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

Chapter 180 On the Art of Switching Between a Mad Tycoon and a Silly PD

The incandescent lights in the practice room went out, leaving only the eerie green indicator light of the emergency exit. Exhausted and still noisy, the members left in twos and threes.

Sunny and Taeyeon were the last ones because of their shorter legs.

The two watched side by side as Yoona and Jaehoon walked toward the van parked in the shadows by the company's side entrance.

How far have things progressed between them?

Kim Tae-yeon nudged Sunny with her elbow in a "revengeful" gesture: "It really happened?"

Sunny shrugged:

"I'm not sure exactly what stage it's at, but he slept at Yoona's house last night."

"Moragu?!"

Kim Tae-yeon's eyes widened instantly, her gossip-loving spirit burning brightly, her face filled with disbelief:

"Really? How do you know?!"

"hey-hey……"

Sunny shook her head smugly:

"Of course I know~ because... I'm the one who got him drunk! Hehe~"

Wow! Tell me the details!

The two of them brought their heads even closer together.

Sunny's animated whispers and Kim Tae-yeon's suppressed gasps mingled together, gradually fading into the brightly lit corridors of the SM building, eventually blending into the dazzling night view of Seoul.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Soothing jazz music filled the van, isolating it from the noise outside. Having just finished an intense practice session, Yoona's face showed undisguised fatigue.

Kang Jae-hoon didn't say anything either.

The long hours of filming also exhausted him.

red light.

The car came to a stop.

A hand gently covered the back of Kang Jae-hoon's hand, which was resting on the armrest box.

Kang Jae-hoon's hand twitched slightly, almost unconsciously.

Then, he reached out and grasped that slender hand.

Their hands were clasped together quietly.

Their fingertips intertwined slightly, conveying a silent weariness and comfort.

Outside the car window, the flowing light and neon lights reflected on the two quiet people inside. Neither of them turned their heads; their gazes were both fixed on the cityscape outside the window, wearily and silently absorbing this brief moment of peace side by side.

The car drove through two intersections and stopped at a red light.

Lim Yoona slowly turned her head.

Those doe-like eyes, weary yet exceptionally bright in the dim light, quietly gazed at Kang Jae-hoon's sharply defined profile.

It was as if we were telepathically connected.

Almost at the same moment her gaze fell upon him, Kang Jae-hoon also turned his head.

Eyes facing each other.

The dim light inside the carriage blurred their expressions, but the faint glow of the lights outside the window reflected in their eyes, like tiny sparks hidden within.

The distance between them quietly shortened in the silent gaze.

The air seemed to have become thick and scorching.

Jin Dayuan, in the driver's seat, was focused on the road ahead, waiting for the green light.

suddenly.

His ear twitched very slightly.

A short, suppressed breath and the rustling of fabric came from behind.

Jin Dayuan instantly deciphered the source of the sound.

As if by reflex, I reached for the inconspicuous, small dashcam button above the rearview mirror.

A light press of the plastic button with a fingertip.

Click.

A very faint beep indicating that an electronic device had lost power was drowned out by the jazz music and engine sounds.

The little red dot in the rearview mirror that indicated recording was in progress went out instantly.

Do it all.

Kim Dae-won stared straight ahead expressionlessly.

His free right hand moved very naturally toward the volume knob on the center console.

Rotate your fingertips.

The jazz music playing in the car stereo was immediately amplified by several decibels.

The melodious saxophone and the leaping trumpet, with their fuller volume, instantly filled the carriage, like building a gentle yet effective sound wall, completely enveloping, diluting, and covering the unsettling, subtle noises coming from the back seat.

Do it all.

Kim Dae-won acted as if nothing had happened.

I turned my attention back to the green light and smoothly pressed the accelerator.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The entrance to the upscale apartment complex in Cheongdam-dong.

The van was parked quietly beside the tree-lined road.

The music inside the car was promptly switched back to a soft background tone by Jin Dayuan.

The lingering emotion in Lim Yoona's doe-like eyes hadn't completely subsided; they were still glistening with tears as she gazed directly into Kang Jae-hoon's eyes.
"arrive……"

"It doesn't seem that late?"

"Would you like to... come up and sit for a while?"

Her gaze was lingering, her tone soft and alluring, and the unspoken message was palpable.

Kang Jae-hoon felt his heart skip a beat at her gaze, instantly waking him up from the chaotic memories of last night's hangover and the embarrassing "Minion" incident this morning.

