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

Chapter 186 The Perfect Strategy for Off-Peak Premiere
The van rolled over the hustle and bustle after the press conference ended and merged into the afternoon traffic.

The car windows blocked out the clamor of voices.

The air conditioner is emitting white mist.

Kang Jae-hoon sank into the leather seat in the back, his chin slightly tilted back.

Use the pad of your index finger to gently pull open the lower eyelid of your right eye.

The plastic bottle neck is hanging down.

A drop of clear medicine fell into dry pupils.

The icy sensation made my eyelids tremble violently.

My vision blurred instantly, a dull, aching sensation spreading through me.

It wasn't the bottle that Lim Yoona gave him two years ago.

But every time the liquid touches the coolness of my eyes, that figure with a faint peach scent will briefly appear in my mind.

of course.

There are many things that remind him of Lim Yoon-ah.

But recently...

Bae Suzy was like a wildly growing tropical vine, entangling his senses and thoughts, bringing a fresh, exciting, and addictive atmosphere that made him quite "unwilling to give in".

Ok……

The same applies to Lee Sung-kyung's side.

Finished dripping.

Kang Jae-hoon closed his eyes, feeling the medicine spread across the surface of his eyeballs, then turned and handed the small bottle to Hwang Jung-min, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him.

"Teacher, would you like some?"

"Row."

Kang Jae-hoon leaned over.

He pried open Hwang Jung-min's slightly droopy eyelids.

The mouth of the medicine bottle is suspended.

Confirm that the other person's eyeballs no longer tremble due to a conditioned reflex.

The medicine then dripped steadily.

Hwang Jung-min let out a half-sigh of relief.

His eyelids drooped, he tapped his fingers on his knee, and casually asked:

"How are things going between you and the Bible Girl lately?"

His voice was hoarse with a hint of weariness.

"She's filming 'Queen's Flower,' and it's almost finished."

Kang Jae-hoon withdrew his hand and tightened the bottle cap:

"We're working hard to keep up with the schedule, so I've been staying at the hotel on set lately."

Huang Zhengmin hummed in response, and opened his eyelids a crack.

My cloudy pupils reflected the flowing buildings and the steel skeletons of overpasses outside the car window.

"Once filming wraps up, I'll invite her over for dinner."

He paused and added:

"Your teacher's wife was talking about her the other day."

"Oh, I see."

Kang Jae-hoon responded.

The air was quiet for a moment.

The car made a dull "thud" as it drove over the speed bump.

Kang Jae-hoon's Adam's apple bobbed.

The abrupt sentence cuts through the silence:

"teacher."

"Ok?"

"What do you think... about me living separately from the Bible?"

Hwang Jung-min seemed to have been pricked by a needle, and abruptly turned his head:
"in argument?"

Kang Jae-hoon shook his head: "No."

"Sure?"

Hwang Jung-min's voice deepened by three points.

"determine."

Kang Jae-hoon looked up, meeting his gaze directly: "We have a great relationship."

Hwang Jung-min scrutinized his eyes for two seconds, seemingly trying to ascertain the truthfulness of his words.

After a while.

He leaned back against the headrest, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the car window, his fingers tapping lightly on his knee:

"Well, in that case... from a long-term perspective, living separately is a good option."

The saying "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is no joke.

"When two people are together all the time, even breathing the same air, even the best relationship can easily lose its freshness and warmth. Giving each other some space, letting each other catch their breath, and busying themselves with their own things will actually make them appreciate each other more."

What he said is true.

Yet it carries the genuine flavor of more than ten years of hard work and struggle in her marriage with Kim Mi-hye.

If this so-called "model couple" were really forced to live together every day, even Hwang Jung-min himself wouldn't be able to stand it, and Kim Mi-hye would be tired of looking at his old face.

distance.

Sometimes it's both a preservative for relationships and a buffer to prevent thorns from being stabbed in the back.

Kang Jae-hoon seemed to be deep in thought as he digested his master's "words of experience."

After a while.

He then spoke with just the right amount of hesitation:
"Then, teacher, why don't you talk to the Bible about it?"

Hwang Jung-min stopped tapping his fingers, which were resting on his knees, and glanced at him sideways:

"I'll go and tell him?"

"Um……"

Hwang Jung-min let out a half-sounding, ambiguous laugh through his nose:

"You little brat, you've been waiting for me here, haven't you?"

The rearview mirror reflected Kang Jae-hoon's slightly awkward yet apologetic profile:

"Your portion size is different..."

