae-hoon gently brushed his chin against the downy hair on her head.

His gaze casually swept over the dark corner that had been identified.

The response remained calm and normal.

"No."

He even turned his body slightly to the side.

It seemed to be to better block any possible line of sight from a certain direction.

Lee Sung-kyung waited patiently for a few more moments.

Unable to suppress her curiosity any longer, she carefully and gently shifted her head slightly away from his embrace.

No?

She widened the angle a little more, still puzzled—

Behind the emergency exit pillar.

The low bushes nearby.

The car in the distance...

As far as the eye could see, at the edge of the empty parking area, there were only shadows and the occasional flash of car headlights...

There isn't even a single living creature that moves!

been played!

What Nam Joo-hyuk!

This guy is just using him as an excuse!

That suppressed "elbow strike" instinct, dormant for a whole week, was now like a lit fuse.

A "click" rang in my mind!
The power surged instantly into his right arm.

Can……

Her raised right elbow, only an inch from his side, abruptly stopped in mid-air.

It failed to smash down.

The heat on my face hadn't subsided.

The warmth from his breath still lingered in her heart as she looked into his dark eyes, which clearly reflected her own image and carried a hint of lingering tension.

she……

It can't be smashed down.

……

The next day.

The first light of dawn had not yet completely dispelled the deep blue of Seoul's sky.

Kim Dae-won's nanny van was already parked in the underground parking lot of KBS TV station.

In the dressing room.

Two girls from the styling team surrounded Kang Jae-hoon.

His eyes held both an assessment and a hint of excitement at "bold and decisive action."

"The script portrays Bai Chengcan as a fresh graduate, a naive and somewhat old-fashioned newbie in the workplace... His image needs that kind of clear-eyed clumsiness."

The words of screenwriter Park Ji-eun were still ringing in my ears.

The hairstylist made a few snips with her scissors.

The carefully left-out wisps of hair on her forehead, designed to soften her angular features, were shaved off without hesitation.

Instead, there is a thick, neat, and even somewhat dull fringe.

then.

Another makeup artist picked up an eyebrow pencil.

He gently outlined and filled in the edges of his somewhat sharp eyebrows.

The originally strong and smooth lines were deliberately softened and blunted.

It even had a touch of innocent curve to it...

A familiar face in the mirror.

It was as if my soul had been instantly replaced.

Those eyes, hardened like iron in "Himalaya" and filled with despair in "Train to Busan"...

At this moment, under the dual pressure of thick bangs and soft eyebrows.

It has completely lost its edge.

Only a pure, untouched cleanliness remained, and...

呆？
Kang Jae-hoon looked in the mirror and saw himself looking "ten years younger" in an instant, as if he had been sealed back to the naive young man he was during his art college graduation season.

A short, uncontrollable chuckle escaped his throat.

This hairstyle...

Writer Park calls this "a clear sense of clumsiness"?
Why does he seem more like the silly son of the noodle shop owner downstairs, who's obsessed with anime and whose hairstyle is even more outdated than his own?
After a while.

The styling assistant has already promptly delivered the outfit for the makeup and photoshoot—a white crew neck sweater paired with blue jeans.

This outfit doesn't look bad on Kang Jae-hoon's tall and handsome figure.

But it doesn't add any points either.

The most deadly.

It was this conventional outfit paired with that thick, blunt fringe that looked like a black tile...

As he walked out of the dressing room.

The moment I stood under the fluorescent lights in the bright corridor.

The coordinator walking towards us paused noticeably.

My facial expressions were briefly out of control.

His lips were slightly parted.

His eyes swept over him from top to bottom.

It was as if they were confirming whether the person in front of them... with a student-style haircut and pure yet somewhat bewildered eyes, was the same person from the script reading session a few days ago.

"Kang... Jae-hoon-ssi?"

He even sounded a little uncertain.

Kang Jae-hoon tried to ignore the surprise and inquiry in the other person's eyes and nodded:
"Inside."

"Ah! The official photos! Over here!"

……

The photo studio for the makeup test was only a dozen meters away from the dressing room.

Kang Jae-hoon tried his best to ignore the occasional curious and suppressed laughter-filled glances from the busy staff around him.

Walk to the work area and wait for orders.

"Pfft..."

A soft, undisguised laugh came from the side.

Kang Jae-hoon turned his head in response to the sound.

Bae Suzy just walked over.

—Her long, black hair was skillfully styled into a bun and secured at the back of her head, with only a few playful, slightly curled strands hanging down at her temples, revealing her full, smooth forehead and slender neck.

Her makeup was exquisite yet retained a youthful, almost girlish feel.

She was wearing a neatly tailored short dress.

