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

Chapter 196 Krystal Jung: My Ex-Boyfriend Knelt Down as Soon as I Put on My Wedding Dress

late at night.

The hotel room where we were temporarily staying in Taebaek City.

Kim Ji-won sank into the soft mattress, tossing and turning, the thin blanket crumpled into a ball.

The neon lights outside the window shone through the gap in the loosely drawn curtains, casting a swaying band of light on the wall, much like her chaotic thoughts at that moment.

Her eyes were open.

Staring at the blurry outline of light and shadow on the ceiling.

My mind kept replaying Kang Jae-hoon's matter-of-fact "Yes, there is" from that afternoon.

Three.

Im Yoon-a, Lee Sung-kyung, Bae Suzy...

Does this man think he has too long a life?
She had been considering whether to play matchmaker again and secretly tie a knot in the broken thread between Kang Jae-hoon and Jung Soo-jung.

It all started when she accidentally sent a video of Kang Jae-hoon imitating her acting cute – and what happened?

What followed was a calm reply from Krystal Jung: "The imitation is so good."

This unusual calm made Kim Ji-won keenly sense something amiss.

Is the Ice Princess... secretly watching her ex-boyfriend's every move from somewhere?
But the explosive news about the "three beauties" that afternoon completely extinguished her budding flame of "matchmaking".

Should we push Krystal back in?
Is that something a human being would do?

That's not matchmaking, that's pushing her into a fiery pit of chaos!
But another voice whispered in my head:
What if?
What if Krystal herself wants to go back?

What if she just wants to take back...the place that belongs to her?

The thought sent a chill down Kim Ji-won's spine.

For some reason, the scene of Lin Pinru's glamorous revenge in the melodramatic TV series "Temptation of Wife" suddenly popped into my mind.

She shook her head violently, as if trying to shake off the absurd association.

It does not make sense!

With a frustrated sigh, Kim Ji-won reached for the bedside table. Her phone screen lit up in the darkness, making her squint.

I tapped Kakao Talk with my finger and swiped to the chat box with the nickname "Stinky Crystal".

【What are you doing? 】

She typed three words and sent.

Almost instantly.

Stinky Crystal: [Recording a song]

Kim Ji-won frowned. Still in the recording studio at this hour? She's really good at staying up late.

Kim Ji-won: [New album?]

Stinky Crystal: [Hmm.]

Stinky Crystal: [What's up?]

Kim Ji-won licked her slightly dry lips, her fingertip hovering over the screen for a few seconds before finally typing:
How about a cameo appearance in my new drama?

There was silence for a moment.

Just when Kim Ji-won thought the other party had already started recording, the reply popped up:

Okay, send me the time and address. I have something else to do, we'll talk when we meet.

……

Kim Ji-won looked at the words and felt a weight lifted from her heart, but an even bigger weight rose in her mind.

She quickly sent over the address of the hotel where the "Descendants of the Sun" crew was based in Taebaek City, along with a rough filming schedule.

As for the roles...

She was thinking about Xu Darong's "ex-girlfriend".

Although this matter has not been reported to screenwriter Kim Eun-sook, given their friendship after working together on "The Heirs," plus Krystal Jung's status and popularity, it should be... not a big problem, right?

Hopefully, when Krystal finds out the nature of the role she'll be playing, she'll remember our years of friendship and not stage any scene like "ex-girlfriend beats up matchmaker".

Kim Ji-won silently prayed and stuffed her phone back under her pillow.

With this thought mixed with worry and a touch of inexplicable unease, I fell into a deep sleep in 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.

at the same time.

Inside Kang Jae-hoon's room, not far from Kim Ji-won's room.

He was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, his laptop screen divided into several sections, with the faces of Cha Tae-hyun, Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Woo-bin, and Jo In-sung squeezed together.

Lately, due to filming commitments, we've been spending less time together, so we're taking advantage of the time before bed to vent and chat.

The topics ranged from all over the world.

Chatting and chatting.

Then the conversation drifted to the upcoming 2015-2016 Premier League season.

Cha Tae-hyun was in high spirits:
"Hey! Everyone buy a new one! Let's all join in the fun!"