Kang Jae-hoon has indeed been thinking about this for quite a while these past few days.

Jin Dayuan's analysis of the "hidden dangers of co-living" made him feel that living separately was inevitable sooner or later.

The benefits may even outweigh the drawbacks.

But should he go and bring it up with Lee Sung-kyung himself?
Just imagining that girl's cold, sweeping gaze and the dumbbells that might be thrown at me...

He felt a chill on the back of his neck.

It's still safest to let Master and Mistress act as peacemakers.

"Alright, alright!"

Hwang Jung-min waved his hand impatiently:
"Once the Bible section is finished, just have your teacher's wife casually mention it."

"Okay, thanks, teacher."

……

Night falls.

Inside a luxury apartment building.

The entryway light went out with a hiss.

In the darkness, the blue glow of unread messages shone like a UFO, illuminating Kang Jae-hoon's burning knuckles as he unbuttoned his shirt.

Bae Suzy's schedule ended very late, and she returned home exhausted and covered in the dust of the outside world late at night.

Only one floor lamp was turned on in the corner of the living room.

The warm yellow light cut out a small area.

however.

The fatigue was quickly dispelled by another, more intense emotion.

She let out a short, muffled sob.

Her head rested softly against his heaving chest.

Listen to the steady heartbeat there.

She was carried all the way into the master bedroom.

Sink into the soft goose down comforter.

The dim light from the wall lamp outlined the half-lit, half-shadowed profile of the person next to you.

Bae Suzy looked at Kang Jae-hoon, who had just lain down beside her, and asked:

"Oppa, did the press conference go well today?"

"Except when my manager glares at me like a leaf while I'm getting my hair and makeup done..."

Jiang Zai Xun turned his head to the side, his eyelids drooping as he glanced at her fair and delicate body:
"It's all good."

"Staring at you?"

Bae Suzy's voice rose half an octave, carrying a soft, puzzled nasal tone:
"why?"

He didn't speak.

But his index finger was raised.

Apply a light, gentle pressure to the spot where your left carotid artery is pulsating.

The lamplight's shadow just happened to pass over that spot.

Smooth and firm skin.

There was no clue whatsoever.

Bae Suzy's gaze fixed on that one point—

Those are the "little strawberries" I left behind last night when I was aroused!
The lingering languor on his face was instantly replaced by a belated sense of guilt.

She blinked rapidly.

A small tip of her tongue peeked out from between her slightly swollen lips and quickly licked her lower lip.

Like a cat caught red-handed doing something wrong.

He scooted closer.

The arm wrapped around his neck like a snake.

Her soft, sweet-smelling lips gave his tightly pursed lips a quick kiss:
"I'm sorry..."

The breathy sound was sticky and soft, with a hint of pleading moisture.

"I'll apologize to Oppa~"

"That's it?"

Kang Jae-hoon didn't even lift his eyelids, only humming two short syllables from his nose.

Bae Suzy propped herself up.

His eyes shone remarkably bright in the dim light.

The eager tip of the tongue licked the tip of the canine tooth.

"Shall I print another one for you? With symmetrical dots?"

"Don't even think about it."

With a flick of his wrist, Jiang Zai Xun firmly pressed her restless little head into the crook of his neck.

His nose sank into the soft, fragrant swirl of her hair.

Bae Suzy let out a muffled groan.

No more struggling.

Her shoulders arched against his arms.

Find a good angle.

It's quiet now.

The rise and fall of my breath soothed the skin of my chest.

Half a minute later.

Her arch brushed against his calf.

With his eyes still closed, he managed to ask the question:
"Veteran premiere...should I go?"

Jiang Zaixun's fingertips traced the slightly protruding joints of her back, pinching a small piece of delicate flesh:
"I've glanced at your schedule for the past two weeks. Stop making things complicated; it's exhausting just looking at it."

"When you were pressing me down just now..."

Bae Suzy suddenly opened her eyes, her dark pupils gleaming in the darkness:
"Why don't you ever feel sorry for me when I'm tired?"

"……cough."

Jiang Zai Xun choked, and his hand, which was on her lower back, slid down half an inch guiltily.

The brief silence was broken by her chuckle.

Bae Suzy suddenly tightened her arms around his waist.

Her bare legs pressed down on his.

His hot breath sprayed down below his Adam's apple.

"I don't have to go."

The fingers that were resting on Kang Jae-hoon's waist suddenly slid down.

"But on the day of the premiere—"

The tip of my fingernail scraped across the suddenly taut abdominal muscles.

