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

Chapter 170 The Master of Balance is Open for Business Today

In the box.

The silent rivalry between Im Yoon-ah and Bae Suzy has not yet dissipated.

The air was filled with the aromas of tea, lychee, and peach, along with the lingering chill of heated arguments.

"Click——"

The faint sound of the door hinges turning broke the suffocating silence.

Two pairs of eyes, which had been locked in a fierce struggle, simultaneously turned towards the source of the sound—

Doorway.

When the elegant lady standing next to Kang Jae-hoon appeared.

Almost instantly.

There was no hesitation.

The chair legs made a uniform, soft thud as they hit the ground.

Im Yoon-ah and Bae Suzy stood up in unison.

It was as if the tense standoff from moments before had never existed, leaving only a scene of docile and respectful silence.

Even though they didn't know who the other person was.

However, his demeanor revealed that he was no ordinary person.

"This is Kim Mi-hye, the president of my company, who is also my teacher's wife and manager."

After saying that, Kang Jae-hoon first looked to the left:

"This is Lim Yoona."

Then turn to the right:

"This is Bae Suzy."

The order of the names is arbitrary.

Kang Jae-hoon himself did not notice.

Of course.

The moment Yoona heard her name called first, a subtle, almost imperceptible, upward curve appeared on her lips.

Kim Mi-hye's gaze swept over the two young, beautiful faces with contrasting temperaments, then she stepped forward, smiling as she extended her right hand:

"I hope my uninvited arrival won't disturb your young people's gathering?"

"Where are you talking?"

Im Yoona immediately stepped forward and solemnly grasped Kim Mi-hye's outstretched right hand, bowing slightly:

"It's our honor to have you here! We've long heard about your wonderful relationship with senior Hwang Jung-min; you're a model couple that everyone in the industry admires. We're so happy to meet you today."

Before Kim Mi-hye could reply, an even sweeter and clearer voice immediately interrupted—

"Master's wife! I'm so glad to see you!"

Taking advantage of the brief moment when Yoona loosened her grip, Bae Suzy almost instantly squeezed forward half a step, a bright smile on her face. Without hesitation, she grabbed Kim Mi-hye's right hand, which she hadn't had time to fully retract, and even gave it a friendly shake.

Her voice was sweet and soft, full of energy.

"Jae-hoon oppa always talks about you! He says you have the best taste! Your temperament is like a queen! You take such good care of him! And today I met you in person, oh my god... you're a hundred times better than Jae-hoon oppa described!"

Upon hearing this, Kim Mi-hye's gentle smile deepened as she turned to look at Kang Jae-hoon, whose lips were twitching beside her.

She understands Kang Jae-hoon better than Bae Suzy does.

Kang Jae-hoon is the type of person who only works quietly.

How could he say something as exaggerated as Bae Suzy described?

Not too possible.

but.

Compared to Yoona's impeccable, flawless, yet somewhat "template-like" compliments.

Bae Suzy's little schemes and attempts to get closer to Kim Mi-hye, a seasoned veteran of social interactions, appear genuine, adorable, and vibrant.

however.

Compared to Kim Mi-hye's tolerant interest in "vibrant" things.

The other two pairs of eyes in the private room weren't so friendly.

—Who gave you permission to call her "Master's Wife"?!
Bae Suzy was already immune to the glares that Lim Yoona gave her—after all, she had been glared at by this senior all afternoon, so what was this?
Her attention was now drawn more to the girl standing near the door, who clearly had a close relationship with Kim Mi-hye—

Body shape...

He's only slightly better than me.

As for temperament...

Okay.

As for his appearance...

improvise.

Bae Suzy mentally gave Lee Sung-kyung a barely passing grade of 70.

It poses no threat.

"This is Lee Sung-kyung."

Kang Jae-hoon's voice interrupted Bae Suzy's internal evaluation. He stepped aside to make room for her and pointed to Lee Sung-kyung, who was standing quietly near the door:

"A model is also an actor."

The three women greeted each other.

Compared to Bae Suzy's conclusion that Lee Sung-kyung posed no threat, Im Yoona seemed quite enthusiastic:
"As expected... seeing is believing. Shengjingxi has such a cool aura, her model-like figure is so enviable!"

Yoona's strategy is very clear.

It's about exploiting an information gap.

She knew about Lee Sung-kyung and Kang Jae-hoon's unusual relationship, but Bae Suzy was completely unaware.

To Lee Sung-kyung, Bae Suzy's tactless use of "Master's wife" was nothing short of a blatant provocation and a transgression.

therefore.

Yoona chose to show goodwill first.

The goal was to sit back and watch Lee Sung-kyung, this straight "rolling stone," crash down on Bae Suzy, that arrogant and ignorant target.

however.

