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

Chapter 193 The Cat's Shock
Wednesday afternoon.

Hannan Cave.

W Korea Studio.

The cold, industrial-style space was bathed in a stark white light by a giant softbox. The powerful whirring of the blower, the rustling of the camera assistant adjusting the reflectors, and the rapid, swaying shadows of people moving about on the screen all blended together.

Makeup area.

Kang Jae-hoon was sitting upright with his eyes closed.

Facing a bright, wraparound makeup mirror.

The table in front of the mirror was piled with all kinds of brushes and cream tubes.

The male makeup artist who served him, with long, slightly wavy hair and an elegant, artistic air about him, was called "Sister Bella" by Lee Sung-kyung.

At this moment, he was concentrating intently on his small concealer brush, dipping it in a specially blended concealer and slowly moving it along the slight shadow line under his eyes.

Kang Jae-hoon was actually a little apprehensive.

He'd seen far too many fashion magazine shoots where male celebrities' looks were a disaster: exaggerated eyeliner, deathly pale foundation, or being dragged into some androgynous avant-garde shoot...

What if this "Bella sister" suddenly has a flash of inspiration and gives him a feminine smoky eye look, or pulls out some glittery eyeshadow or fluorescent lipstick...

Just as his mind was wandering, pondering how to politely decline "G-Dragon-style fashion"—

"All right."

Kang Jae-hoon's eyelids trembled slightly.

With the feeling of going to war, I slowly opened my eyes.

—The base makeup has a matte finish that matches the skin tone, focusing on concealing minor shadows and imperfections under the brow bone, making the overall facial contours sharper and more prominent.

The sword-like eyebrows were only lightly brushed with a very thin layer of brown eyebrow powder to create a natural, feathery effect, with each hair clearly defined, exuding a heroic spirit.

Eye makeup... almost none.

She used only a very small amount of dark brown eyeshadow to lightly blend along the lash line and the outer corner of the eye, deepening the deep and cool undertones of her eyes.

The focus is entirely on depicting the skeletal outline.

The shadow that naturally extends below the cheekbone is slightly deepened, and the angles of the jawline are enhanced with contour powder, making the whole face look exceptionally clean and sharp.

It's as if she wasn't wearing makeup.

Instead, after carefully washing away the dust, the sharp and wild beauty of the bone structure itself is revealed.

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon pursed his lips.

Have to admit.

I realized I had indeed underestimated people.

This uniquely charismatic "older sister" is truly something special!

As expected of a man... well, let's just say he has a male body, he clearly understands better how to showcase and amplify the tension in a man's bones and blood.

"Should a suit feel restrictive or allow for breathing freedom?"

The stylist assistant came over with two outfits to ask for instructions.

"Sister Bella" gestured with her delicate fingers and said, "Give him a V-neck."

A black silk shirt was thrown over.

After Kang Jae-hoon changed into it, he discovered—

The neckline was cut just two fingers below the collarbone, the faint outline of the chest muscles partially concealed by the fabric. The sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, revealing the bulging veins on the forearms when they were taut.

"A man's sexiness is never about how much skin he shows."

"Sister Bella" pinched the powder puff and made final adjustments to the shadow on the side of his neck:

"How much room for imagination should be left?"

……

When Kang Jae-hoon appeared in the studio, the photographers who were adjusting the camera settings instinctively exclaimed "Wow!" followed by incredibly straightforward comments:

"A man looking like this...it's too unfair!!"

Both being men, they immediately praised him as handsome.

That was definitely not just polite talk.

Kang Jae-hoon's lips twitched slightly upwards, then quickly disappeared. Lee Sung-kyung had said that in these situations, one should be thick-skinned but suppress one's emotions.

The photographer immediately got to work:
"Come on, let's proceed according to the initial plan!"

"Sit on that high chair, with your left foot on the crossbar and your left hand naturally resting on your knee."

After Jiang Zaixun sat down as instructed.

The photographer immediately knelt down, his large, telephoto lens locked onto him:

"Look at the camera, give me some pressure in your eyes... not fierce, but the kind of scrutinizing gaze that can penetrate to the heart! Yes, that's it!"

The rapid clicking of the shutter, like a sudden downpour, struck the reflector with a crisp echo.

Light and shadow flow.

Kang Jae-hoon quickly got into character as well.

The complex layers of emotion that belong to an actor began to flow in his eyes.

