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

Chapter 173 Corny Pickup Lines Get a Brutal Blow from a Straight-Through Girl
The silver-gray Santa Fe turned into the familiar alleyway of Seongsudong.

When I passed by the convenience store I usually go to on the street corner.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kang Jae-hoon noticed that the neighborhood flower shop next door was still lit up.

The roller shutter door was only halfway down.

The boss seems to be tidying up inside.

With a slight thought, Jiang Zaixun stepped on the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road.

A few minutes later.

He returned to the car carrying a bunch of red roses still glistening with dew.

The vibrant, rich red stood out starkly in the dimly lit car.

The car was restarted and soon stopped downstairs.

The voice-activated light remained dim and short-lived.

Turn the key to the lock cylinder.

Click.

The door opens.

The warm yellow light from the living room flowed out, carrying a fresh, misty scent—

Lee Sung-kyung was bending over, holding a mop and wiping the floor in front of the sofa.

Hear the door open.

She straightened up.

Turning my head to look.

His gaze first fell on Kang Jae-hoon's face.

immediately.

The image is fixed on the bouquet of vibrant, deep red roses in his arms.

Almost instantly.

A genuine smile bloomed on her face.

This smile was completely different from the one she wore when Kang Jae-hoon was "acting" for Nam Joo-hyuk, or when she deliberately sent flowers at any other moment, a smile that suppressed her complex emotions and carried a sense of scrutiny or forbearance.

bright.

Overjoyed.

It is a joyful feeling of complete relaxation, belonging only to this moment, and born only for him.

That smile was too dazzling.

This made Kang Jae-hoon a little dazed, and he forgot to move.

"Why are you standing there stupidly?"

Kang Jae-hoon then came to his senses.

He bent down to change his shoes.

Go into the living room.

He handed over the bouquet of roses, still glistening with dew and carrying a delicate fragrance.

"Bible."

"Ok?"

Lee Sung-kyung naturally accepted the bouquet, lowered her head to bring her face close to the bright red petals, took a light sniff, and the smile on her lips never faded.

Jiang Zaixun looked at her profile as she lowered her eyes to smell the flowers, his throat bobbed, and after a long pause, he said:

How long is one meter?

Lee Sung-kyung looked at him with a face full of doubt, as if trying to confirm whether he had gotten his brain caught in a door:
"100 centimeters."

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

A breath caught in my throat.

Bae Suzy's charming smile and the words "Just say you want to hug me" were instantly shattered by the simple and unadorned "100 centimeters".

The anticipated romantic bubble burst with a "pop".

broken.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed and unable to vent his frustration, he casually took the wet mop that Lee Sung-kyung was draped over her waist.

Without saying a word, he lowered his head and began to huff and puff as he diligently mopped the floor!

Lee Sung-kyung looked at him suspiciously at his unusually diligent demeanor.

I didn't investigate further.

Just assume he suddenly had a fit of madness.

She turned and went into the kitchen with the flowers in her arms, found scissors and a vase, and slowly began to trim the flower stems.

Soon.

Lee Sung-kyung came out carrying a glass vase filled with water.

The carefully trimmed roses were arranged in the vase in a pleasing, staggered manner.

It was placed on the coffee table in the living room.

The deep red flowers shone with a soft glow under the light, adding a touch of brightness and warmth to the old apartment.

She patted the spot next to her and beckoned to Kang Jae-hoon, who was still struggling with the floor:
"That's enough, I've already dragged it once."

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon polished the last bit of the mop, then quickly went to the bathroom to wash it, washed his hands thoroughly, and then changed into comfortable pajamas before sitting down next to Lee Sung-kyung.

The TV has been tuned to the KBS channel.

There are still a few minutes until the premiere of "The Producers".

The music from the advertisement flowed through the small living room.

The red roses on the coffee table quietly exuded their fragrance under the lamplight.

The atmosphere was unusually peaceful and warm.

Kang Jae-hoon relaxed and sank into the sofa cushions.

His gaze fell on the flickering light and shadow on the television screen.