A powerful urge almost burst from my throat—

He almost immediately wanted to open the door and get out of the car with Yoona.

however.

In that instant when impulse almost dictated his actions, another face, like lightning tearing through a screen, struck his mind without warning—

Lee Sung-kyung.

The slightly hazy silhouette in the morning light, the warm touch of him curled up beside me... even the real feeling of being both embarrassed and annoyed when my cheek was pinched.

Suddenly, a heavy weight pressed down on his heart, which was almost melted by Yoona's warmth.

The "okay" that almost slipped out took a sharp turn on the tip of the tongue, transforming into a "thoughtful" sound with a hint of deliberate intention:
"No..."

Kang Jae-hoon looked away, unable to meet his gaze directly into those eyes filled with moonlight.

"...You just finished dancing, your whole body is sore, you need to rest and be quiet. If I go up, I'm afraid it will disturb your sleep..."

This reason seems... in the current context.

A truly upright and virtuous person.

So clueless about romance.

Lim Yoona was slightly taken aback.

immediately.

She seemed to have misunderstood the meaning of "rest" and "disturbance" in Jiang Zai Xun's words, and two red clouds rose on her cheeks as she lightly spat at him:
"What nonsense are you thinking... I'm going up now!"

She reached out to pull the car door handle.

"and many more."

Lim Yoona stopped what she was doing and turned to look at him:

"how?"

As Jiang Zai Xun looked at her slightly angry yet still charming profile, the ripples in his heart stirred by her had not yet subsided.

He didn't want this tenderness to end so soon.

He just wanted to see her one more time.

Let's stay a little longer.

In this fleeting moment, there is only moonlight and her fragrance.

"I'll... stay a little longer."

Yoona stared at him for a few seconds.

Soft music flowed through the carriage.

The slight anger in her eyes gradually faded, and the corners of her lips curved upwards into a gentle arc, as if she understood his "hypocrisy" and "reluctance."

"Ah."

She didn't mention going upstairs again, but simply leaned against him, watching him with a leisurely air.

Kang Jae-hoon stared at her in return.

The air was filled with a silent yet profound ambiguity and tenderness.

Jin Dayuan sat in the driver's seat, looking down at his nose and trying to remain in the background.

And Kang Jae-hoon.

Throughout the entire process, not a single word was mentioned about the investment or that massive plan.

He fears.

I'm afraid that if I were to mention that huge goodwill with commercial considerations, it would instantly taint the pure joy and affection in the eyes of this woman who was simply moved by his words "I miss you."

Even more frightening—

He came simply because he wanted to see her.

I wanted to discuss investment matters, so I stopped by to see her.

These two completely different initial intentions would be interpreted in vastly different ways by someone as intelligent as Yoona.

The former is like honey.

The latter... is like a dessert with sand mixed in.

------

The van stopped in front of an old apartment building in Seongsu-dong.

The carriage was very quiet.

Jin looked up at the familiar window on the fifth floor—

The warm yellow light was like a lighthouse in the dark night.

He kept replaying in his mind the meaningful glance Lin Yoona gave him before they parted, and that "little suggestion" about "moving".

Jin Dayuan opened his mouth.

Several times I wanted to bring up Lin Yoona's high-sounding reasons.

But the words came to his lips.

Looking at the light, and then at Jiang Zai Xun's profile in the passenger seat—a face that showed signs of fatigue but also an undeniable lingering excitement—he ultimately swallowed his words.

Forget it.

Now is not the time.

There's already a lot of information to share today.

He turned his head away and only managed to squeeze out a dry sentence:
"go to bed early."

Kang Jae-hoon responded with "Yes, hyung too," opened the car door, and quickly disappeared into the building entrance.

Jin Dayuan stared at the closed unit door, then glanced at the lights on the fifth floor, let out a long, silent sigh, and then started the car and drove away.

The motion-activated lights in the hallway briefly turned on.

Insert the key into the lock.

Rotate.

The door opens.

A warm, gentle yellow light flowed out of the living room.

The entryway is quiet.

The area under the door to Lee Sung-kyung's bedroom was pitch black.

She was obviously asleep.

But the living room light was left on for him.

A surge of emotion, a mixture of intense guilt and inexplicable unease, gripped Kang Jae-hoon's heart. Almost instinctively, he strode towards Lee Sung-kyung's bedroom door.

however.

Just as Kang Jae-hoon's fingers were about to touch the cold doorknob.