Yoona overlooked a crucial point—

Lee Sung-kyung also suffers from information asymmetry.

Compared to Bae Suzy, whom I know almost nothing about.

Lee Sung-kyung's wariness and hostility towards Im Yoon-ah was the result of years of accumulated jealousy and resentment.
therefore.

Faced with Yoona's clearly friendly signal of "forming an alliance"...

Lee Sung-kyung only gave Im Yoon-a's fingertips a very brief, polite squeeze before quickly withdrawing them.

"Yoona sunbaenim, you flatter me."

Being polite can create distance.

Lee Sung-kyung is still relatively new to the industry.

She is far less shrewd and experienced than Yoona and Suzy.

A strong sense of crisis and long-suppressed jealousy made it impossible for her to greet Yoona with a smile.

In this regard.

Im Yoon-ah was not angry but happy.

An opponent who is not cunning, whose emotions are straightforward, and whose likes and dislikes are written all over their face, is much easier to deal with than a scheming woman who hides a knife behind a smile.

Just a meeting.

Yoona and Suzy, who were sworn enemies just a moment ago, are now secretly and tacitly supporting the sudden appearance of Lee Sung-kyung...

They all received the same score: 70 points.

The pleasantries ended.

As the nominal host, Lim Yoona smiled and began arranging the seats.

Kim Mi-hye's position was at the apex of the "safety triangle" that Kang Jae-hoon had been feeling extremely uneasy about.

Lee Sung-kyung was placed to Kim Mi-hye's left, in the seat where Im Yoon-ah originally sat.

Bae Suzy's position remained unchanged.

Yoona sat next to her.

Kang Jae-hoon sat down next to Lee Sung-kyung, facing Lim Yoon-ah.

The seating arrangement was impeccable.

Everyone in this arrangement seems to have gotten the place they wanted.

The waiter began to serve the dishes.

Steamed grouper drizzled with amber-colored soy sauce, crab roe tofu with its tempting golden hue, shrimp roe bamboo noodles with each strand distinct, and bright red spicy chicken diced with an irresistible aroma...

"Please turn on the TV."

During the break between serving the dishes, Kang Jae-hoon whispered an instruction to the waiter:
"Switch to JTBC, 51st Baeksang Arts Awards live broadcast."

"Okay, guest."

The waiter responded and picked up the remote control.

The screen of the wall-mounted LCD TV in the corner of the private room lit up.

The scene then cuts to the awards ceremony.

Dazzling lights, a magnificent stage, and a seating area filled with elegantly dressed and charming artists.

The awards ceremony is currently presenting the Best New Actor and Actress awards in the newcomer category—the TV series and film division.

Sure enough, almost all the names read out on stage were familiar faces to Kang Jae-hoon—

Nominations for Best New Male Actor in Television Drama:

Do Kyung-soo's "It's Okay, That's Love"

Park Hyung-sik, *What Happens Between Family Members?*

……

Film category male newcomer nominations:
Lee Min-ho in "Gangnam 1970"

Jiang Hena's "Twenty"

……

In fact, this year's Baeksang Arts Awards were extremely unfriendly to members of Hwang Jung-min's faction.

As a blockbuster that swept the second spot on the all-time box office charts, "Ode to My Father" only received symbolic nominations for Best Director and Best Actor.

Ra Mi-ran was not nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and Oh Dal-soo was not nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Even Kang Jae-hoon wasn't nominated for Best New Actor in the film category.

Lee Sung-kyung, who was standing next to her, shared the same fate.

Her role in "It's Okay, That's Love" was roughly the same as Do Kyung-soo's.

Do Kyung-soo was nominated for Best New Actor in a Drama, while Lee Sung-kyung, who played "Oh So-soo," didn't even receive a nomination for Best New Actress in the TV category.

Since the nomination for the newcomer award was indeed not relevant to the people present.

Most of the attention was drawn to the fragrant food.

With a deft flick of her wrist, Lee Sung-kyung divided the plump, round crab meat lion's head into several evenly sized pieces.

She scooped two pieces into a small dish and pushed it towards Kim Mi-hye's hand:

"Master's wife, please try this."

Almost at the same time.

Another small, equally fair hand, with delicately painted nude pink nails, held a soup bowl with a gold rim and handed it to Kim Mi-hye.

The bowl contained a clear chicken soup, garnished with a few bright red goji berries and emerald green scallions.

Steam rose in wisps.

"Madam, please have some hot soup to warm your stomach and soothe your throat."

"..."

Hear the words.

Lee Sung-kyung immediately turned her head and glared coldly at Bae Suzy.

Bae Suzy raised an eyebrow in response, not to be outdone.

Silent sparks crackled and popped in the rising heat.

aside.

Yoona elegantly scooped up a spoonful of soup from a small bowl, brought it to her lips, and gently blew on it.