A bright expectation stirred within me.

He wasn't looking forward to the plot itself, but rather to the feedback after the series aired.

It is a re-examination and evaluation of him by the public as an actor, Kang Jae-hoon.

Count it up.

It has been almost a year and a half since Yoon Chan-young burst onto the scene in "The Heirs".

For a young actor on the rise, such a long hiatus is excessive.

Several of the movies he starred in were subsequently released.

However, in "When a Man Falls in Love" and "Ode to My Father," he was just a fleeting minor supporting character.

The entire footage takes less than three minutes to complete.

He has quite a few scenes in "For Love or Money".

Unfortunately, it flopped both at the box office and with critics, barely making a splash in the market.

During this period.

His name also appears in the public eye every now and then due to various unexpected and dramatic events.

But this popularity comes and goes quickly.

It cannot bring him a sustained, rooted popularity boost based on his works.

As a young artist who has only been in the industry for two years, he needs to release a series of impactful works.

Even the greatest enthusiasm will cool down quickly, and even the best impressions will fade with time.

Rowing against the current.

If you don't advance, you will retreat.

The entertainment industry has always been the most forgetful and realistic place.

Even the most popular TV series can't sustain a person's career forever.

On the surface.

Kang Jae-hoon seems to have a bit more fame and generate more buzz than his contemporaries like Park Hyung-sik and Kang Ha-neul.

However, if he doesn't have another decent work that can truly resonate with the audience, he will eventually be surpassed by a wave of newcomers and by his peers who constantly produce new works.

Do you have a good image?

There's never a shortage of glamorous faces in the industry.

Are you a natural actor?
Aura needs a stage to prove itself; no one will believe it if you just talk about it.

therefore.

If these things are not reflected in a high-quality, influential film or television drama.

For an actor, it's ultimately a castle in the air.

------

Advertisement ended.

The main feature begins.

The camera pans out from the perspective of Baek Sung-chan, played by Kang Jae-hoon.

The rookie PD's car was scratched by Tak Ye-jin, played by Gong Hyo-jin;

I was so nervous during the job oath that my hands and feet moved in unison.

Like a curious child when touring the interior;
I bumped into TTS, the boy band, making a cameo appearance in the cafeteria; they were all grinning like idiots.

Discovering that her crush, a senior, had been "seduce" by Luo Junmo, she secretly splashed water from her hands onto his face in the bathroom...

The whole plot is lighthearted and humorous.

It carries the delicate sense of life and humor unique to screenwriter Park Ji-eun.

Lee Sung-kyung sat cross-legged on the sofa, watching quietly.

When Baek Sung-chan makes a fool of himself, the corners of her mouth will curve into a smile, and she no longer tries to keep a straight face and suppress her emotions in front of Kang Jae-hoon as she used to.

She would occasionally glance at him from the side.

Kang Jae-hoon felt much more relieved.

At least the initial tone was stable.

His portrayal of Baek Sung-chan, with his straightforward yet slightly naive charm, should be convincing.

In a blink of an eye.

The plot is halfway through.

It's time for Cindy, played by Bae Suzy, to appear.

have to say.

Directors with a film background understand the language of the camera very well.

The camera pans from bottom to top.

First, there was a pair of slender ankles wearing high heels;

Next are the sleek, shapely calves;

Then there were her shapely thighs encased in a tight-fitting mini-skirt for her stage performances.

The whole scene is visually striking.

This instantly amplifies Cindy's aura and presence as a top idol.

On TV.

Kang Jae-hoon, who plays Baek Sung-chan, is watching intently.

Outside the television.

Even as a viewer, Kang Jae-hoon had to admit that the director did a really good job.

Just as "Kang Jae-hoon" on and off TV were subconsciously drawn to Bae Suzy's beautiful legs—

There was a soft "bang" sound beside me.

Kang Jae-hoon turned his head subconsciously.

Lee Sung-kyung, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly put her long, straight legs down from the sofa and placed them directly on the coffee table in front of her.

"My legs are numb."