He began to make arrangements.

Immediately, hushed whispers and the glint of light from the screen as the phone was picked up came from the other side.

Which one to buy?

Is Tottenham a solid team?

"Arsenal! Professor Wenger is definitely holding back a big move!"

"I'm bullish on Manchester City, that's why I've spent so much money..."

The guys started to study it seriously, but Kang Jae-hoon seemed out of place.

He occasionally responded with a couple of sounds.

But my attention had already been drawn to a brown paper document bag placed in the corner of the bed.

His gaze drifted over to the screen, then returned to it.

Slip past again...

The folder contained the property certificate for a two-bedroom apartment in Gaoyang City, which Jin Dayuan had entrusted to someone to deliver.

The money to buy the house came from the remaining 3 million won in his own account.

Lee Sung-kyung's birthday is in three days.

Imagining her expression when she receives this gift—surprise? Confusion? Or tears welling up in her eyes? He couldn't help but smile.

“Jaehoon!”

Cha Tae-hyun's voice pulled him out of his thoughts: "Don't just listen, you should bet on a team too and join in the fun!"

Kang Jae-hoon looked up at the screen and spoke frankly:

"No thanks, bro. I don't even recognize the starting lineups of the teams you guys are talking about."

Lee Kwang-soo immediately chimed in, "Consider it a charitable donation! Just buy something to play with! It's all about participation!"

"also."

Unable to bear their noise any longer, Kang Jae-hoon casually clicked on the platform link that Cha Tae-hyun had sent in the group chat.

The colorful odds table dazzled him.

My fingers swiped aimlessly, and the names and logos of various teams flashed before my eyes like neon lights.

Sudden.

A number caught his lazy, wandering gaze.

【5000:1】

His swishing fingers paused.

Look closely—

Leicester City.

The team logo is a pretty nice shade of blue.

5000 to 1?

He raised an eyebrow.

These odds are a bit outrageous, aren't they?
It means that if you bet 10,000 Korean won, and this insignificant little team actually wins the championship after eight million years of good luck, you can win back 50 million won.

Ok……

Kang Jae-hoon tapped the screen with his finger, purely with the mindset of "throwing it into the water to hear a splash," and entered the amount: 200,000 Korean won.

Confirm payment.

Anyway, this platform is a legitimate, newly established platform licensed by the government, with complete tax payment records and fund supervision. If I don't win, the 200,000 won will be considered a support for the Korean gambling industry, and the platform will distribute the prize pool funds to other winners according to the rules.

It's just about having a sense of participation.

"Have you bought it?" Cha Tae-hyun asked curiously.

"Ah."

"Which one did you buy? It wasn't Tottenham, was it? I just said no..." Cha Tae-hyun pressed.

Looking at the confirmation message for "Leicester City" on the screen, Kang Jae-hoon said:

Leicester City.

"Mo?"

"WTF?!"

The group video was instantly flooded with exclamations and bursts of laughter.

"My God! Do you know what those odds mean?"

Lee Kwang-soo laughed so hard he slammed his hand on the table, causing the camera to shake violently.

"The website has statistics! Only 25 people worldwide have bet on Leicester City to win the title, and you're the 26th brave soul! Hahahaha!"

Kim Woo-bin couldn't hold back any longer, laughing so hard his shoulders shrugged: "How much did you buy?"

"Two hundred thousand."

"Two hundred thousand?!"

Cha Tae-hyun's voice suddenly rose in pitch:

"You...you're practically giving the platform a free ride! Listen to me, quickly place another bet on Manchester City or Chelsea to hedge, at least recoup some of your losses..."

Kang Jae-hoon smiled and shook his head, glancing at the time:
"Alright, alright, just having some fun. I'm really not going to chat with you guys anymore, I have a show early tomorrow morning, I need to get some sleep."

He decisively waved his hand at the screen:

Goodnight, everyone!

Ignoring the other end's continued shouting of "Let's chat for another 10,000 yuan," Jiang Zai Xun cleanly and decisively left the group video call.

The room fell silent instantly. He picked up the heavy property ownership certificate folder, gently stroked it, and a tender smile curved his lips.

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.

