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

Chapter 195 I'm filming, I'm shipping (fans of romantic movies), and I'm getting checked up on.

For several days.

Kang Jae-hoon's schedule is packed with filming notices for his role as "Seo Dae-young".

Initially, he thought that such a intensive work schedule would leave him exhausted and unable to get enough sleep.

However, after several days of actual filming, it turned out that this was not the case.

"Descendants of the Sun" adopted a "film first, broadcast later" model, so all actors had to complete their scenes in South Korea before moving to the Greek location for filming.

This leads to a reality—

The character of Xu Da Rong already had limited screen time in the first four episodes of the original script. During the current phase of filming, which focuses on the Seoul scenes, his appearances have been further reduced.

……

Nowadays.

The scenes to be filmed are the prelude to the emotional storyline between Xu Darong and Yin Mingzhu:

Xu Darong won a championship in a military competition and was finally granted a short vacation.

His purpose in taking the vacation was to attend his ex-girlfriend's wedding.

Yoon Myung-joo used the promise of "making a scene at his wedding" as a bargaining chip, and Seo Dae-young confessed to Yoo Si-jin that he was her boyfriend.

"Action!"

The camera first focuses on the rearview mirror.

The image shows Kim Ji-won, who plays Yoon Myung-joo, neatly taking off her military uniform in the back row, revealing a soft white dress underneath.

Then switch to the driver's seat.

Kang Jae-hoon, who plays Seo Dae-young, rests his fingers lightly on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, his back straight as if nailed to the back of the seat, staring straight ahead without looking to the side.

"I heard that the son-in-law my dad approves of is coming here to be a squad leader," Kim Ji-won's voice came from the back seat with a hint of deliberate casualness. "I think his name is... Yoo Si-jin?"

“He’s been here for two days now.” Kang Jae-hoon’s voice was flat.

"It came really quickly..."

Kim Ji-won let out a soft snort and muttered:
"Anyway, you can just tell that person that you're dating me."

Kang Jae-hoon's brow twitched slightly.
"What is the reason why Lieutenant Yoon Myung-joo... dislikes Yoo Si-jin?"

Kim Ji-won immediately gave a disgusted look, as if she had bitten into a bitter lemon, her features scrunching up:
"His looks just don't suit my taste, he's a total pretty boy!"

This "official吐槽" (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or witty remarks) carries Kim Ji-won's unique, unthinking frankness and precisely hits Kang Jae-hoon's funny bone.

He quickly bit down on the soft flesh inside his mouth, using a subtle twitch of his cheek muscles to suppress the upward curve of his lips.

A rustling sound approached from the back seat.

Kim Ji-won has quickly changed her clothes.

Her fair fingers gripped the delicate straps of her high-heeled sandals, and her supple body nimbly slipped into the passenger seat through the gap between the front seats like a snake.

A faint breeze carried the sweet scent of soapberry emanating from her body, brushing past the tip of her nose.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze swept over her smooth calves without making a sound.

Ok……

"Are you satisfied with my combat outfit? Once I put on those high heels, I'll definitely look more beautiful than a bride."

After settling into her seat, Kim Ji-won turned slightly to the side, her fingertips lightly touching her white dress. Her slightly wavy long hair cascaded down her chest, creating soft waves.

half an hour.

A rigid, even stilted, response rang out in the enclosed carriage:
"So, is your OOTD today a Virgo ghost story?"

"..."

No, that's not it~

Kim Ji-won tried to deepen the curve of her upturned lips, her hands obediently forming fluttering "little wings" beside her cheeks, her voice so sweet it could drip honey:
"She's an angel~"

According to the script.

At this moment, Xu Darong should look at her for three seconds with a blank expression, as if she were a lunatic.

Then Yoon Myung-joo herself couldn't stand the incredibly awkward "angelic halo," her smile gradually faded, and she awkwardly changed the subject, saying, "Let's drive."

but……

A sudden, violent cough came from the driver's seat, as if someone had choked on a puff of smoke.

"Cough cough cough...cough!"

Kang Jae-hoon hunched over, and the tremors from his cough made the entire prop truck seem to shake.

"Crack!"

Director Li Yingfu frowned and peered over from behind the monitor.