She gave a flat explanation, her eyes still fixed on the TV screen, as if it were just something she did casually.

But then.

She calmly and methodically began to roll up her trouser legs!
The loose-fitting trousers were pushed up little by little.

First, her ankles, with their clear lines and well-proportioned bones, are revealed.

Next are the calves, with smooth, sculpted lines and not an ounce of excess fat.

Further up.

The kneecaps are small and rounded, connecting to the firm and muscular thighs.

The light shone on it.

It's like applying a layer of warm glaze to the finest mutton fat jade.

now.

Those legs, certified by both professional cameras and the demanding fashion world, were laid out before Kang Jae-hoon without reservation or restraint.

The vibrant red roses on the coffee table seemed dull and lifeless next to her legs.

Kang Jae-hoon felt he had acted rashly.

That was too hasty.

If we're really talking about legs...

Whether it's Bae Suzy, who shines brightly on screen, or Lim Yoona, who is known for her beauty, they are completely overshadowed by Lee Sung-kyung's model-like long legs, which seem to have stepped straight out of a pictorial.

The visual impact is too strong.

"Gudu——"

The sound of Kang Jae-hoon swallowing his saliva was unusually clear in the living room.

"Humph~"

The "leggy beauty" on the coffee table seems to have achieved her goal.

Then, those two excessively eye-catching long legs slowly came back from the coffee table and sat back on the sofa in a proper manner.

But the visual impact of that fleeting glimpse has already been created.

Kang Jae-hoon is no saint either.

Especially since I only tasted forbidden fruit last night... cough.

Kang Jae-hoon carefully moved a little closer.

He tentatively reached out and gently hooked Lee Sung-kyung's left hand, which was resting on the sofa.

Lee Sung-kyung's fingertips twitched slightly.

They did not break free.

She even took the initiative to give him a slight handshake in return.

Become!

Kang Jae-hoon felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He played with her little hands for a while.

He slowly circled her slender yet resilient waist.

Lee Sung-kyung's body seemed to tense for a fraction of a second.

Then I silently relaxed.

She leaned closer to him, obediently, even somewhat proactively.

His 185cm height made him a perfect fit for her 175cm frame.

Lee Sung-kyung's head could comfortably rest on his shoulder.

This feeling of being completely enveloped and nestled was a strange and novel experience for her. She shifted, finding a more comfortable position, and refocused her gaze on the TV drama.

Warm and fragrant nephrite in my arms.

The air around my nose was filled with the fresh scent of shampoo from her hair and the faint fragrance of lavender from her body.

Kang Jae-hoon's heart was beating a little fast.

now.

He no longer felt that what was being broadcast on TV was important at all.

Lower your head slightly.

His gaze fell on Lee Sung-kyung's earlobe, which was very close to his.

Small, fair-skinned, with earlobes that had a healthy pink hue, appearing exceptionally lustrous under the light.

An indescribable feeling compelled his lips to move closer uncontrollably.

Warm breaths brushed against that sensitive skin.

Lee Sung-kyung's body tensed instantly!

next second.

"boom!"

Jiang Zaixun groaned, feeling a dull, solid pain in his chest and abdomen.

Lee Sung-kyung abruptly sat up straight from his embrace, turned her head to glare at him, and two blushes, even more vibrant than before, rose on her cheeks—half from embarrassment, and half from anger at his overstepping boundaries.

"If you don't want to get beaten up, just watch TV!"

"……Oh."

The romantic thoughts I had just had vanished completely after that sharp elbow strike to the heart.

Jiang Zai Xun rubbed his aching chest, grimaced in response, and dared not cause any more trouble.

at that time.

The first episode is nearing its end.

To be fair.

As the premiere episode.

The Producers doesn't grab attention with strong plot conflicts or bizarre settings at the beginning.

There are no dramatic plot twists, nor any deliberate sweet or heart-wrenching scenes.

The entire episode's narrative focuses more on being a "textbook for novice workers."