"If half of Yoona's or Lee Sung-kyung's face appears in a news photo..."

Stop one inch above the critical area.

"Kang Jae-hoon..."

The words, spoken with a smile, were clenched between his teeth, making a soft, grinding sound.
"—You're finished."

Kang Jae-hoon's waist and abdomen instantly tensed into a stiff, hard lump.

Muscle tension.

A hot breath suddenly caught in the back of his throat.

"I understand..."

"uh-huh."

The hovering fingertip was finally withdrawn with satisfaction.

Bae Suzy buried her face back in his shoulder.

"sleep."

"..."

The woman in his arms gradually began to breathe slowly and deeply.

The knee pressing on his leg gradually slid off, and the arms wrapped around his waist loosened slightly.

Moonlight filtered through the curtains that weren't fully drawn.

A shadow cuts across the messy floor and the piles of clothes.

Illuminate a sleeping face half-buried in the pillow, completely relaxed, devoid of any aggression.

Kang Jae-hoon listened to the steady breathing in his arms.

My gaze was fixed on the bare, shadowy outline of the ceiling.

The lingering soreness in my lower back is a reminder of the absurdity of not long ago.

in fact.

Kang Jae-hoon's reason for not letting Bae Suzy attend the premiere was indeed partly out of concern for her tired schedule.

But the heavier weight weighing on my heart is Yoona, a card that could explode at any moment.

He dared not gamble on the disastrous scene of the two of them colliding head-on under the barrage of flashing lights and the watchful eyes of the crowd. Just imagining their sharp, confrontational auras, their forced smiles and witty exchanges, how could he possibly find himself caught in the middle?

It's likely to be melted down on the spot.

A chill ran down my spine from the back of my neck.

Ok……

In the days leading up to the premiere, I must make sure to visit Yoona (Lim Yoon-a) to "pay my respects" and lay the groundwork for a safer event.

This thought weighed heavily on the last vestige of clarity, before being completely swallowed by a heavy drowsiness.

……

June 27th.

The photo shoot location on Rodeo Street.

Yoona wore a distressed light-colored denim overall dress with a light pink short-sleeved knit top underneath.

She leaned against the table of the old-fashioned recording equipment.

He rested his chin on his hand.

His other hand rested lightly on the exaggeratedly shaped microphone handle.

Slender, white ankles peek out from under the frayed denim skirt, crossed and stacked.

The flashbulbs engulfed her delicate features for a moment. She turned her head slightly.

A nonchalant smile naturally appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The sound of camera shutters was like a torrential downpour.

The photographer's instructions were mixed into the rhythm:
"Good! Switch hands! Look at the left 45 degrees!"

"..."

This is the scene that Kang Jae-hoon saw when he arrived.

Watching her change her look.

Watching her put on a vintage bomber jacket.

Watching her bite the paper stick of a lollipop.

Like a naive yet contradictory collector.

The flashes of the camera repeatedly captured her in an eternal pose, like something out of a magazine pictorial.

nice.

at last.

The photographer stared at the newly printed photos on the screen, resting his chin on his hand as he examined them closely.

Lim Yoona also walked behind the computer screen.

She leaned slightly forward, her hair falling beside her cheek.

His gaze fell on the footage that had just been taken.

Just now.

Out of the corner of her eye, she inadvertently glanced at an inconspicuous corner of the shed—a figure stood quietly there.

A white T-shirt and dark gray trousers, as refreshing as a summer breeze brushing through the treetops.

She subconsciously curled the corners of her mouth into a smile.

A beautiful dimple spread gently across her cheek.

He then leaned closer to the photographer and whispered a few words.

The photographer smiled and nodded, gesturing for the photographer to proceed.

Only then did Lim Yoona turn around.

With one hand behind her back, she twirled a strand of hair that had just been ruffled by the wind around the fingertips of the other hand.

With light, quick steps.

The hem of her skirt rippled gently in the light.

She walked up to Kang Jae-hoon with a beaming smile:
"How did you come?"

Kang Jae-hoon looked at his reflection in the clear spring in her eyes.

A smile played on his lips.

Almost without thinking:

"I miss him terribly after not seeing him for several days."

Lim Yoona didn't laugh.

Her beautiful chin was slightly raised.

The doe-like eyes blinked behind thick eyelashes.

I looked him up and down.

These days.

Kang Jae-hoon's work announcements are flying everywhere.

Press conference.

Interview.

Radio broadcast.

Media screening.