A cold, scrutinizing gaze, carrying the air of someone looking down from a superior position, pierces the camera.

There was no deliberately forced curve at the corners of her mouth.

It was simply a natural, subtle curve that formed as the facial nerves moved, exuding an air of effortless ease.

The photographer cheered wildly as he took the pictures:

"Perfect!! Yes! That's the spirit!"

"Turn your head! Look at the ground to your lower left! Imagine that's your prey... Yes! A touch of playful hunting!"

"A hat! Give me a wide-brimmed hat!"

The assistant immediately handed him a light brown Panama hat.

Kang Jae-hoon put it on as instructed.

The shadow of the hat brim fell perfectly on the upper half of his face, drawing sharp, razor-sharp lines from his nose to his jawline in the slanted light.

The interplay of light and shadow on his face created the most intense dramatic tension.

"Oh, God……"

The photographer was muttering to himself.

His hands kept moving.

He pressed the shutter almost at the rhythm of machine gun fire.

"The last set of movements."

The photographer shouted:
"Stand naturally apart, slightly wider than shoulder-width."

"Right hand!"

He nodded to his assistant.

The assistant jogged over and handed over another jacket.

"Just drape it over your right shoulder! Just wear it! Yes! Don't wear it!"

A heavy, dark camel cashmere coat was casually draped over Kang Jae-hoon's broad right shoulder.

"Put your left hand in your pocket, deeper!"

"Lower your head slightly, and let your chin lean towards me!"

Kang Jae-hoon adjusted his posture as instructed.

The Carrera watch on his wrist gleamed with a cold metallic luster under the spotlight, and the light spots reflected from the dial fell precisely at the focal point of the lens, creating a subtle tension with the bulging veins on the back of his hand.

"Perfect!"

The photographer excitedly pressed the shutter one last time: "This is the feeling!"

The image freezes on the sharp edge hidden in the man's lowered brows, creating a perfect balance with the understated elegance on his wrists. The cashmere coat's almost-fallen curve is reminiscent of an animal hide loosely draped over the shoulders before a hunt.

When the announcement signaled the end of filming, the staff in the studio all breathed a sigh of relief. Kang Jae-hoon stretched his stiff shoulders and neck, took a sip of water from the water his assistant offered.

The rest of the interview proceeded in a relaxed and casual manner.

When asked which look he liked best, Kang Jae-hoon pointed to the final set of photos:
"Doesn't he look like a third-generation chaebol heir who's just done something bad and is about to run away?"

This caused a burst of laughter.

The interview has ended.

Kang Jae-hoon walked to his bag and took out a stack of sealed white envelopes.

"Thanks for your hard work!"

"Just a little coffee money, a small token of my appreciation."

From the photographer to Bella, and then to every person adjusting the lighting, holding up the reflectors, and even that intern who just ran around handing out water...

Everyone received one; no one went empty-handed.

The person who received the envelope was first taken aback, then flattered, and opened it to find—

10 Korean won.

The money wasn't a huge sum.

But this meticulous care and courtesy were like a warm winter sun on the hierarchical and tiring filming set.

"Kang Jae-hoon is really..."

"Thank you!"

One after another, people expressed their gratitude.

An artist who is incredibly handsome, extremely dedicated and easy to communicate with during filming, and considerate of the hard work of the lower-level staff after filming is simply a rare and protected species!
Everyone's smiles became much more genuine, and their goodwill towards him unconsciously increased even further.

……

When we turned into the adjacent photography studio, Lee Sung-kyung was wearing an oversized black suit jacket, and the way she went braless made her collarbone hollowed out with shadows.

She stood with one hand in her pocket against a pure white background, her cold expression and disdainful look at the camera making her resemble a glamorous female demon straight out of Gotham Club, a stark contrast to her usual lazy, homely, or coquettish demeanor.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the door frame and admired the view for a while.

He thought to himself that he would make her keep this begging expression on her face tonight.

"Perfect!"

Lee Sung-kyung instantly relaxed, only to turn her head and meet her boyfriend's meaningful gaze. She raised an eyebrow and mouthed silently, "What are you looking at?"

Kang Jae-hoon smiled and waved the remaining envelope in his hand.

Then the next scene was repeated—Lee Sung-kyung watched helplessly as this spendthrift gave away another two million.

On the way back in the van, she finally couldn't help but complain:

"You think you're Santa Claus?"