Beneath the skirt were two straight and slender legs, clad in delicate strappy high heels.

He seemed to have a built-in spotlight.

It was so dazzling that it almost overshadowed the background.

Bae Suzy's gaze was focused like a searchlight on Kang Jae-hoon's striking new look.

His lips curled up in a wide smile.

"Stop laughing."

Kang Jae-hoon was somewhat helpless.

"do not move!"

The makeup artist stopped him in time from instinctively reaching out to brush aside his bangs.

Kang Jae-hoon could only awkwardly lower his hand.

Bae Suzy pursed her lips, trying hard to suppress the smile that she couldn't help but let go of:

"Not ugly... very cute."

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon's expression instantly fell apart.

cute?

This……

Is that a compliment?

In his mental system of evaluating male attractiveness, "cute" is synonymous with "soft" and "easy to bully".

at this time.

"Suzy-ssi! Jaehoon-ssi! And Hyojin-noona! Come and gather for a photo shoot!"

The camera assistant's shouts came as a lifesaver.

This interrupted the bizarre discussion about "cuteness".

The official photos were taken very quickly.

Inside the studio, the sound of camera shutters clicking away was deafening.

Instructing actors on how to pose.

Change the background cloth.

Adjust your stance and facial expressions.

Very efficient.

Less than five minutes.

We photographed solo, duo, and group shots.

……

The photoshoot for the official makeup photos has ended.

Kang Jae-hoon quickly shed his "cute and innocent" outfit and put on a well-made, tailored navy blue work suit.

Both are work attire.

But this outfit is clearly much better made.

Put it on.

The previous "silliness" has been somewhat mitigated.

Even with her bangs covering her eyes.

But overall it looks much better.

The crew then moved to location shooting.

The first scene is set in the parking lot of KBS television station.

The plot is simple.

Baek Seung-chan, played by Kang Jae-hoon, drove to his new job and jogged into the KBS building after parking.

The key is.

He parked too close to the car driven by Tak Ye-jin, played by Gong Hyo-jin.

This resulted in the car door being scratched.

This foreshadows the comedic conflicts to come.

however.

The filming encountered unexpected obstacles.

The problem does not stem from the performance itself.

It lies in the form.

This scene was filmed using a "variety documentary" shooting style.

Kang Jae-hoon was required to interact with the camera lens of the person following him naturally, even with a hint of awkwardness, while running.

Look into the camera and speak, revealing the nervousness and curiosity of the newlyweds.

This proactive act of breaking the "fourth wall" clashes sharply with the "camera awareness taboo" that Kang Jae-hoon has strictly cultivated in traditional film and television performances (that is, actors should not look directly at the camera in order to maintain the sense of dramatic realism).

"Cut!"

The director's calls to "cut" came repeatedly, without any hesitation.

Don't hide from the camera!

"Just be natural! Treat it like a vlog camera in your friend's hand!"

"Imagine you're communicating your excitement to the audience!"

Awkward, awkward, and at a loss.

This running scene, which theoretically should only take two minutes to complete, was awkwardly attempted by Kang Jae-hoon to repeatedly adjust the running path, the focus of his gaze, and the emotional tone of his lines ("Oh my! It's huge! Is this KBS?").

It took six takes to barely capture the "deliberate pseudo-documentary" effect that the director wanted.

After this exceptionally difficult "bumping into the wall" scene, the filming mode finally returned to the traditional drama rhythm that Kang Jae-hoon was familiar with. The narrative focus then shifted to Baek Seung-chan's "first experience in the television world" after joining the company.

The camera follows this young man with a bowl cut as he enters the heart of KBS.

Chaos erupted in the news center's live broadcast room—

The countdown display was flashing numbers wildly, the director's console was yelling instructions, and the reporter was frantically revising the script on the teleprompter.

Creative brainstorming session in the variety show department —

The whiteboard was covered with wild graffiti, the PDs (program directors) were arguing about joke ideas while sucking on lollipops, and the props team was carrying a huge inflatable doll across the aisle in a panic.

The deep labyrinth of the prop warehouse—

Thousands upon thousands of props lay like silent behemoths on the shelves.

Directors no longer pursue "interaction" between actors and the camera.

The film employs more medium and full shots, emphasizing Bai Chengcan's instinctive reactions to the novel environment around him.

With the familiar work rhythm back, Kang Jae-hoon quickly rediscovered the precise focus of his performance. Most shots were completed smoothly in one take, as if the fast-forward button had been pressed.

Time slipped into lunch break time.

The film crew's large mobile team flooded into the KBS staff canteen.

The photography equipment was re-set up, and a huge diffuser was hung on a bracket on the ceiling.