The wisps of steam enveloped her smiling eyes.

That's great!
She sighed silently in her heart.

I just don't know if what she meant by "really good" was whether the soup was delicious or the play was good.

Or maybe both.

on the surface.

Kim Mi-hye was brought in by Lee Sung-kyung as a stabilizing force to "hold up the show".

We should stand with Lee Sung-kyung.

This was her original intention for this trip—

As the teacher's wife, she stood up for her straightforward and somewhat tactless "future daughter-in-law," helping her to ward off those cunning and unpredictable women outside.

But the problem is.

This is a young girl named Bae Suzy.

For Kang Jae-hoon's sake, he could call her "Master's Wife" without hesitation and try to make his presence known and gain her favor.

to some extent.

Her behavior was exactly the same as Lee Sung-kyung's, who used all sorts of tricks, like acting cute and rolling around, to drag Kang Jae-hoon over.

How could she possibly hate that?
then.

President Kim, who initially intended to use ruthless tactics to clear obstacles for Lee Sung-kyung, subtly chose a stance more in line with her current state of mind.

Mixing mud and water.

Rather than being a referee, she was there.

It's more accurate to say that Kim Mi-hye was drawn in by this drama, "A True Account of the Emotional Battles of Contemporary Young Female Celebrities," which is even more captivating than a late-night soap opera...

VIP audience in the front row.

Palm and back of hand?

No.

The palm of her hand must belong to Lee Sung-kyung.

Back of the hand?

It hasn't been confirmed yet.

But Bae Suzy's fiery spark and Im Yoona's quiet yet sharp edge both seem to have "research value".

"Okay, thank you Bible, thank you Soo-ji. You all eat too, don't just focus on me."

at the same time.

Kang Jae-hoon looked at this scene of "having it all" before him.

He silently lowered his head.

Extend your chopsticks.

I picked up the piece of fish belly meat that looked the tenderest.

"Eat slowly, be careful of the thorns."

Almost at the same time.

Lee Sung-kyung offered this reminder very naturally.

She didn't look at Kang Jae-hoon.

Her eyes were still fixed on Bae Suzy.

Kang Jae-hoon paused with his chopsticks.

Grouper is known for having very few bones...

But the words slipped out before I could say them.

In the end, I swallowed it back.

He only gave a vague "hmm" and focused on dealing with the fish meat, which was actually boneless.

at this time.

In the live television broadcast, which had been playing in the background, the presenter's voice suddenly rose a notch:
"Now! Let's reveal the winner of the 51st Baeksang Arts Awards Popularity Award—"

"Film Division: Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye!"

"TV Department: Lee Jong-suk, Jung Soo-jung!"

Congratulations to all four of you!

"Wow—"

The award ceremony was met with thunderous applause.

The name "Jung Soo-jung" was mentioned.

Aside from Kim Mi-hye, who knows nothing about her and is currently focused on tasting the soup.

The eyes of the other four people present almost simultaneously and instantly focused on the television screen—

Although Kang Jae-hoon never brought it up himself.

But the three people present—

Lin Yoona is well-informed.

Circles overlap, like Bae Suzy's.

Like Lee Sung-kyung, she spent every day with Kang Jae-hoon.

Everyone knows who Krystal Jung is.

—Kang Jae-hoon's ex-girlfriend.

however.

After just one glance.

Yoona calmly looked away from the screen with her doe-like eyes and continued to gently blow on the chicken soup in her spoon.

Lee Sung-kyung didn't even glance at it for half a second longer before picking up a piece of lion's head meatball she had already cut and placing it on her plate.

Only Bae Suzy tilted her head and casually commented:
"Krystal's makeup is really sparkly today."

The three of them remained remarkably calm.

The root cause is self-evident—

Why waste your energy worrying about an opponent who didn't even qualify to make a move and then withdrew on his own?
They're not even worthy of being called rivals.

It was just a minor incident in the past.

We don't even have the right to upset them.

Kang Jae-hoon's personality...

The so-called "relationship" with Krystal Jung, to put it bluntly, was probably just a brief, impulsive kiss in the heat of youth.

And kissing...

The women present.

Who hasn't had a relationship with Kang Jae-hoon?

However, the difference lies in—

Yoona and Lee Sung-kyung were using work as a pretext for their intimacy.

Bae Suzy, on the other hand, is the complete opposite.

Seizing any opportunity in life, they seek the pleasure of surprise attacks.

Commonly known as lacking martial ethics.

The three of them almost simultaneously withdrew their indifferent glances.

Only Jiang Zaihun looked at the dazzling figure on the screen, a faint emotion, like dust, seemed to linger deep in his eyes.

I can't quite tell if it was a feeling of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion or reflection) or some other fleeting feeling.