Even with the continuous operation, a tiny bit of time can be squeezed out to appear here.

It speaks louder than a thousand words.

"Grumpy."

He let out a half-hum through his nose.

Her eyes, though gentle, held a soft, soothing quality.

"Then wait a moment, I'll finish right away."

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon should have acted decisively and efficiently.

Im Yoona then spun around and plunged back into the intense light that devoured everything.

The lights come back on.

The tenderness on her face vanished instantly.

His gaze became focused yet distant once again.

It's like switching between different masks.

Several more fast-paced shoots followed.

"OK! Perfect!"

Staff members stepped forward to assist with dismantling and tidying up the microphones.

She walked briskly towards Kang Jae-hoon again.

As I passed the coat rack, I casually grabbed my canvas bag.

"Follow my car?"

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon didn't say a word.

Follow her out of the shed.

The nanny van was parked quietly in a secluded spot by the side gate.

Im Yoon-ah opened the car door and got in first.

Kang Jae-hoon followed closely behind.

The car door clicked shut.

The cold air enveloped my skin again.

Yoona naturally pulled his hand, which was resting on his knee, into her slightly cool palm, and traced circles on his palm with her fingertips.

The car slid out smoothly.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the tinted car windows, turning into a lukewarm band of light.

"Jae-hoon, 'Veteran' is coming out soon, right?"

Kang Jae-hoon felt the ticklish sensation in his palm and hummed in response.
"Yes, one week later."

Im Yoona's brow furrowed slightly, a very small curve appearing between her eyebrows, as she said regretfully:

"Oh dear, I probably won't be able to attend the premiere..."

The thought that was swirling in Jiang Zaihun's mind was interrupted by this unexpected event, and he blurted out subconsciously:
"why?"

"We're going to promote our pre-release single 'Party' and the timing just happened to clash with it..."

She paused, her fingers resting on his palm:

"My schedule is packed. I'll probably be doing pre-recording and live streaming for several music programs over those few days."

Kang Jae-hoon's several prepared statements hanging in the air—

"There's a scene with explicit content that might make you feel awkward," "The character is too twisted that you might relate to it," "The film is too dark and might not suit your taste"—it hasn't even had time to be properly packaged and presented.

They were gently pushed off the stage by the hand of fate.

It was a strange coincidence.

Seek benevolence and gain benevolence.

The subtle relaxation under the eyes was fleeting, quickly covered by a perfectly timed look of loss.

He turned and gripped Yoona's slightly cool hand tightly:
"It's alright. Getting back to work is important. Business comes first."

Yoona leaned over and gently ruffled his hair in a comforting gesture.
"However, I'll try my best to find the time to go, after all..."

"—This is such an important moment in your life."

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

The thought of "please don't come" was screaming wildly in my mind.

He grasped her wrist as she rubbed her hair, enveloping it in his palm, his gaze falling on their intertwined fingers:

"unimportant."

"The truly important moment of my life..."

My gaze lifted, meeting the deep stillness in her eyes:
"...I'm with you."

"..."

Lim Yoona paused for two seconds.

Then, in a fit of rage, she pinched a small piece of skin on his right cheek and twisted it gently!
Her doe-like eyes narrowed dangerously, and she leaned closer with a half-smile:

"Who did you learn it from?"

Warm breath sprayed onto his pinched skin:
"Hmm? Who have you been hanging out with lately? Who's made you so glib-tongued?"

Kang Jae-hoon's cheeks were being pinched, making his speech a little slurred:
“...Park Hyung-sik.”

Park Hyung-sik?

Im Yoona searched her memory for a moment, then, without loosening her grip, pinched that little bit of flesh and shook it slightly. Her delicate nose wrinkled, giving a warning look:
"Don't hang out with him anymore! He's obviously a good-for-nothing!"

She gave her assessment decisively:
"I'll corrupt you again!"

Despite the burning pain on half of his cheek, Kang Jae-hoon lowered his eyelashes and forced out a soft, nasal sound from his throat:

"……Um."

In his heart, however, he silently lit a row of candles for Park Hyung-sik, who was far away: Brother, I'm sorry.

Im Yoona seemed satisfied. She released the reddened skin from her pinch, crossed her arms, and leaned back in her chair with a leisurely air.
So, do you want me to go?

"That's certainly something to hope for..."

His gaze fell on her face, which still showed signs of fatigue from not removing her makeup, and he smoothly changed the subject:
"But more than anything, I hope you get some rest."