"Zai Xun? What's wrong?"

He struggled to raise one hand and wave it, his voice muffled by the cough tearing at his throat:
"I...cough...sorry...Director! Cough cough...I choked on...I was...choked by saliva..."

Just a moment ago, Kim Ji-won was still immersed in the intense shame brought about by the "angel's hard struggle".

now.

Looking at the figure beside me coughing so hard that he was dizzy, his eyes red and swollen, my shame instantly vanished, replaced by astonishment and worry.

She subconsciously reached out and, with slight hesitation, gently patted Kang Jae-hoon's violently heaving back. Through the fabric of his costume, she could clearly feel the muscle spasms caused by his coughing.

"Are you OK?"

Kang Jae-hoon "barely" suppressed the urge to cough, turned his head, and cast a weak but apologetic look at Kim Ji-won:
"Cough...no, it's nothing. I choked too suddenly, sorry to have kept everyone waiting..."

Kim Ji-won saw that his face was red from coughing, and it didn't seem fake, so she waved her hands repeatedly:
"It's okay, it's okay. It's normal to have to do retakes due to unexpected situations while filming."

Kang Jae-hoon lowered his eyes to hide his triumphant smile.

Just understand.

then--

the second time……

the third time……

the fourth time……

the fifth time……

When Kim Ji-won gestured with her wings for the sixth time, even the last syllable of "angel" was tinged with trembling shame and indignation, she finally met Kang Jae-hoon's undisguised mocking gaze.

hum!
Blood rushed to my head.

"You did this on purpose?!" she uttered through clenched teeth.

"Yes."

Kang Jae-hoon met her fiery gaze with composure: "Should I praise my acting skills, or is it your slow reaction time?"

Kim Ji-won's clenched fists trembled on the hem of her skirt.

If she does one more NG, she'll have to perform an angel self-immolation on the spot!

That acting monster bastard!

They can't distinguish between reality and fiction.

They cannot distinguish between humans and animals.

But there's just nothing I can do about him!

If another mistake is made, do you have to grit your teeth and continue this awkward scene, repeatedly "punishing" yourself?
His chest heaved violently.

A few seconds later, her shoulders slumped down as if she had deflated completely.

“...State your conditions.”

Kang Jae-hoon held up two fingers and slowly waved them in front of her eyes:
1. Apologize to me. 2. No retaliation allowed.

Kim Ji-won stared intently at those two swaying fingers that looked like the claws of a lucky cat, wishing she could bite them off!
finally.

She closed her eyes and resignedly apologized:
"...I'm sorry...I shouldn't have told Lee Kwang-soo oppa..."

Kang Jae-hoon then lowered his hand with satisfaction and gave the director an OK sign.
"Director, sorry! We can start now!"

Kim Ji-won took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and silently repeated "I am a professional actress" ten times in her mind.

When you open your eyes again.

Her angelic smile returned to her face.

Kang Jae-hoon, however, was not deliberately trying to cause trouble.

It perfectly captures Xu Darong's aloof and indifferent attitude, as if he were unmoved by any tricks he might try.

"...Cut! Pass!"

Kang Jae-hoon slowly unbuckled his seatbelt.

Long legs dangled out of the car door.

Before landing, he turned his face slightly to the side, and the corner of his mouth twitched upwards very subtly:
"Angels can't fly anymore?"

Without waiting for her reply, he quickly got out of the car.

The car door slammed shut.

Kim Ji-won was furious.

She angrily pounded the back of the driver's seat twice with her small fists:

"You bastard!"

After relieving anger.

She glared resentfully at the back of the man who was checking the playback with the director.

A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years. A woman's revenge begins tonight!

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.

After this scene was filmed, Kang Jae-hoon's backed-up scenes officially caught up with the crew's filming schedule.

This is the end.

He simply followed the schedule provided by the production crew and filmed on time.

Four p.m.

The heatwave subsided slightly.

Kang Jae-hoon was nestled on a plastic chair in the rest area.

Elbows on his knees, chin tucked into his palms, a barely suppressed smile playing on his lips, his bright eyes following the center of the field—

Song Joong-ki, who plays Yoo Si-jin, and Song Hye-kyo, who plays Kang Mo-yeon, are rehearsing their lines.