A single storyline, told from Baek Seung-chan's perspective, outlines the complex working relationship and subtle emotions between veteran PDs Luo Junmo and Zhuo Yizhen over the past decade.

The other storyline uses Cindy, a star idol at the top of the industry, as a starting point to bring out the interdependent yet tense relationship between music program producers and artists in reality.

This approach of replacing strong plot with meticulous detail carries obvious risks—it relies entirely on the charm of the characters and the performances of the actors.

Fortunately.

Whether it's Cha Tae-hyun's seasoned composure, Gong Hyo-jin's down-to-earth nature and occasional bursts of sharpness, or Bae Suzy's precise portrayal of the spoiled and tired vulnerability of a top idol... all of them support the character's framework.

What gave Kang Jae-hoon a sense of reassurance was himself.

He portrayed the character of Bai Chengchan's dull and even somewhat silly personality in a very vivid and natural way.

The end credits song began to play.

The premiere has ended.

An advertisement appears on the screen.

Lee Sung-kyung stretched lazily, her bones cracking slightly, and yawned as she got up.

"I'm so sleepy, time to wash up and go to bed."

After saying that, he shuffled into the bathroom in his slippers.

Kang Jae-hoon remained seated on the sofa, listening to the sound of running water coming from the bathroom.

He took out his phone.

The screen is unlocked.

My fingertips swiped across several forums and news portals.

Discussions about the premiere of "The Producers" have begun to emerge sporadically.

[Naver Hot Post]

First impressions of "The Producers": Writer Park delivers a solid performance, the entire cast is on point, but the plot... is a bit flat?

—Indeed, the pacing was a bit slow, and it relied entirely on the actors to carry the show. PD Baek Seung-chan was too naive, and Kang Jae-hoon playing this role was practically a natural fit, wasn't it?
— Cindy has such a strong presence! Suzy's acting has improved!
Cha Tae-hyun and Gong Hyo-jin still have amazing chemistry.

—This feels like a KBS promotional video? I'm looking forward to the conflict that follows.

【DC Inside - Kang Jae-hoon Gallery】

[Premiere Discussion] Our Sehun's Baek Seung-chan! So adorably goofy!
—Ahhh, the new PD is so relatable! His hand-and-foot clumsiness is hilarious!

—His expression when he was hit by Kombri was priceless!
—Your eye acting is excellent! The way you looked at the senior you had a crush on after she got dumped was so heartbreaking!

—His acting is so natural, it doesn't feel like acting at all, he's just Baek Seung-chan himself!
【Theqoo】

The premiere ratings for "The Producers" are in: 10.2% (AGB Nationwide).

—Just average? With Park and this lineup, I thought it would be even better.

—The time slot is Friday and Saturday at 11 PM, so this is a pretty good result. Let's see how it goes.

—The plot is indeed a bit bland, relying entirely on the charm of the actors to attract attention.

……

The overall wind direction was not far from what he had expected.

The script's slow pacing is a major flaw, but the actors' performances, including his own, have generally been well-received.

A 10.2% viewership rating isn't bad for a Friday-Saturday drama airing at 11 PM.

But for a drama that brings together a cast like Cha Tae-hyun, Gong Hyo-jin, Bae Suzy, and himself, and is also supported by a famous screenwriter.

It can only be considered mediocre.

He casually turned off the screen.

It's just the premiere.

It's another late-night slot.

Once the online discussion picks up during the day, the actual reaction will depend on public opinion and subsequent viewership trends tomorrow morning.

At this time.

The bathroom door opened.

Lee Sung-kyung, slipping on her slippers, walked straight to her bedroom door.

He didn't even stop walking past the sofa.

But just as one foot stepped into the doorway, the body subtly paused in place.

A few seconds of silence.

It was as if there was something he wanted to say.

But in the end.

She simply turned her head and glanced quickly in the direction of the sofa.

His gaze was light and quick, carrying a hint of lingering confusion and hesitation.

In the end, he said nothing.

Look back.

He darted inside the door.

The doorknob clicked softly.

Closed.