His movements suddenly froze in mid-air.

wrong!

The faint, sweet scent of peach clung stubbornly to him. In the quiet living room, the aroma seemed amplified a thousandfold.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

He recoiled as if burned, turned and rushed into the bathroom without hesitation.

slam-la-

Kang Jae-hoon vigorously scrubbed his hair, neck, and arms...

I applied shampoo and shower gel three times.

Only after his nasal cavity and skin were filled with the fresh, clean scent of his usual soap and shower gel, and he was certain he couldn't smell even a trace of that overly sweet or cloying odor, did he hastily dry himself.

Wearing only a clean pair of cotton lounge shorts and bare, muscular upper body, he tiptoed to the door of Lee Sung-kyung's bedroom.

Moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow in the room.

Lee Sung-kyung lay curled up on her side, her sleeping face peaceful.

But by the light of the moon.

Kang Jae-hoon could clearly see her slightly furrowed brows, as if she was troubled by something even in her sleep.

He tiptoed to the bedside and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Stretch out your finger.

With utmost tenderness and care, I gently stroked her brow, my fingertips following the curve of her brow bone, caressing it lightly and slowly.

I don’t know how long it took.

Maybe five minutes, maybe ten minutes.

The furrowed brows finally calmed down slowly and silently under his soothing words.

Jiang Zai Xun let out a silent sigh of relief and carefully lifted a corner of the blanket. His body, still slightly damp from his recent shower, slid into the blanket with extremely gentle movements.

Almost the instant he settled down—

Lee Sung-kyung, who was next to her, turned over naturally.

With a warm and cozy feeling, she nestled herself into Kang Jae-hoon's arms without reservation.

Kang Jae-hoon's heart had just begun to relax a little.

Then I heard her in my arms utter a soft, sleepy murmur:

"Have you got a meal yet?"

"Didn't eat."

really.

The moment he finished speaking, he felt the person in his arms stiffen, and the arm around his waist tightened, as if the person was about to break free from his embrace and get up.

Kang Jae-hoon immediately tightened his arms, holding her tightly, and whispered quickly in her ear:
"But just seeing you makes me feel full." "...?"

in the dark.

Lee Sung-kyung seemed to have processed that statement for a moment.

"Because you are a feast for the eyes."

"..."

"Snapped!"

The moment the words fell.

The bedside lamp was suddenly switched on by a slender arm.

The warm yellow light instantly illuminated the small bedroom.

It also illuminated Lee Sung-kyung's sleepy but bewildered face.

Her eyes were half-closed.

He carefully examined Kang Jae-hoon's face, which was so close to his.

It was as if they wanted to find out if this face had been replaced.

or……

Is he possessed by a ghost?!
Kang Jae-hoon was both amused and exasperated by her look, which seemed to be on high alert and as if she were studying an alien creature.
"What are you doing?"

Lee Sung-kyung couldn't explain where the strange feeling in her heart came from.

She felt that every word and action of Jiang Zai Xun from the moment he entered the room... exuded a gentleness, frivolity, and even a bit of greasiness that she had never seen before, making her hair stand on end.
This is not normal!

How abnormal!
Could it be... that the fever damaged his brain?!

Thoughts together.

Lee Sung-kyung immediately reached out and slapped Kang Jae-hoon's smooth forehead.

I carefully felt the temperature.

normal.

Touch your own again.

Also normal.

So... what happened?

Looking at her completely clueless, sleepy, confused, and wary expression, Kang Jae-hoon found her extremely adorable.

He smiled and pulled Lee Sung-kyung, who was still in a daze trying to "solve the case," back into his arms.

With her other hand outstretched, she snapped the glaring bedside lamp off.

The room fell into darkness again.

"Kang Jae-hoon."

A muffled sound came from her arms.

"Ok?"

You seem a bit strange today.

"Strange...good-looking?"

The moment the words left her lips, Jiang Zaixun accurately predicted her reaction and steadily intercepted a small fist that was hurtling towards him with a whooshing sound in mid-air.

Lee Sung-kyung: "!!!"

She was so angry she wanted to bite someone!

But drowsiness and the warmth from his large, enveloping fist lessened her strength to struggle.

Kang Jae-hoon chuckled softly, pressing the clenched fist back to his chest, and gently nuzzled the top of her head with his chin:

"Go to sleep, don't overthink things. Goodnight."

Done.

He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her hair, which smelled of shampoo.