"After all—if two people are truly in love, why should they be together every day and night?"

"Yo?"

When Lim Yoona heard this sentence, her eyes lit up instantly:
"Who said this?"

Jiang Zai Xun breathed a slight sigh of relief and explained:

"Written by a poet from the Song Dynasty in China. It borrows from the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl... It means that true lovers do not need to be together all the time; the most precious feelings are those that can withstand the test of time."

Lim Yoona remained silent for a few seconds.

The light in those doe-like eyes shimmered gently.

A very shallow dimple appeared at the corner of her lips as she softly repeated:
"If love between two people is meant to last, why should they be together every day and night..."

The sound was as soft as a sigh.

immediately.

She suppressed her smile, feigning a fierce expression, and tapped Kang Jae-hoon's nose with her finger.

Whether I go to the premiere or not depends on my mood! But you're not allowed to ignore my calls then!

Kang Jae-hoon readily accepted good advice:
"it is good."

The premiere alarm.

It seems like at this moment.

It was quietly resolved by this poem that has transcended a thousand years.

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.

July 5th.

The summer night was sweltering, with the heat rising in the air.

Entrance to the CGV cinema in Myeongdong.

The forest of light, constructed from long guns and short cannons, stretches to the horizon.

The crimson carpet, like a river woven from flames, carries wave after wave of sweeping starlight.

Director Ryoo Seung-wan's influence is indeed substantial.

At the end of the red carpet.

Shadows of people were everywhere.

Many big names who were not on the invitation list showed up uninvited to support the film.

It was said to be the premiere of "Veteran".

Its star power is already approaching that of the year-end awards ceremony.

On the dazzling red carpet.

Kang Jae-hoon, dressed in a suit and tie, was surrounded by flashing lights.

smile.

Please cooperate with the photo shoot.

The iconic blue promotional poster for "Veteran" flamboyantly adorns the backdrop.

The poster features Jo Tae-oh's sinister yet arrogant face, which contrasts strangely with Kang Jae-hoon's gentle and refined smile in real life.

however.

My heart was not without turmoil.

Neither Lim Yoona nor Bae Suzy came—

One was locked into a comeback promotional schedule, while the other believed him and didn't force him.

Cha Tae-hyun and his group did arrive; the several tall, long-legged men gathered by a pillar not far away, forming an eye-catching scene. Jo In-sung tilted his head, seemingly listening to Cha Tae-hyun say something, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The red carpet event has ended.

Crowds surged into the inner lobby.

The photo area in front of the brand wall was still crowded with people.

Media freedom of interviews begins.

Cha Tae-hyun and the others clearly had no interest in riding that wave of popularity.

They came here to support their own brothers.

The group found a relatively quiet corner and formed their own little circle.

"How's it going? Are you nervous?"

"Zhao Yincheng asked with a smile."

Kang Jae-hoon shrugged: "We've already filmed, there's no use being nervous now."

The group chatted quietly for a few moments.

Cha Tae-hyun nudged Kang Jae-hoon's arm with his elbow:
"You and that Bae Suzy..."

The profound meaning of the blank space.

Eyes squinted, a gossip-like glint in them:
"...Is it true or false?"

A familiar soul-searching question.

Kang Jae-hoon practically recited the standard answer from muscle memory:
"normal friend."

"cut!"

Cha Tae-hyun chuckled, his eyes almost rolling back to the sky:
"You don't even tell the truth to your brothers? You were exchanging glances with them during filming, do you think they're blind?!"

"Okay, bro! Let me kiss you... and I'll tell you the truth."

"Come!"

Cha Tae-hyun's thick lower lip popped forward with a "pop"!
joke.

Cha Tae-hyun has experienced everything.

His spitting gesture after filming a kissing scene was just a staged performance for the behind-the-scenes footage.

"Wow!"

Kang Jae-hoon was visibly panicked.

"puff!"

See this.

Even the usually composed Zhao Yincheng instantly broke down in laughter.

Several actors who heard the commotion couldn't help but laugh when they saw Cha Tae-hyun pouting and "rushing" forward, while Kang Jae-hoon was so frightened that he hid behind Jo In-sung.

"..."

There was a lot of noise for a while.

The group shoved each other as they followed the flow of people toward the entrance to the screening room.

The poster for "Veteran" gleamed under the lights.

Zhao Taiwu's cold, sinister eyes indifferently surveyed this final, noisy interlude in the hall.

soon.

The lights gradually dimmed.

The premiere begins.

(End of this chapter)