Kang Jae-hoon played with her slender fingers:

"It's worth spending money to buy a good reputation."

Lee Sung-kyung gave a soft snort, but did not pull her hand away.

During the "repaying kindness" segment that evening, Kang Jae-hoon indeed got his wish and saw the same cold face he had in the magazine shoot—although he couldn't maintain it for more than three seconds before it crumbled.

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.

Time was pulverized into thin slices by the dense schedule of announcements.

Just a few days.

Kang Jae-hoon's figure disappeared into different sets, resulting in seven brand-new endorsement contracts:

The product categories cover all aspects of personal image (suits) to quality of life (LG refrigerators) and national brand awareness (promotion of Asiana Airlines business class).

This barrage of endorsements, on the surface, is Kim Dae-won's operation to capitalize on the lingering popularity of "Veteran" and the commercial trust brought by "Kang Jae-hoon's 24-hour golden rule," but behind it lies Kang Jae-hoon's own calculations.

This approach avoids both excessive endorsements that lower the brand's image and a sufficiently broad audience reach to maintain the commercial buzz surrounding the "monster rookie."

The cost of a single advertisement varies.

However, its positioning is consistently targeted at the emerging middle class who pursue a high-quality lifestyle.

Total revenue was set at 1.5 billion Korean won.

Funds are arriving in the account one after another.

After deducting withholding tax, the portion taken by the brokerage firm SEM Company according to the contract, and Jin Dayuan's commission.

finally.

Approximately 500 million won will end up in Kang Jae-hoon's personal account.

Actually, this tax burden ratio is quite "friendly" among South Korean celebrities.

It wasn't that Kang Jae-hoon exploited any legal loopholes.

Instead, it made reasonable use of the officially permitted donation tax credit policy—charitable donations certified by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism can be deducted up to 30% of taxable income.

Kang Jae-hoon used the 100 million won he donated to the "Seongnam City Anti-Bullying Special Fund" to directly offset approximately 30 million won in taxes due.

The money was spent wisely, and the tax savings went into our pockets.

The net revenue from the advertising flows into the designated account like a trickle.

Mobile banking updated.

Adding the final payments from the previous endorsements, the numbers flashing in the center of the screen finally stopped:
1.38765 billion won.

……

late at night.

Seongsu-dong Apartment.

The desk lamp cast a warm glow.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned back in his chair.

His gaze was fixed on the string of numbers on the screen that offered a slight sense of reassurance, but his mind kept replaying the things Jin Dayuan had been intentionally or unintentionally saying in his ear these past few days:

“Jae-hoon, even the largest bank account can't withstand a constant outflow of funds…”

"The all-rental housing project... needs to be put on the agenda." "..."

Jiang Zai Xun pondered for a moment.

indeed.

—The future interpersonal relationships on Chungmuro ​​Road, the interactions with Seongnam City officials, and the "friendship" with those three eyeing it covetously—behind these challenges, perhaps, lies a degree of "sincerity" that needs to be prepared…

There will only be more places to spend money.

Relying solely on acting fees and previous endorsement fees is simply not enough to make ends meet.

Just as Kang Jae-hoon made up his mind to send a message to Im Yoon-ah, the door to the second bedroom was pushed open a crack.

Lee Sung-kyung, who had just taken a shower, stood barefoot at the door.

"Still not sleeping yet?"

Upon hearing this, Kang Jae-hoon's gaze shifted from the cold screen to the warm, jade-like silhouette by the door.

A faint lavender scent filled the air.

"Sleep."

He stood up.

Fingers deftly swipe across the phone screen.

Shut down.

I walked over in a few steps.

His arm naturally wrapped around her supple, warm waist, and his chin affectionately rubbed against the soft top of her hair.

"Did you dry your hair? Be careful not to catch a cold..."

"It's been wiped off..."

"Let me check... Don't move."

A few short, weak hums escaped from Lee Sung-kyung's throat.

"Kang Jae-hoon..."

"Ok?"

"...Where are you touching?"

"It's just a medical check-up..."

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.

Late the night after tomorrow.

Cheongdam-dong.

Yoona's private residence.

In the center of the living room.

The oval white marble coffee table, smooth as a mirror, reflected the silhouettes of the several figures sitting around it.

Dark brown folders were lined up at the top.

Kang Jae-hoon sat next to Lim Yoon-ah, holding a calico cat, while Kim Dae-won sat opposite them, and lawyer Ji-hyun sat to their side.