Taibai City Film Set.

Dust drifted lazily in the afternoon sun.

A discreet van was parked steadily under the shade of trees outside the film set.

The car door slid open.

Krystal Jung stepped onto the ground in simple white sneakers.

Sunglasses covered most of her face, and her long chestnut hair was casually draped over her shoulders, highlighting the cool, snow-white skin of her neck.

The assistant ran to coordinate with the event staff.

She stood still, her gaze sweeping over the busy crowd.

"Soojung!"

Jung Soo-jung turned around and saw Kim Ji-won running towards her.

"Ernie."

Kim Ji-won affectionately took her arm:

"Go see writer Kim Eun-sook first; she's been talking about you a lot."

"Ah."

A scene was being filmed in the center of the venue.

The meeting room door was ajar.

Kim Eun-sook was looking down at the script when she heard footsteps. She looked up and a gentle smile immediately spread across her lips.

"Our Krystal is here!"

She stood up, quickly went to meet Krystal Jung, took her hand, and looked her up and down:

"Still so beautiful! You've lost a little weight recently? Have you been too busy?"

Krystal Jung took off her sunglasses, revealing her beautiful face:
"Yes, unnie, I'm fine."

"Wow, you're in great shape."

Kim Eun-sook patted the back of her hand and then asked, "Ji-won told you, right? About the role you're asked to play?"

Krystal Jung shook her head:
"Ji-won unnie only said that I would be making a cameo appearance, as for the specific role... I didn't ask any further questions."

"I see... Then let me give you a brief summary of the plot..."

As Kim Eun-sook narrated the story, Jung Soo-jung's expression gradually relaxed.

It sounds simple:
She calmly accepted her ex-boyfriend's arrival and blessings during the happiest moment of her life.

Two people who were once close meet at a new crossroads in their lives. A nod, a brief blessing, and then a smile exchanged.

Archive the past completely.

Let's end this in the most dignified way possible.

All she needs to do is put on her wedding dress, stay beautiful, and show that just-right, relieved smile in front of the camera.

But—Kim Eun-sook's meaningful gaze stirred something strange within her.

"Unnie, who plays Seo Dae-young is...?"

Before Kim Eun-sook could answer, the stagehand knocked and came in:
"Writer, the director asked when we can start styling Jung Soo-jung?"

"Go now."

Kim Eun-sook patted Krystal Jung on the shoulder: "The styling team is waiting for you."

Walking down the corridor to the dressing room, Krystal Jung unconsciously slowed her pace. The noise from the film set seemed to be muffled and distant, as if filtered through frosted glass.

She vaguely heard a familiar laugh, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

impossible.

She shook her head, banishing the absurd association from her mind.

"this way please."

The stagehand's voice brought her back to reality.

The door to the dressing room opened, and the stylist warmly greeted us, holding a pristine white wedding dress.

"Krystal Jung, shall we try on our makeup first?"

She nodded mechanically, letting the other person guide her to sit down. As the cool powder puff touched her cheek, Krystal finally couldn't help but speak:
"Excuse me... who plays Xu Darong...?"

"Ah! Is that Kang Jae-hoon-ssi?"

The stylist, without looking up, said, "He just went to change into a suit, he should be here soon..."

A sharp buzzing sound suddenly rang in her ears, like the noise of an old-fashioned television losing signal. As a result, Krystal Jung didn't hear what the stylist said next at all.

It turned out to be the case.

Kim Ji-won's hesitation and Kim Eun-sook's meaningful words suddenly became clear.

……

Kang Jae-hoon was standing in another locker room at that moment.

In front of me is a full-length dressing mirror.

The man in the mirror was tall and slender, his shoulder line perfectly outlined by a well-tailored dark gray suit.

For big-budget productions like "Descendants of the Sun," the costumes and styling in the show are often sponsored by various brands.

But this time is a little different.

The production team doesn't seem to have very strict requirements regarding brand placement, or perhaps the advertising space sales haven't been fully rolled out yet.

therefore.

Many of the characters' everyday outfits, which needed to showcase their personal charm and fashion sense, were provided by the brands that the actors endorsed. The stylists then made the final selections and confirmations based on the characters' personalities and the overall tone of the scenes.