"Humph!"

See this.

Lee Sung-kyung gave a very slight, cold snort.

Seemingly unintentionally, his arm suddenly twisted under the table.

"hiss--!"

The sudden elbow strike caused Kang Jae-hoon's body to tilt uncontrollably to the side.

Covering the waist.

He grinned and turned to look to the side.

Lee Sung-kyung lowered her head.

With a focused expression, he picked up the lion's head meatball.

It was as if the thunderous blow from under the table had nothing to do with her.

Just now.

"Jae-hoon, try this spicy diced chicken."

Im Yoon-a's gentle voice rang out at the right moment, breaking the stalemate between Kang Jae-hoon and Lee Sung-kyung.

I saw——

She gracefully extended her chopsticks, picked up a piece of chili pepper from the plate, and placed it on the plate in front of Kang Jae-hoon.

Kang Jae-hoon: ?

Looking at the bright red "chicken nuggets" that suddenly appeared on the plate, and then at Yoona's encouraging smile, he looked at her eyes.

"……Thanks."

The words of refusal rolled in my throat, but I swallowed them down in the end.

Kang Jae-hoon steeled himself and picked up the hefty piece of chili pepper...

Or, to put a piece of chili pepper with a bit of meat on it into your mouth.

The moment the teeth bite together.

An extremely intense, burning sensation, like a flamethrower being ignited, shot straight from the tip of my tongue to the top of my head!
"hiss……!!!"

"Is it this spicy? Quick, drink some water to cool it down!"

Bae Suzy quickly handed over her untouched hot tea.

Kang Jae-hoon's mind went completely blank from the spiciness.

I took the cup of tea completely subconsciously.

He gulped down a huge mouthful—

Gudong!

"Cough cough cough!!!"

The hot tea did nothing to alleviate the burning pain.

Instead, it was like rubbing salt into a burning wound, amplifying the intense, ferocious spiciness tenfold!

"Pfft."

"Ah."

"..."

Two extremely faint yet incredibly clear short laughs came almost simultaneously from the direction of Bae Suzy and Im Yoona.

Lee Sung-kyung didn't laugh out loud.

But the corners of his mouth also suspiciously curled upwards.

this moment.

The three women, who were originally clearly divided and scheming against each other, seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding.

in fact.

They don't care who Krystal Jung is at all.

What they cared about was that damned look of reminiscence that flashed across Kang Jae-hoon's eyes when he saw Jung Soo-jung!

This "elbow strike with chili peppers"...

It was a tacit, joint "punishment" they presented to each other.

"Buzz-buzz-buzz-"

at this time.

A clear cell phone vibration suddenly rang out in the room.

All eyes were instantly drawn to them.

Kim Mi-hye put down her spoon and calmly took out her vibrating phone from her crocodile skin handbag.

Fingertips swipe across the screen.

connected.

"Hey."

All I could vaguely hear was a fast-paced, compact male voice narrating on the other end of the phone.

Kim Mi-hye spent almost the entire time looking at her phone.

"Ah."

"Ok?"

"Oh?"

"understood."

"..."

A series of extremely concise, semantically ambiguous monosyllabic responses.

Each word was packed with information, yet the gaze became focused and sharp as the other person spoke.

At last.

She only said one sentence:
"Send the information to my email. I'll go back to the office to check it now."

Crisp and neat.

Hang up directly.

The phone screen went dark.

Kim Mi-hye quickly picked up a napkin and dabbed it at the corner of her mouth:
"You guys enjoy your meal, I have to go now."

She stood up and casually picked up the gray-blue cashmere shawl draped over the back of the chair and put it over her shoulders.

Although the reason for the other party's departure is unknown.

But that didn't stop the three women from getting up in unison.

Seeing this, Kim Mi-hye smiled and gestured for him to stop.

"Alright, alright, I appreciate the thought. You guys continue eating, don't waste this delicious meal. Just let Xun see me downstairs."

Kang Jae-hoon, who was being "beaten up by chili peppers," quickly went around the table and walked to Kim Mi-hye's side.

See this.

Lee Sung-kyung opened her mouth as if to say something.

But in the end, he just swallowed his words.

He watched with complicated emotions as the two walked out of the private room one after the other.

The heavy door to the private room closed gently.

Isolated from the outside world.

It also isolated the unusually quiet air inside the private room after the "pillar of support" was instantly removed.

Outside.

Kang Jae-hoon followed behind Kim Mi-hye and asked:
"Master's wife, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"

"It's urgent from the investment department. They have a new script with a sensitive subject matter and they want to work with you, teacher."

"What subject matter?"

"Prosecutor."

It's said to be sensitive.

It's because we didn't know what the film's censorship level was.