The meeting began with Zhixian's calm explanation.

“Kang Jae-hoon and Im Yoon-ah each contributed 1 billion won, totaling 2 billion won, as the registered capital of the holding company.”

"Sign the Shareholding Agreement, the Nominee Legal Person Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement."

"It is clear that Ms. Lin Runzhen is only a nominal shareholder and representative director, and the actual rights belong to Kang Jae-hoon and Lim Yoon-ah."

Lin Runzhen.

Yoona's older sister.

A reliable and sufficiently low-profile nominee shareholder who remains out of the public eye.

To mitigate the risks associated with nominee shareholding, Yoona has purchased high-value corporate liability insurance for her.

"The holding company will inject 20 billion won into the real estate company, taking a 90% stake. The remaining 10% will go directly to Kim Dae-won. As the representative director holding 10% of the shares, Kim Dae-won will be responsible for daily operations."

Equity isn't something you get for free.

The agreement includes stringent terms binding employees to their positions—if Jin Dayuan leaves, the shares will be automatically repurchased at net asset value. Employees can enjoy dividend rights and capital appreciation rights, but control remains firmly locked in the hands of the holding company.

"Finally, the holding company has absolute decision-making power over the real estate company, including core matters such as financial approval, housing acquisition standards, and the upper limit of the decoration budget. Jin Dayuan can decide which decoration team to use and which real estate agency to cooperate with, but the quarterly fund transfer must be approved by the holding company."

"If there are no objections, the contract shall take effect immediately upon signing."

"..."

The dual-layer structure and nominee shareholding completely erased any trace of Kang Jae-hoon and Im Yoon-ah, making it impossible for even the most seasoned journalists to uncover any connection. The holding company's 90% stake, coupled with the absolute control clause in the articles of association, ensured that ultimate control would never fall into other hands.

As for that 10% stake, it's like a golden apple tied to the bow of the ship.

It is both a driving force and a source of power.

It is also a rein.

Let Kim Dae-won work hard for his own business, instead of working for someone else.

Once you sign it...

From this night forward, he is no longer just a real estate agent, but a representative of a multi-billion dollar real estate company. But at the same time, he is also bound by invisible shackles.

……

The only sounds in the living room were the rustling of papers and the scratching of pens across the paper.

The light shone on the three people's fingers, leaving striking red marks after they were dipped in ink.

After each page in the folder was signed, Attorney Zhixian carefully picked it up with tweezers, checked it, and folded it.

"All documents are legally binding once signed."

Attorney Zhixian closed the last contract folder, the crisp click echoing clearly in the quiet room. Her cool gaze swept across the room.
"Congratulations."

"I'll leave the future business to Representative Kim."

Yoona placed her hands clasped on her knees, a polite smile playing on her lips. The light cast soft shadows on her delicate collarbones.

Jin Dayuan rubbed the ink on his fingertips, a rare hint of self-satisfaction appearing on his face:
"I won't let you two down."

Jiang Zai Xun absently scratched the chin of the calico cat in his arms with his fingertips, his gaze lingering for a moment on Jin Dae Won's face, which clearly showed a hint of excitement, as he thought of a practical problem:
“Since Brother Da Yuan… uh, Representative Jin has some extra business to attend to right now, shouldn’t I consider hiring a new agent?”

"No."

Im Yoona blurted out her rejection.

Seeing everyone's attention focused on her, she calmly picked up her water glass and took a sip.
“It will be busy in the early stages of a project, but once the operation is on track, there won’t be as many things that he needs to do personally. Besides, the role of an agent is limited during the actor’s time on set.”

"It's nothing more than contacting you about follow-up arrangements or handling some unexpected situations before or after you finish filming."

Are you kidding me?
Should we let Kim Dae-won, this important informant, leave Kang Jae-hoon's core team?

Absolutely impossible!

The fundamental driving force behind the rapid establishment of the shared housing project was that Lim Yoona continuously received updates from Lee Sung-kyung and Bae Suzy through Kim Dae-won.

One who paved his way to officialdom through connections in political circles.

One uses fashion to connect with business resources.

The two exerted a significant influence on Kang Jae-hoon's business empire.

Her carefully planned strategy of "career ties + resource support" was temporarily put on hold due to her busy comeback period.

This is a long time.