His expression was exactly like that of a seasoned viewer who had just enjoyed a romantic drama.

at this time.

A brightly painted support coffee truck slowly rolled through the dust and drove into the heart of the film set.

After coming to a smooth stop.

The sunshade on the roof slowly unfolded with a "whoosh".

Printed on the ceiling—

It was a still from the drama "The Producers" featuring Kang Jae-hoon as Baek Seung-chan, looking adorable and innocent.

The sunlight streamed down.

That youthful face stood out prominently against the backdrop.

The car window rolled down.

It revealed Bae Suzy's pretty smiling face inside.

Her hair was smooth and black, and her eyebrows and eyes were curved.

Like a refreshing breeze suddenly blowing in the summer, it touched Kang Jae-hoon's heart.

stunned for a moment.

He then stood up with a smile and strode towards the food cart.

Bae Suzy has been quite busy lately.

Besides her mountain of daily announcements, her starring role in the period film "Peach Blossom Song" is about to be released, and she should be traveling all over the country promoting it right now.

"Surprise?"

Bae Suzy leaned against the car window, shook her head, and her bangs bounced lively.

"of course."

Jiang Zai Xun had already walked to the car. He naturally reached out and affectionately ruffled her soft hair.

Bae Suzy pointed to the interior of the food cart, which was piled high with coffee cups and snack boxes, and said succinctly:

"Please help me divide the food first."

"okay."

Kang Jae-hoon should have done so decisively.

Roll up your sleeves and instantly transform into the most professional food delivery person.

After a while.

Paper coffee cups printed with "Tint." and delicate pastry boxes were distributed to the staff and actors.

The set was filled with the aroma of coffee and soft murmurs of thanks.

After the food was almost distributed, Bae Suzy grabbed Kang Jae-hoon's wrist and pulled him towards her black van parked a little further away.

The car door opens.

It isolated us from the noise of the film set.

A cool breeze from the air conditioner wafted over them. The two of them went inside.

The car door creates a private little world.

Bae Suzy turned around, her bright eyes looking directly at him, and asked:

"How was this time?"

The seats in the van offer excellent support.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned back relaxedly, his shoulders slightly slumped. His face wore an expression of weariness yet satisfaction, a result of days of filming, and he answered casually:
"pretty good."

"Ok?"

Bae Suzy's delicate eyebrows instantly rose eight degrees, her body leaned slightly forward, and her voice was chilling:

"Does 'Everything's fine' mean... everything's fine even when I'm not around?"

Alarm bells rang in Jiang Zaixun's mind, and he waved his hands repeatedly.

"Ah no no no..."

The will to survive instantly took over, and his face switched to an exaggerated expression of sorrow and longing.

Followed by.

It was a textbook example of an "emergency withdrawal," with the voice deliberately lowered to create a more emotional effect:
"Oh no, I can't sleep tonight because I'm thinking about you."

He secretly glanced at the other person's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

Bae Soo-ji let out a soft hum from her nose, lifted her leg, and lightly stepped on his knee with her slender foot.

Obviously.

They didn't really believe his nonsense about "not being able to sleep because of thinking about it," but they also didn't call him out on it.

He used this brief nasal sound to express his dissatisfaction, and also to soften his stance by saying "you know what's good for you."

Kang Jae-hoon lowered his eyes.

Her ankles were delicately shaped, and her toenails were painted cherry blossom pink.

"What are you looking at?"

The toes ground threateningly.

Kang Jae-hoon grasped her ankle and circled his thumb on the protruding ankle bone:

“Look at how busy our President Pei is, he still has time to check on me.”

Bae Suzy kicked away his fingers that were kneading her ankle, her arch pressing firmly against his chest:
"Can't I check?"

"Check whatever you want..."

"That's pretty much it."

The taut arch of my foot softened.

She suddenly remembered something, her fingers rustling through her small bag until she pulled out her phone with the notification light on.

Light up the screen with your fingertip.

Click to enter the album.

"How about it?"

Bae Suzy waved her phone, her eyes sparkling with undisguised smugness.

Kang Jae-hoon took the small foot in his hand and peered over.