Is it like the kind of dark exposé in "Unfair Deal"?
Or is it the kind of historical trauma depicted in "The Attorney"?
Or perhaps something even more dangerous...?
but.

In Kang Jae-hoon's view, things didn't seem as serious as Kim Mi-hye had described.

For example, when we were filming "Veteran".

As a newcomer at the time, he was completely taken aback by Ryu Seung-wan.

Of course.

Time passes.

Looking back from a higher vantage point now—

CJ Entertainment dared to invest heavily in the project, and Hwang Jung-min dared to take on the leading role.

This in itself implies that the subject matter has undergone an extremely professional and comprehensive risk assessment, and is not nearly as destructive as Liu Chengwan portrayed it to be.

Moreover, "Veteran" is expected to be released during its theatrical run.

Just then, "Yoon Kaka" and her gang were relentlessly pursuing and attacking Ms. Park.

Every chaebol is living in fear.

They're too busy protecting themselves to even distance themselves from the situation.

Who has the leisure and the courage to jump out at this critical moment and beat up an actor who mocks his "fellow actors" in a movie?
Isn't that just labeling yourself?

Even if there are a few short-sighted and narrow-minded tycoons who might hold a grudge against the satirical plot in the film.

During this sensitive period, at most they'll try to sabotage you in subtle ways. For example, they might restrict your advertising resources, affect your overseas distribution, or exclude you from certain high-society dinners.

Is it as terrifying as Ryu Seung-wan described, that he "had to enlist to avoid the limelight"?
That's just a slogan the director uses to motivate the actors or simply to create hype.

The probability is close to zero.

The same reason.

There are films about prosecutors, too.

Since there is investment, it means that the risk is absolutely controllable.

After all, the investors aren't philanthropists, nor are they fools.

Any project involving sensitive topics will undergo the most rigorous risk assessment and background investigation at the very beginning of its initiation.

therefore.

Is this trivial matter something that warrants Kim Mi-hye interrupting her rare meal and rushing back to the company to deal with?
Kang Jae-hoon thought so.

Is the teacher's wife anticipating that Hwang Jung-min will likely miss out on the Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor award tonight, and thus devising a strategy to comfort him in advance?

after all.

The lineup for this year's Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor is truly impressive—

Ahn Sung-ki, Choi Min-sik, Seol Kyung-gu...

With 40% of the Baeksang Arts Awards jury being former actors, the judging mechanism places greater emphasis on the "breakthrough" of a performance.

Compared to these veteran actors, Hwang Jung-min's performance in "Ode to My Father" might be considered by the Baeksang Arts Awards jury as "emotionally rich but formulaic, and failing to break out of the tough-guy framework of 'New World'."

……

Just as Kang Jae-hoon was speculating about Kim Mi-hye's true intentions for leaving the table.

The van had silently glided to a stop in front of them.

The heavy doors to the rear private cabin were respectfully opened by a waiter.

Kim Mi-hye bent down and sat inside.

"Go upstairs and enjoy your dinner."

Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously bowed slightly:
"Please take care, Master's wife."

"By the way, Master's wife."

Kang Jae-hoon seemed to have thought of something and suddenly spoke up.

"how?"

Kim Mi-hye lowered the car window.

"Who do you prefer...?"

Through the gap in the car window.

Kim Mi-hye's normally serene profile seemed to be disturbed by this abrupt question.

The corner of his lips twitched upwards very quickly.

It looked like he was trying to suppress a laugh.

Does it matter who I like?

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

How can you say it's not important?
The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has always been the core battleground of the family, even if they are just "prospective mother-in-law and daughter-in-law"!
Moreover, Kim Mi-hye's importance in Kang Jae-hoon's life far exceeds that of an ordinary elder.

His parents died early, leaving him with no one to rely on.

Huang Zhengmin is both a strict teacher and a loving father.

As her mentor's wife and the most important person in charge of his career, Kim Mi-hye plays a role similar to that of a "mother" in a sense.

If she truly doesn't like anyone...

Kang Jae-hoon asked himself—

Does he really have the confidence to withstand the pressure from his teacher and his teacher's wife and choose someone who has been completely rejected by Kim Mi-hye without wavering?

The answer is obviously "impossible".

of course.

These were words that Kang Jae-hoon could only silently complain about in his heart.

Facing the unmoving face behind the car window.

He would never dare to say it aloud.

Kim Mi-hye clearly had no intention of discussing this further, her gaze already fixed on the distance ahead.

Upon seeing this, Kang Jae-hoon immediately composed himself and bowed deeply.
"Take care, Master's wife."

The car window rolled up.

The cold, dark glass completely isolates the inside from the outside.

The engine operates silently.

The car glided into the traffic of dusk.

soon.

The red glow of the taillights disappeared into the ever-burning neon lights of Seoul.

Kang Jae-hoon stood there for a few seconds.