The outfit he's wearing is from his new endorsement deal with "Ziozia Ready-to-Wear," which he recently signed.

This brand consistently ranks among the top three in the high-end ready-to-wear market in South Korea.

The style is positioned as elite and sophisticated.

The initial opportunity that led to this collaboration was quite interesting.

During the run of "Veteran," there was a scene that was repeatedly watched and hailed as a masterpiece by countless netizens—

Zhao Taiwu furiously swung his golf club, smashing the table and hitting the dog.

That was the exact moment.

The powerful lines clearly displayed by the tight-fitting suit trousers, especially the rounded and taut...buttocks, paired with Kang Jae-hoon's face with its neurotic and manic beauty, achieved a breathtakingly intense visual impact.

Ziozia's marketing department held a meeting overnight, and the next day they came to their door with a contract.

now.

After changing into his full outfit, Kang Jae-hoon couldn't help but rub the side fabric of his trousers with his palm once more.

It’s time to say it or not.

This is probably the highest quality suit he has ever worn. It fits well but is not tight, crisp yet with excellent drape, and the overlock stitching details exude a sense of craftsmanship.

"Sergeant Xu Darong!"

A crisp command rang out without warning at the locker room door.

Conditioned reflex.

Almost instinctively, Kang Jae-hoon straightened his spine instantly like a javelin, his heel slammed against the ground, and his right hand swiftly rose, completing most of the salute with fluid grace.

But he stopped abruptly when he saw that the person was Kim Ji-won, his arm awkwardly hanging in mid-air.

"What?" he asked irritably, putting his hand down.

Kim Ji-won leaned against the doorframe, her eyes sparkling: "Do you want to go see your ex-girlfriend?"

Jiang Zai Xun raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious: "Sure." He also wanted to know who the production team had cast to play Xu Da Rong's unforgettable "white moonlight."

"Let's go!"

Seeing that he readily agreed, Kim Ji-won immediately turned around and led the way.

Kang Jae-hoon took long strides to catch up.

The two walked through the noisy film set corridor and turned towards the other side of the artists' dressing area. The dressing room door was ajar, and Kim Ji-won pushed it open first—

Under bright light.

Krystal Jung has changed into a flawless white floor-length wedding dress.

Layers of sheer fabric gently draped her slender yet shapely body, her shoulders and neck as graceful as newly fallen snow. The intricately embroidered veil was not yet fully secured, held up by the hairstylist.

She turned slightly to the side, letting her assistant bend down to adjust the curve of her skirt.

As the door suddenly opened.

Krystal Jung instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.

Their gazes unexpectedly met those of Kang Jae-hoon, who was also looking over with a probing gaze.

Eyes facing each other.

The sense of time is stretched and distorted.

Fragments of the past—

A passionate kiss on set, a love lock hanging on Namsan Tower, the suppressed silence during the breakup, and those subtle, lingering glances that followed...

Like a river thawing instantly, carrying the chill and swiftness of icicle fragments, it crashed over this brief exchange of glances.

Krystal Jung had imagined countless times in her mind what it would be like for the two of them to suddenly reunite at some point.

The corner of the coffee shop.

Backstage at the awards ceremony.

Or it could simply be a street corner teeming with people.

Your heart might be racing, your eyes might be darting away, and then you'll force yourself to remain calm, nod, and ask, "Long time no see."

But she never imagined it would turn out like this—

Wearing a pure white, elaborate wedding dress, she looked like a bride waiting to be blessed.

He was dressed in a sharp, high-class dark gray suit, like an old acquaintance who had accidentally wandered into the bride's dressing room.

He seems... a bit thinner than when I last saw him.

The youthful innocence in his eyes has faded, giving way to a more composed and mature look.

It has matured.

It became even more dazzling.

What about yourself?

She was wearing bridal makeup and a floor-length gown.

Under the glaring white lights of the dressing room, she must be... beautiful enough, right?
Just as the two stood a few steps apart, silently measuring the time and unresolved emotions between them with their eyes, Kim Ji-won at the door quietly took half a step back.

They moved another half step.