The extras playing the staff members have already taken their seats.

The noisy sounds of chewing and chatting were deliberately amplified.

Kang Jae-hoon and several other actors who played fellow newcomers were seated at a long dining table with a standard cafeteria metal plate in front of them, filled with a generous portion of food.

Just as he scooped up a spoonful of white rice mixed with sauce and put it in his mouth...

Suddenly, the extras at the other end of the long table and at several neighboring tables burst into a series of whispers, deliberately hushed but unable to hide their excitement.

"Wow! Look!"

Girls' Generation! It really is!

"Oh my god! What incredible luck..."

"..."

It was almost an instinctive reaction.

The spoons in Kang Jae-hoon's and the other newcomers' hands hovered in mid-air as they all raised their heads.

The entrance to the passageway that draws all eyes.

Three figures dressed in their own clothes were carrying matching stainless steel trays and slowly moving along with the line of people from the actual cafeteria.

Kang Jae-hoon's lips involuntarily twitched towards his ear.

Not because of anything else.

The queuing order arranged by the brilliant assistant director at this moment is extremely visually striking.

Seohyun, standing at the very front, is the tallest, Tiffany, in the middle, has the most mysterious height, and Taeyeon, right behind her, is the most petite and delicate.

It perfectly illustrates the three decreasing bars of the mobile phone signal strength indicator.

Fortunately, the slightly silly smile that involuntarily appeared on Kang Jae-hoon's face at that moment unexpectedly hit the "stunned upon seeing his idol" trope for Baek Seung-chan.

This one passed smoothly.

Shooting is paused.

The atmosphere immediately relaxed.

Kang Jae-hoon quickly shoveled the food from his plate into his mouth, put it in the washing area, and then went to greet Kim Tae-yeon.
"Taeyeon noona".

Compared to the fleeting glimpse I caught at her Tokyo concert last year, Taeyeon in front of me looks as if her features have been thinned out.

"Oh? Long time no see, Fire Extinguisher Master."

Kim Tae-yeon tilted her head back and looked at his overly conspicuous "bowl cut" bangs.

"Uh……"

The Ice Bucket Challenge has long since lost its luster.

The fact that this nickname is still being mentioned suggests that the person is a seasoned internet user who has thoroughly researched trending topics and unearthed old posts.

Fortunately, she didn't continue joking, but instead pointed to Seohyun, who was standing quietly to the side, and Tiffany, who was smiling and looking over:

"Come on, let's get to know each other. This is the youngest member, and this is Tiffany."

Seohyun's eyes were clear and gentle as she nodded slightly to Kang Jae-hoon.
"Hello, Kang Jae-hoon-ssi."

His voice was calm and polite.

Compared to Seohyun, Tiffany was much more enthusiastic.

With her signature crescent-shaped smiling eyes curving upwards, and her clear voice carrying a hint of American sweetness, she waved to Kang Jae-hoon almost simultaneously:
"He's even more handsome in person than in the movies!"

Kang Jae-hoon quickly bowed in return.

This is the end.

He had some degree of interaction with all the members of Girls' Generation.

It feels like completing the last badge slot in a stamp collection.

fantastic.

Because there is still filming to be done.

The time spent exchanging pleasantries and catching up was not long.

On the occasion of separation.

Kim Tae-yeon seemed to remember something and stopped in her tracks.

"Oh, right."

She deftly pulled a pure white, frosted cardboard envelope from her bag.

"Here, here it is."

"what is this?"

Kang Jae-hoon accepted it.

"Yoona's handwritten letter."

letter?
In this era where a single tap of a finger can capture videos across oceans.

A heavy, handwritten letter that needs a postmark and the passage of time?

The weight conveyed by the behavior itself is far greater than that of the content.

"Thanks."

Kang Jae-hoon folded the envelope in half.

It was tucked into the inner pocket of the costume.

"Small things."

Kim Tae-yeon's gaze swept around the room before finally settling on Kang Jae-hoon's face, a hint of doubt in her eyes:
"By the way, where's Suzy? I haven't seen her."

"Hmm? I'm not quite sure either..."

"Oh, okay then, goodbye."

Kim Tae-yeon didn't dwell on it, waved her hand, and turned to leave with Tiffany and Seohyun.

The brief respite between filming sessions is precious.

Kang Jae-hoon was about to open the envelope to find out what was inside.

“Jaehoon oppa…”

"Ok?"

Kang Jae-hoon's fingers froze halfway through opening the letter.

Bae Soo-ji had somehow gotten behind him.

"...You're also quite familiar with Taeyeon sunbaen?"

She took two steps closer.

The sound was like fine sandpaper coated with honey, carrying a subtle, rubbing quality.