Sighed.

That question from earlier.

Rather than asking Kim Mi-hye.

Rather, it was more like a question he posed to his own soul amidst the chaos.

This damned hellish scene can actually form...

The root cause is that Kang Jae-hoon finds it hard to let go of his "habit" with Lee Sung-kyung.

It's hard to resist Yoona's "gentle and warm" charm.

It's equally difficult to remain unmoved by Bae Suzy's "fiery passion"?
If only he could be completely cold-hearted towards one of them.

The situation would never be as suffocating as it is now.

……

and many more!

Now that his wife is gone, Lee Sung-kyung is all alone in the private room...

Given her personality, facing Bae Suzy's sarcastic remarks, coupled with Im Yoona's seemingly gentle but actually barbed words...

In case of being overstimulated.

Based on Lee Sung-kyung's usual posture at the gym.

Add to that his 175cm height and the explosive power honed through years of exercise...

If they really get angry and start fighting...

In an instant, a terrifying image flashed through Kang Jae-hoon's mind: Lee Sung-kyung grabbing Bae Suzy by the collar with one hand, and Im Yoon-ah trying to "break up" the fight but getting taken care of along with them.

"hiss--"

A cold sweat broke out all at once!
He couldn't care about anything else anymore.

He dashed off into the restaurant!

The door to the private room was forced open by Kang Jae-hoon.

however.

The expected chaotic scene of screaming, cursing, shattered dishes, and even hair-tearing did not occur.

There wasn't even a tense standoff.

The private room was unusually "harmonious".

The three women each occupied one side.

on the table.

Several green glass bottles stood out conspicuously.

The clear liquid in the bottle had clearly decreased by more than half.

Im Yoon-ah, Bae Suzy, Lee Sung-kyung...

These three women, who just a second ago seemed ready to kill each other with their eyes...

They're drinking right now?!
Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

He stood frozen at the doorway, staring in astonishment at the scene before him.

What made his eyelids twitch even more was—

The brand logo, Jinro, was clearly printed on the bottle.

Actually, there's nothing wrong with drinking Jinro (a type of soju).

But here's the thing.

Bae Suzy is the current spokesperson for Chora Soju.

Ok……

Their own spokesperson drank competitor's soju at a dinner party...

This operation.

That's the kind of person who seems gentle and harmless but is actually ruthless and decisive, Lim Yoona, who could pull off such a feat.

at that time.

Lee Sung-kyung, as if she hadn't seen him return, picked up the soju glass she had just filled:

“Bae Suzy-ssi.”

They start by using unfamiliar honorifics.

“The character Jae-hoon plays in the drama is just like his own personality. He is often impulsive and not very good at speaking.”

"If you offend someone on set..."

"I apologize to you on his behalf."

Done.

Her arm holding the wine glass didn't pause for a moment.

Head up.

"Gudong" sound.

A full glass of Jinro shochu was emptied instantly.

"..."

See this.

A surge of suppressed anger rose to Bae Suzy's throat.

Here we go again!

In the afternoon, when Lim Yoona came to the set, she acted like an empress, "worrying" about Kang Jae-hoon.

Now Lee Sung-kyung is here too?!

What do they take her for?

With a gloomy face, she picked up the bottle of liquor in front of her.

"ton!"

He tilted his head back and took a deep breath.

however.

Just as Bae Suzy was about to retort...

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Yoona beside him, who looked completely at ease, with even a faint smile playing on her lips.

Ah……

Bae Suzy's eyes darted around.

Suddenly changed his mind.

A sickeningly sweet smile instantly spread across her face, and her voice was soft and sweet:
“That’s what the Bible says…”

"When filming, bumps and bruises are inevitable."

"But Yoona unnie..."

She abruptly changed the subject.

His gaze, as if hooked, swept towards Yoona:

"—This afternoon on set, Yoona unnie said almost the exact same thing to me!"

Lin Yuner: "..."

really.

next second.

Lee Sung-kyung's gaze suddenly fixed on Im Yoon-a's face.

She said nothing.

He simply picked up the bottle again in silence.

"Crash-"

The clear, cool liquor was poured into the empty glass.

Until it overflows.

then.

Lee Sung-kyung raised the freshly filled glass of soju and held it horizontally towards Im Yoon-ah.

His eyes were fixed on her.

There's a saying, "Kings don't meet."

But since the other party has made their carriages and horses clear.

Then...

bump!
Lim Yoona silently filled her own glass to the brim.

There was no clinking of glasses between the two glasses in the air.

They tilted their heads back almost simultaneously.

……

Drinking contests seem a bit childish.

In fact, this is normal.

After all, they are all respectable people.

It's impossible for a public spectacle of socialites tearing each other apart, pulling hair, splashing red wine, and exchanging insults.