There was no crisp sound of the door locking behind the otherwise soundproof door; she simply closed the door.

Kang Jae-hoon sat on the sofa for a few more minutes before getting up to wash up.

Cool water splashed on my face.

My thoughts also became a bit clearer.

He stared at his face, still wet with water droplets, in the mirror.

But certain images kept churning in my mind uncontrollably.

Those ankles seemed to gleam under the light...

Those strong, smooth, and powerful calf lines...

The shapely curves of those thighs, outlined by the fabric of those loungewear pants...

It's like pressing the loop button.

Once.

Again.

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon closed his eyes tightly for a moment.

Turn off the tap.

Dry your face.

I slipped on my slippers and walked back to my somewhat empty bedroom.

Snapped.

The overhead light is off.

Only the lingering glow of the distant city outside the window, never extinguished, seeps softly through the gaps in the curtains.

into darkness.

The clearer images, on the contrary, crowded in even more uncontrollably.

My heart started racing for no reason.

My throat feels a little dry.

He turned over.

Then I flipped it back.

Staring at the blurry outline of the ceiling.

half an hour.

in the dark.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly threw off the covers and sat up.

I stepped barefoot onto the slightly cool floor.

She tiptoed to Lee Sung-kyung's door.

stop.

The Adam's apple rolled up and down.

Raise your hand.

Knuckles landed on the door panel.

knock.

knock knock.

"..."

There was no sound in the room at first.

After a while.

A single, harsh word came from behind the door:

"explain."

The person outside the door was silent for two seconds.

When she opened her mouth, she deliberately appeared pitiful:
"...I'm afraid to sleep alone."

"..."

A deathly silence fell outside the door.

There was no sound from inside the door.

Just when Kang Jae-hoon thought she was asleep or too lazy to pay attention to him—

A single word came clearly from inside the door.

Crisp and neat.

Definitely.

"roll."

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon's shoulders slumped silently.

Touched the tip of his nose.

He turned around dejectedly, dragging his feet.

I returned to my dark bedroom.

He threw himself back into bed.

She pulled the blanket over herself.

It covered the top of the head.

The movements are done in one go.

the other side.

in the dark.

Lee Sung-kyung had her back to the door, curled up, and was listening intently.

It was quiet outside.

All I could hear was my own slightly erratic heartbeat and the indistinct sound of a car in the distance.

That rascal……

Did they really obediently "get lost"?

Don't you even have the courage to knock again?
Lee Sung-kyung waited a few seconds, and when she was sure there was no more noise outside, the corners of her mouth involuntarily twitched upwards. She wanted to laugh, but also felt utterly speechless.

what is this?
Play hard to get?

Or is it just cowardice?
She buried her face deeper into the soft pillow, pulled the blanket up, and wrapped herself up completely.

sleep!

……

early morning.

Sunlight streamed obliquely through the windows of the old building, illuminating the dining table.

The two ate breakfast quietly, the atmosphere was a little subtle, but not tense.

The meal is over.

Kang Jae-hoon cleared his throat and tentatively asked:
"I send you?"

Lee Sung-kyung put down her coffee cup, looked up at him, and said calmly:
"Row."

He immediately took out his phone and quickly dialed:
"Unnie, yes, it's me. You don't need to arrange a car to the set today, someone will take you."

The two went downstairs.

I walked up to the silver-gray Hyundai.

Kang Jae-hoon hurriedly took two steps and opened the passenger door.

Lee Sung-kyung crouched down and sat inside.

Kang Jae-hoon closed the passenger door, walked around to the driver's side, opened the door, and got in.

fasten your seatbelt.

The key is inserted into the lock.

Just as they were about to ignite it.

Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the passenger seat—Lee Sung-kyung was examining Bae Suzy's photocard in the rearview mirror.

Kang Jae-hoon's mind went blank!
Oops!

Last night I was so focused on giving the flowers to please him that I completely forgot to remove that thing from the rearview mirror!
really!

Lee Sung-kyung's eyes suddenly sharpened as she glared fiercely at Kang Jae-hoon! Without a word, she abruptly pushed open the passenger door and strode out of the car.