Lee Sung-kyung wanted to say something more.

For example, "Did you put honey on your lips today?"

For example, "Have you done something wrong?"

For example, "Why does this shower gel smell so strong?"

but……

The warmth of his embrace was all too familiar.

His heartbeat was so steady.

His kiss on the top of my head was so gentle.

And that feeling...

Although strong, his scent still reassured her; it was his own unique fragrance, mixed with the freshness of the shower gel. Ultimately, it was like a warm net, gently enveloping all her remaining doubts and wariness.

finally.

Lee Sung-kyung simply snuggled closer to him, finding a more comfortable position, her tense body completely relaxing, letting the heavy sleepiness pull her back into the darkness.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

6 month 6 day.

On the set of "The Producers".

Bae Suzy curled up in a lounge chair, holding her phone, her fingers swiping rapidly across the screen.

The buzz surrounding the seventh episode of "The Producers," which aired last night, hasn't died down.

Cindy has a significant role in this film.

Especially the crying scene at the end—she tearfully recounts her painful childhood memories to Bai Chengcan. Tears fall silently, showing both her stubbornness and vulnerability.

The results were surprisingly good.

Just now, on Naver's real-time search rankings, the keywords "Bae Suzy episode 7" and "Cindy's crying scene" were still at the bottom.

She skillfully switched to an inconspicuous alternate account and clicked into several popular discussion threads.

Suzy's crying scene was absolutely amazing! It broke my heart.

I was worried my idol's acting would be too immersive, but I was proven wrong! Their eyes and micro-expressions are so expressive!

[Instant viewership rating of 18.3%! Actor Bae is phenomenal! This episode's MVP is a shoo-in!]

……

The endless stream of compliments was like a bubbling, ice-cold soda in summer, making her lips curl into an uncontrollable smile.

Bae Suzy liked a few of the most agreeable comments using her alternate account. Her finger hovered over the reply box, wondering whether to send a cute emoji or pretend to be a passerby and chime in with "She really acted well"...

at this time--

"Ding dong!"

A push notification pops up at the top of the phone:

[Special Focus: Kang Jae-hoon Posts New Update]

Almost without thinking.

Her fingertip had already touched it.

The page redirects directly to Kang Jae-hoon's SNS homepage.

The latest update was just posted, updated just seconds ago.

The content is very simple.

Kang Jae-hoon:
[Forwarded] @CJEntertainment:

The first trailer for the film "Veteran" has been released. This is the new film by Ryoo Seung-wan, the director of "Berlin".

Hwang Jung-min and Kang Jae-hoon team up as mentor and student! A desperate chase, sparks flying! A powerful punch delivered in the summer of 2015! #VeteranTrailer#
Video cover:

Under a gloomy sky, Hwang Jung-min, dressed in a police uniform, stands with his back to the camera, facing a towering, oppressive city.

She casually pressed the play button.

A silent black screen.

The next second, a deafening roar of the engine ripped through the silence!

Boom——! !

A silver sports car, a veritable steel beast, crashes through the highway guardrail, tumbling and twisting in slow motion amidst a deluge of glass! The shattered metal reflects a blinding glint, the hood flipped high to reveal its monstrous interior! The camera suddenly zooms in—

in the driver's seat.

Kang Jae-hoon.

That face she knew all too well.

His gold-rimmed glasses sat askew on his nose, revealing a pair of bloodshot, gleaming whites of his eyes beneath the lenses. Yet, a wide grin stretched across his lips, a smile that was utterly unlike anything he'd ever seen—a neurotic, maniacal grin.

The screen is black.

The echo of leather shoes hitting the ground grew stronger.

A voice-over narration begins:
"This country is finished without us."

then.

The rapid cuts and montage create a visually striking effect.
A motorcycle and a sports car engage in a deadly drifting collision on the streets of Myeongdong! Cho Tae-oh's suit is torn and stained with blood, yet he laughs maniacally!
In the narrow alley.

Like an enraged lion, Xu Daozhe threw a punch that whistled through the air as it hurtled towards Zhao Taiwu!

The scene suddenly froze.

Zhao Taiwu's gold-rimmed glasses reflected slightly in the wind from the punch.

His head was tilted slightly to the side.

But the corners of his mouth were turned up.

It evoked a cold, utterly disdainful sneer.

Camera switch.

A dimly lit room filled with an atmosphere of eroticism.