That would not only put Kang Jae-hoon in a difficult position.

It's even more of a self-degradation.

Moreover.

To put it another way...

In the future, if he attends important business bureau meetings or investment dinners with Kang Jae-hoon.

As a female companion.

As a result, after only two or three drinks, he became completely drunk and lost his composure.
That's not just about losing face for yourself.

It was a direct slap in the face to Kang Jae-hoon.

therefore.

This was at this moment, and they drank together almost defiantly.

It's more like the pent-up energy in the two women's hearts—

It must be proven.

She is the most suitable person to be by Kang Jae-hoon's side, someone who can handle any situation with ease and composure, bring him glory, and accompany him to the end!

Bae Soo-ji also understood the reasoning behind it.

However, her mindset is completely different from that of Yoona and Lee Sung-kyung, who have the "official wife certification" mentality.

It's more like someone who enjoys the moment.

Carpe Diem.

in other words.

She wasn't overly fixated on occupying a prestigious position in Kang Jae-hoon's future plans.

Right now, at this very moment.

Teasing him, seeing his helpless and resigned expression, watching others fight for him... the thrill and pleasure derived from these things were far more important to her than any vague promise of the future.

therefore.

She was perfectly happy to fan the flames.

Wow! These unnies have amazing drinking capacity!

"One more drink, please!"

"Don't stop!"

"We've only just begun."

"Deep feelings...bottoms up!"

The words that came out of her mouth were more and more vulgar and down-to-earth than the last, which, combined with her innocent and harmless face, created a sense of incongruous and absurd comedy.

Not much longer.

The three green bottles of real dew in front of the two women were already empty.

at that time.

A distinct blush, like that of peach blossoms in spring, rose on Lin Yoona's cheeks, and her eyes were misty with a hint of intoxication.

The slight blush, like the finest rouge, did not make her look disheveled; instead, it added a touch of languid charm to her delicate, flawless face. Her eyes, as they moved, were even more captivating.

And Lee Sung-kyung...

Obviously, they don't have that "talent".

She doesn't drink alcohol at all.

Only on special occasions like celebrating Kang Jae-hoon's birthday would they give him the courtesy of having a couple of drinks.

At that moment, three bottles of soju were swallowed in quick succession.

Let alone maintaining proper etiquette.

It's already quite a feat to be able to sit still.

Rao is so.

Her stubborn eyes were still fixed on Lim Yoona, as if she was using her last bit of willpower to hold on—

If I don't fall, you won't win!

at the same time.

Kang Jae-hoon's brows furrowed into a deep frown.

he knows.

This "battlefield," which he started but has long since gone off track, should not continue.

Especially Lee Sung-kyung.

If I drink any more, it's not just a matter of decorum; it could really cause trouble.

but.

Looking at Yoona's effortless and composed demeanor, like a cat playing with a mouse, even in her slightly tipsy state, and then at Suzy's excited clapping, as if she wanted to stir up trouble.

That inertia of wanting to maintain a semblance of peace pulled him back again.

What if I rashly intervene and break this "strange" balance...

Could this trigger an even more terrifying chain reaction?

In the instant he hesitated...

"Wow--"

Bae Suzy quickly refilled the empty glasses in front of the two women.

Lee Sung-kyung acted almost instinctively.

He reached out to grab the freshly poured glass of wine in front of her.

The last thread in Jiang Zai Xun's mind snapped.

"boom--!"

Kang Jae-hoon slammed his palm heavily on the solid wood table.

The dull thud was like a thunderclap!
The shock made the cups, plates, and bowls on the table tremble slightly.

It also instantly cut off Bae Suzy's laughter as she watched the drama unfold and Lee Sung-kyung's movement as she fumbled for her wine glass.

Three pairs of eyes.

With looks of astonishment, confusion, or inquiry, everyone focused on the man who had suddenly erupted.

"enough!"

Kang Jae-hoon turned to Im Yoon-ah first.

It carried an unprecedented, unquestionable commanding tone. No longer a tone of negotiation, but a clear instruction:
"you."

"—Stop drinking and go home to rest."

Say it.

He stopped looking at Yoona's face, which looked somewhat bewildered by the instruction.

Bend down suddenly.

Her arm went under Lee Sung-kyung's armpit.

Like lifting up a large, powerless doll, forcefully pulling her out of the chair she was stuck in!
Lee Sung-kyung stumbled from his sudden movement, instinctively trying to struggle, her voice muffled:

"...I...am...not...drunk...!"

Kang Jae-hoon completely ignored her unconvincing declaration.

He simply draped one of her arms over his shoulder and used his other hand to forcefully grip her waist.

It was almost like half carrying and half lifting.

He turned and headed towards the door.

As he passed by Bae Suzy.

Kang Jae-hoon did not pause in his steps.