"Hey! The Bible!"

Jiang Zai Xun panicked and hurriedly unbuckled his seatbelt, then tried to push open the door to chase after him.

He had only taken two steps when he caught up.

But then the angry figure in front of them suddenly stopped.

then.

Without warning, he turned around and came back.

As her icy, pretty face approached, Jiang Zaixun instinctively tried to block or dodge—thinking she was about to attack.

But Lee Sung-kyung didn't even look at him.

He opened the passenger door and sat back down.

"boom!"

The door closes again.

Jiang Jae-hoon: “……?”

He was a little confused.

He sat back in the driver's seat, bewildered, and closed the door. He'd even forgotten to fasten his seatbelt. He turned his head and cautiously observed Lee Sung-kyung.

Lee Sung-kyung turned her head away expressionlessly.

His gaze fell again on the small car dangling in the rearview mirror, then moved to him.

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon received the signal instantly.

His survival instinct made him react incredibly fast!

"Shh-"

His arm shot out like lightning, and without the slightest hesitation, he ripped the "eyesore" little card off the rearview mirror hook.

Lee Sung-kyung reached out and took the small card.

My fingertips pinched that thin piece of plastic.

She didn't look at Kang Jae-hoon.

His gaze drifted out the car window.

The streets were nearly deserted in the early morning.

There is a dark green recycling bin not far from the roadside.

next second.

Lee Sung-kyung rolled down the passenger window.

An arm was leaning out of the window.

With a slight flick of the wrist.

The little card with the red string attached drew a short arc in the air, spun around, and floated gently down to the ground next to the trash can.

It didn't hit the bullseye inside the barrel, but it was completely out of the car's range.

The car window rolled up again.

There was silence in the carriage.

The engine starts.

The car glided smoothly out of the alley and merged into the morning traffic.

Kang Jae-hoon gripped the steering wheel, his palms slightly sweaty, barely daring to breathe.

in fact.

In the brief few seconds it took Lee Sung-kyung to get out of the car, many things flashed through her mind.

Kang Jae-hoon's profession destined him to work in a toxic environment.

The people I met, especially women, were all sorts of people.

He was not bad in terms of his own conditions, his career was somewhat promising, and his personality was a bit simple-minded and easy to manipulate (in her opinion) – he was practically a walking target.

What's next?
Filming will continue.

The number of actresses I'll be working with will only increase.

If Bae Suzy were to send her a small card today, she would get furious.
If Yoona gives her a gift tomorrow, she'll give her the cold shoulder and throw a tantrum...

Lee Sung-kyung quickly mentally reenacted the scene:
A cold shoulder → strained relationship → gives other "flirts" an opportunity → you sulk every day → relationship worsens → vicious cycle...

The conclusion is exceptionally clear:

Continue like this.

She probably won't live past thirty; she'll either be driven to death by anger or suffocation!
therefore.

Change is necessary.

She can no longer passively defend herself like before, waiting for others to provoke her before retaliating.

She wants to take the initiative and control the situation.

Throw the card.

This is the first step of a clear declaration.

It was also an adjustment to her own mindset.

Think of this.

Lee Sung-kyung turned her head.

His gaze was fixed on Kang Jae-hoon, who was driving beside him.

Jiang Zai Xun felt uneasy under her gaze, and his fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

"Kang Jae-hoon."

"Ok?"

"If I ever find this kind of junk in your car, on your person, or anywhere I can see it again..."

She paused, leaned forward slightly, and pinched the soft flesh on the inside of Kang Jae-hoon's thigh with her fingers:
"I'll throw them out, along with their belongings."

She applied a little pressure with her fingers.

"have you understood?"

"Ming, understand!"

Kang Jae-hoon answered immediately.

He was terrified that she would grab his vitals at any moment.

Lee Sung-kyung released her grip with satisfaction, leaned back in her chair, and looked out the window again.

Ok.

That's right.

Initiative.

It must be in your own hands.

(End of this chapter)