A vibrant poster fills the screen—the official trailer poster for "The Song of Peach and Plum Blossoms".

in the screen.

She was dressed in an elegant hanbok, her black hair was styled in an updo, and a jade hairpin was inserted diagonally into her hair.

With her cheek slightly turned to the side and her eyes lowered, the strings of the gayageum in her arms were half-hidden under her wide sleeves, her fingers as slender as spring onions.

A soft ray of light shone on her cheeks, making her eyes sparkle, as if she were a famous courtesan who had stepped out of a yellowed ancient scroll.

"Like... a peerless courtesan secretly imprisoned in a scroll by some blind painter."

Just as a slight smile of praise appeared on Bae Suzy's lips, she heard—

"Pity……"

Kang Jae-hoon shook his head and sighed seriously:
"This artist's skills are lacking; the courtesan's sash... it looks like it's tied crookedly?"

"?!"

The upturned corners of her mouth froze instantly.

Bae Suzy snatched the phone back and eagerly zoomed in on a section of the poster!
Smooth silk.

A neat square knot.

Where is there even the slightest hint of crookedness?!
"Kang Jae-hoon—!"

She lunged at him and grabbed his neck, but he laughed and pulled her around the waist, pressing her into the leather seat.

After a brief moment of playful banter, the important matter came to mind.

Bae Suzy tidied her hair and clothes, which he had messed up:

"Would you like to try hosting the opening ceremony red carpet and the first day's segments at the Busan International Film Festival in October?"

Busan International Film Festival?
Kang Jae-hoon was slightly taken aback.

A few months ago, the Sewol ferry documentary "The Diving Bell" caused a huge uproar when it was screened at the Busan International Film Festival.

It was welcoming—

It was a strong and clear official resistance, with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism taking decisive action.

The film festival's emergency subsidies were drastically cut, and several long-term heavyweight sponsors quietly withdrew due to unspoken pressure.

A group of film industry leaders, led by Song Kang-ho and Park Chan-wook, issued a joint statement condemning the move as a brutal emasculation of "freedom of artistic expression."

Despite being "censored," the struggle between the arts community and the Conservative Party has not stopped. It has simply taken on a more resolute and dangerous form.

—The absence from this year's celebration, which should have been a grand feast of light and shadow in Asia, left the venue, which should have been glittering with stars, filled with an empty desolation. The glaring silence under the spotlight of all eyes pushed this "battle to defend artistic freedom" to the forefront of the world's attention.

This has made the Busan International Film Festival a hot potato.

The position of the opening ceremony host has abruptly changed from a stage symbolizing the glory of the industry to the eye of the storm, a torch that requires great courage to hold.

Bae Suzy's round, delicate toes were unconsciously being kneaded by Kang Jae-hoon.

Of course, there are risks.

Political stances, retribution, and complex factionalism within the industry...

But isn't this also an opportunity?
Under the global media spotlight, we accept this torch. What burns will not only be the script, but also a gesture, a declaration.

— This signifies that a new generation of "filmmakers" possesses the courage to weather the storms of the industry and the ability to reach even greater heights.

Risks and opportunities.

Like twin venomous snakes coiled together, they possess a deadly allure.

"After this incident..."

Bae Suzy's voice brought him back to reality: "Next year we can co-host the Baeksang Arts Awards."

Having navigated the ups and downs of the entertainment industry for so many years, he's long been well aware of some of the rules.

The media and political parties have never had a relationship of one being dependent on the other.

It's more like a giant, intertwined, and tangled vine net. You use my strength to climb upwards, and I use your shade to find respite. We are intertwined, so tightly bound that we can't distinguish the roots, stems, branches, and leaves; all we see is a symbiotic and thriving green expanse.

The Nikkan Sports newspaper, which organizes the Baeksang Arts Awards, is practically a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party in the cultural industry.

Which movie to choose?
What actor award should be given?

Behind every one of them lies a subtle set of biased rules.

Those "left-wing themes" that sharply question the dark side of society and profoundly depict the struggles of the lower classes tend to have a higher chance of winning awards in the fierce competition.