Zhao Taiwu grabbed his female companion's slender neck with one hand, her face streaked with tears and filled with terror.

His body almost completely enveloped her, creating an absolute sense of oppression.

In the other hand.

A syringe that gleams with a cold, metallic sheen.

He deliberately and slowly waved it in front of her.

"like?"

Zhao Taiwu's voice was deep and had a chillingly seductive quality.

He leaned closer, his lips almost touching her trembling earlobe:

"Then prove it to me..."

The voice is soft.

But it was like the whisper of a demon.

The trailer ends abruptly.

black screen.

Explosive captions:
[July 5, 2015: Everyone's a Villain]

The entire trailer is only a minute long.

But the pace is explosive and the amount of information is enormous!
Kang Jae-hoon's subversive villainous role.

A deranged, morbid, arrogant, and violent third-generation chaebol.

That neurotic smile behind the gold-rimmed glasses, the elegant violence during gambling, the maniacal laughter beneath the blood-stained suit, the look in his eyes as if toying with his prey while holding a syringe, the cold laugh as he announced the start of the game while wearing handcuffs…

He is the goofy and silly producer Baek Seung-chan from "The Producers".

Like Nam Jin, the tough-guy singer in "Ode to My Father".

This role is completely different from any other character Kang Jae-hoon has ever played.

The contrast is astonishing, and the impact is explosive!
Bae Suzy's body, which was curled up in the lounge chair, had tensed up without her noticing.

I unconsciously held my breath for a few seconds.

Wow... inhuman acting!

This was the first thought that exploded in her mind.

"Wow……"

A crew member passing by also saw the trailer and couldn't help but let out a short exclamation, a mixture of shock and excitement.

The commotion abruptly pulled Bae Soo-ji back to reality from her shock.

She instantly suppressed the overly obvious "naive and ignorant" expression on her face.

He casually liked Kang Jae-hoon's reposted post.

The page refreshes.

The previously blank comment section suddenly erupted like a volcano.

[Who is this madman criticizing? Is it Kang Jae-hoon?!]

[His laugh scared me to death! It gave me goosebumps! My PD filter shattered completely!!!]

[The trailer is awesome! This character is so charismatic! He's so evil you want to punch him but can't help but want to watch!]

[Oh my god, this Jo Tae-oh... Kang Jae-hoon, what other surprises do you have that I don't know about??? This villain is inhumanly handsome!]

[This contrast is incredible! The goofy PD in "The Producers" transforms into a crazy tycoon in the trailer! July 5th? Definitely on!]

[Incredibly handsome! What kind of acting booster did Kang Jae-hoon take?! This character is so nuanced!]

[Oh my god, the scene where he was choking me was both physically uncomfortable and irresistible! Kang Jae-hoon's acting is phenomenal!]

[So bad it's intoxicating! So handsome it's unbelievable! I'm totally swooning over this crazy third-generation chaebol heir! See you in theaters with a 7.5 rating!]

……

The top comments were all screams and exclamations.

Bae Suzy looked at the comments that were refreshing like crazy.

The words "crazy," "pervertedly handsome," and "excitingly bad" appear frequently.

Watching the person she thought she knew so well, she was struck by the strange, chilling, aggressive, and explosive dark charm that was revealed in this short trailer.

There was silence for a few seconds.

She suddenly logged out of that alternate account.

Switch back to my verified, sparkling blue V account @missA秀智.

[Repost]: Wow... the trailer for "Veteran" is amazing! Kang Jae-hoon oppa is completely different from the PD Baek in "The Producers"! Looking forward to seeing this different kind of "crazy chaebol" in theaters in July! Fighting! (Quoting the "Veteran" trailer link reposted by Kang Jae-hoon) @ActorKangJaeHoon

Click Send.

Almost the instant her status was refreshed.

Comments exploded.

[Suzy actually personally promoted it?!]

[The Producers & Veterans: A Dream Collaboration! The Couple is Locked in!]

[Suzy must have been amazed by Kang Jae-hoon's crazy acting too! Haha!]

……

Almost front and rear feet.

It was like a tacit response.

"Ding dong!"

Her phone vibrated again—

Im Yoon-a: @Actor Kang Jae-hoon: [Retweeted] @CJEntertainment: First trailer released for the movie "Veteran"... //Wow! Jae-hoon's image is completely transformed! His acting is absolutely phenomenal! Looking forward to seeing you in theaters on July 7.5th! Fighting! [Heart][Striving]
(End of this chapter)