But the free hand stretched out with extreme speed—

The index finger is bent.

"Boom!"

With perfect precision, he flicked her smooth, full forehead with a crisp tap!
"Ouch..."

The unexpected "attack" caused Bae Suzy to let out a short cry of surprise.

Her beautiful big eyes widened instantly, and she covered her forehead with one hand, staring blankly at Jiang Zaixun.

Kang Jae-hoon remained expressionless.

He didn't even glance at her.

He strode towards the door of the private room, supporting Lee Sung-kyung, who was still struggling and muttering, "I can walk!"

Just as I opened the door to the gilded peony-themed private room and turned to squeeze through the gap...

Kang Jae-hoon turned his head away very quickly and discreetly—

He glanced at the reactions of the other two women in the private room out of the corner of his eye.

Yoona remained seated.

The blush on her face seemed to have faded considerably due to this sudden change.

Bae Suzy covered her forehead where she had been flicked.

Her beautiful big eyes blinked, filled with pure, bewildered confusion as she failed to fully comprehend what was happening.

Kang Jae-hoon's lips twitched upwards very subtly.

He immediately opened the door.

No longer hesitate.

It was as if they were afraid that if they were a second too late, they would fall into some kind of quagmire from which they could not escape.

Half-carrying and half-embracing the already dazed Lee Sung-kyung, they quickly slipped away.

The heavy door slammed shut behind him with a "click".

This blocked the view of the two women inside.

It also isolated us from the suffocating smell of alcohol and the silent smoke of gunpowder.

The brief footsteps outside the door disappeared.

inside the door.

A deathly silence returned like a receding tide.

Lim Yoona stared thoughtfully at the closed door of the private room for a moment.

"Pfft..."

A short, pleasant laugh escaped her lips.

Kang Jae-hoon's cautious, treading-on-ice "balancing" demeanor from the beginning of the dinner party.

The "tough" transformation that followed, from slamming the table and roaring, to naming names and issuing orders, to forcibly abducting people away.

The contrast is striking.

In Lim Yoon-a's opinion.

His "tough guy show" is at least 70% performance...

Especially that little glance he steals before leaving.

It also punctured the "tough" persona that was deliberately presented to them.

however.

Lim Yoon-a had to admit it.

Although it's a "performance"...

But this rare display of a somewhat chauvinistic, responsible attitude...

It definitely made her feel much more at ease with him.

even.

Quite charming.

She liked this sudden burst of energy and vitality.

Even if you know it's an act.

That's still a million times better than the previous lukewarm and hesitant attitude, letting them tear him apart at will.

and so.

she laughs.

Laugh at his little bit of theatricality.

I also laughed at myself...

In the end, they still fell for it.

aside.

Bae Suzy looked at Lim Yoona with a puzzled expression.

Kang Jae-hoon didn't take away Lim Yoon-a!
What are you so smug about?
How can you still laugh?
She couldn't understand at all what was going on with Yoona's expression of "winning face but losing substance" yet still enjoying it.

She ran her fingers through her long, smooth hair, looking somewhat bewildered.

My mind is full of questions.

Ultimately, it can only be concluded that:

Is Yoona sunbaenie drunk?

------

at the same time.

The VIP room next door.

Gong Hyo-jin and Cha Tae-hyun practically covered half their faces with the highly soundproof, hand-embroidered wallpaper.

Hold your breath.

Its ears stand up like radar.

Quiet.

Deathly silence.

Not a single sound, not even a quarrel, a smashed glass, or a woman's sobbing, could be heard.

Gong Hyo-jin frowned, her brows almost disappearing into the seams of the wallpaper.
"Something's not right... It's too quiet."

She shifted her position, trying to catch more sound waves: "Even if they didn't fight, throwing a spoon in a fit of anger would still make a sound, right?"

Cha Tae-hyun's brows were furrowed so deeply they could trap a mosquito, and he pressed his ears even tighter against his skin.

"Is your information accurate? Did a fight really break out inside?"

Gong Hyo-jin frantically pounded on the wall, trying to find a crack in the wall that might let in some sound:

"It shouldn't be..."

"Knock Knock Knock-"

There was a slight knock on the door.

A waiter in a smart uniform served tea, maintaining a professional smile and politely reminding the customer:
"Excuse me, gentlemen. Our shop will be closing in half an hour. Would you like to...?"

The words have not yet fallen.

He then saw two human-shaped wallpaper hangers pasted on the wall.

The waiter's smile remained unchanged, only his voice became a few degrees clearer:
"...Also, the guests in the next private room have been gone for quite some time."

His gaze swept calmly over the two faces that almost blended into the wallpaper:
"What are you two looking for?"

Cha Tae-hyun & Gong Hyo-jin: "..."

(End of this chapter)