Bae Suzy's words were incisive and to the point; the meaning couldn't be clearer:

As the host of the Busan International Film Festival, he accepted the torch symbolizing the "fire of resistance" at the height of controversy. This was seen as a pledge of allegiance to a particular political camp, a "declaration" to that specific group.

In return.

He will be accepted and seen as the face and representative of a new generation of youth cultivated by progressive forces in the cultural sphere.

what does this mean?
This means that as long as the Progressive Party dominates the upcoming political spectrum race.

He, Kang Jae-hoon—

As long as he doesn't cause any major disaster that angers the people and endangers social stability, someone will naturally lend a hand to shield him from some of the troubles.

Take, for example, the massive bullying and rumor-mongering controversy that occurred a few days ago.

He didn't need to personally get involved, fight bare-chested, and expend so much effort on some 24-hour golden rule.

He has media outlets with aligned stances fighting for him.

Kang Jae-hoon's fingertips continued to circle Bae Suzy's soft ankle, round and round.

His gaze finally moved from her cherry blossom pink fingernails to her delicate face. Her bright eyes were waiting for his answer without blinking.

"Row."

Bae Suzy's smile suddenly blossomed.

Like fireworks ignited in an instant, scorching and bright. She leaned in abruptly, bringing a sweet fragrance, and her soft lips quickly pecked his cheek.

"Boom!"

"I knew I hadn't made a mistake in choosing this man!"

Her eyes crinkled into crescents, as if Kang Jae-hoon had promised to reach for the moon in the heavens, rather than step into the eye of the storm.

The two cuddled together for a while longer in the cool nanny van.

It wasn't until her manager's phone rang for the third time, almost like a death knell, that Bae Suzy finally pouted in annoyance and kicked the person out of the car.

Remember to think of me!

She leaned out of the car window.

"Okay, be careful on the road."

"..."

The van's engine started quickly, and it made a clean U-turn, kicking up a small cloud of dry dust before merging into the traffic at the edge of the film set.

Kang Jae-hoon stared blankly in the direction the vehicle had disappeared for a few seconds.

ear.

A clear voice, tinged with inquiry, rang out.

"Cough—!"

He came to his senses.

Tilt your head.

Kim Ji-won was standing beside him at some point.

Holding the coffee he had just handed over, he glanced at the intersection where Bae Suzy had disappeared, then turned back, his gaze landing on Kang Jae-hoon's face with a complicated expression.

"You're dating her?"

Kang Jae-hoon nodded decisively, without any intention of avoiding the question.

"Ah."

"..."

Kim Ji-won's eyes flickered.

Silence filled the air between the two.

She originally thought that the one entangled with Kang Jae-hoon was either the powerful "lioness" from Seongsu-dong or the meticulous senior from Girls' Generation, Lim Yoon-ah.

result?

Bae Suzy suddenly appeared out of nowhere?!

He interfered and stole the peach?!
"...And what about you, Yoona and Lee Sung-kyung? Are you still in contact?"

Kim Ji-won couldn't help but press for more information, her tone filled with disbelief.

This relationship is just too... messy!

"Yes, I have."

Kang Jae-hoon answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Kim Ji-won: "...?"

She was completely speechless.

While dating Bae Suzy, he also maintained close contact with two other actresses with whom he clearly had close relationships.

This goes beyond simply being a womanizer!

in fact.

Calm down and look at it from a different perspective, Kim Ji-won can barely understand this situation.

After all, it's not entirely unimaginable that a man like Kang Jae-hoon, who rose to become a monster rookie in Chungmuro ​​in just two years, holding a phenomenal movie role and whose commercial value skyrocketed, would have several equally dazzling and well-connected female confidantes around him.

In this circle, resources and connections are intertwined, and sometimes behind the complex emotional ties lies a deeper bond of interests and mutual support.

But what Kim Ji-won didn't know was...

Kang Jae-hoon is, in some ways, more like a passive recipient of "fate" and the "gigolo" talent—Lim Yoon-ah's capital strategy, Bae Suzy's political and business resources, and Lee Sung-kyung's daily anchors and fashion connections.

On his path to success, he paved the way for his rise step by step with the help of his three "wise wives".

This bowl of rice.

They have a natural talent for eating, but they also eat with great caution.

(End of this chapter)