Two other little devils beat them to it!
How can I bear this?
"certainly……"

Yoona changed the subject, softening her tone:

"If you really care about how hard Mr. Jin works and are worried that he might be overwhelmed... you could hire a personal assistant to help him with some of the basic tasks."

"..."

Personal assistant?

Kang Jae-hoon frowned slightly.

Personal assistant, as the name suggests.

They are responsible for the artists' daily lives, travel arrangements, outfit reminders, script readings, makeup and styling coordination, and even... handling some more private matters.

Looking for a male assistant?
Living together day and night presents many inconveniences.

It just feels awkward.

Looking to hire a female assistant?
That would be even more awkward...

After all, it involves helping with tidying up the house and even preparing changes of clothes, including but not limited to underwear. Even Bae Suzy wouldn't agree to something like that, let alone Lee Sung-kyung…

Just imagining the potential chain reaction it might trigger was enough to send chills down his spine.

In his arms.

The little princess seemed to sense his muscles tensing instantly and meowed in dissatisfaction.

Kang Jae-hoon snapped out of his daze, gently patted the cat's back to comfort it, and forced a conciliatory smile onto his face:
"Well...we'll talk about it later."

Hear the words.

Yoona's smile deepened, her eyes sweeping across the room with a beaming gaze.

"How about we have a drink to celebrate such an important historical moment?"

As shrewd as Jin Dayuan was, he instantly deciphered the code, raised his hand to check his watch, and deliberately exaggerated the gesture:
"Hey! It's almost midnight. We still need to submit those company registration documents early, so let's skip tonight and drink on the day the company is officially listed!"

talking.

His foot subtly tapped the tip of Ji-hyun's shoe under the table.

Zhixian immediately understood and put the organized contracts into her briefcase:

"I really can't drink. I need to prepare materials for the preparatory meeting for the defamation case of Xunxi tomorrow. The case is important."

The two sang together.

They were so in sync, it was like they had rehearsed together.

Zhixian picked up her briefcase.

Jin Dayuan also got up.

Seeing this, Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously propped himself up on his knees, preparing to get up:

"I also……"

"Ok?"

One look from Lim Yoona and Kang Jae-hoon was instantly frozen in place.

"...Then...let's have a drink."

Kim Dae-won and Ji-hyun exchanged a glance.

A decisive retreat was made.

The door lock clicked softly, shutting out all outside noise.

Im Yoona took a bottle of Bordeaux red wine from the wine cabinet, elegantly poured half a glass for each of them, and gently pushed the bottom of the glass with her fingertips to present it to Kang Jae-hoon:
"To honor our cause?"

The glass clattered together with a crisp sound.

After a few drinks.

Alcohol eased the conversation, and Lim Yoona talked about Girls' Generation's upcoming album "Lion Heart," while Kang Jae-hoon shared anecdotes from the promotional tour for "Veteran."

When she finished her third glass, she slid towards the sofa armrest as if by accident.

There.

A small, rectangular, metallic remote control lies quietly.

The lights went out silently.

Sudden visual blindness.

Only the fragmented, blurry remnants of the city light shone through the distant floor-to-ceiling windows.

Darkness embraced us like a tidal wave.

"The lamp is broken?"

Kang Jae-hoon's voice sounded particularly deep in the darkness.

"Just right."

Yoona's light laughter carried the rich aroma of wine.

"...What do you mean, just right?"

Actually, it's come to this point.

The slight intoxication in Kang Jae-hoon's chest had long been roused by his pounding heartbeat.

A faint rustling sound came from the leather sofa.

Her peach-scented fingertips brushed against his cheek, his warm breath mingling with the sweetness of red wine:
"Are you nervous?"

"without……"

The final sound was sealed off by soft lips and tongue.

Yoona straddled the sofa armrest with her long legs and sat astride his open arms. A crystal glass rolled off the coffee table and bounced dully on the wool carpet.

The frequency of respiratory exchange suddenly increased.

The rustling of fabric rubbing together with the wet sounds of kissing were jarringly clear.

……

Next to the floor lamp.

The calico cat, which had been curled up, suddenly perked up its ears, tilted its fluffy head, and stared blankly into the depths of the sofa.

The leather surface of the sofa creaked and swayed slightly.

It doesn't understand.

Just moments ago, these two-legged creatures were sitting properly, each raising their glasses.

Why did the lights go out?

They just strangely ended up stacked together?
(End of this chapter)