Finally, he simply held his breath, and like an oil painting blending into the background, he gradually withdrew from this small world.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

In the end, it was Kang Jae-hoon who spoke first.

Krystal Jung's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Yes, it's been a long time.

The feigned nonchalance of "may we each be well" at the time of their breakup still echoes in my ears. Since then, their Kakao Talk conversations have completely stopped, and they haven't even bothered to send a single emoji.

Time accumulates in the void, creating a wasteland where awkwardness can take root.

"haven't seen you for a long time…"

Krystal Jung's voice was as soft as willow catkins drifting outside the window, almost melting into the air.

The makeup artist holding up the veil looked on with suspicion.

As the "Chanyoung-Bona" national couple who swept across South Korea in 2013, why are they so awkward with each other, even less so than when they first met on set?

Kang Jae-hoon realized that he really had nothing to say.

The expected awkwardness, unease, or even deeper emotions didn't arise. My heart was strangely calm.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze wandered unconsciously, finally settling on Jung Soo-jung's slender right hand resting on the armrest of the chair—the place where a ring should have been was now empty.

Was it an oversight in the design?
Still not at the point of wearing a ring?
Thoughts together.

Kang Jae-hoon took a step almost instinctively.

He walked around the chair where Krystal Jung was sitting and went to the open velvet box on the dressing table that contained props and jewelry.

Right in the center of the box.

A simple yet sparkling platinum ring lay quietly.

He turned around and went back to Jung Soo-jung.

No hesitation.

He squatted down with one leg naturally bent at the knee, and slightly raised his head.

His gaze rose to meet Krystal Jung's downcast eyes, which appeared exceptionally deep in the shadow of her long eyelashes:

"Let me put it on for you."

The moment the words landed.

Without waiting for Krystal Jung to recover from her shock and give any response.

Kang Jae-hoon gently raised his left arm, his large, warm hand firmly grasping Jung Soo-jung's right hand, which was resting on her knee and unconsciously curled up slightly.

The instant skin touches.

Krystal Jung felt her fingertips tremble slightly.

It felt like a faint electric current was passing through it.

Kang Jae-hoon seemed completely oblivious.

He lowered his eyelids.

He held her right wrist steady with his left hand, while his right hand held the diamond ring. His thumb pressed against the smooth inside of the ring, and he carefully pushed the platinum ring, symbolizing the marriage contract, onto the knuckle of her right ring finger.

"Oh my..."

"Dafa!"

A sudden burst of suppressed gasps and exclamations erupted from the direction of the dressing room door.

Krystal Jung suddenly turned her head.

The door to the dressing room had been pushed open a crack at some point.

The area was packed with crew members and actors who had rushed over after hearing the news. Their eyes, whether they were watching a show, surprised, or amused, were gleaming with gossip.

The focus is on Kang Jae-hoon, who is kneeling in front of her, holding her hand, and about to put a ring on her finger.

This scene...

How familiar it is!

In a daze, time seemed to turn back.

It was as if Krystal Jung had returned to the set of "The Heirs," back to that rooftop. She was surrounded by countless eyes, watching him awkwardly approach, and then, in front of everyone, she gave him her first kiss, which tasted like strawberries.

It felt like my heart was being squeezed hard by an invisible hand.

A sour, tingling sensation instantly flooded my nasal cavity.

My eye sockets started burning uncontrollably.

But now...

Things have long since changed.

The onlookers might still be the same people, but the protagonists of the story had already changed. This huge sense of disparity made her throat tighten, her nose stung with tears, and her vision instantly blurred with moisture.

“Kang Jae-hoon-ssi.”

The stylist couldn't hold back any longer and, under the pressure of countless gazes from the doorway, whispered a reminder:
"The wedding ring... according to tradition, is worn on the ring finger of the woman's left hand..."

"what?"

Kang Jae-hoon looked up blankly, still holding Jung Soo-jung's right hand, the ring just pushed up to halfway down her finger.

"...I'm so sorry, I've never been married."

This sudden, slightly naive, and bewildered reply instantly broke through the knot of bitterness in Jung Soo-jung's heart.

"Pfft..."

A very soft, very short laugh escaped uncontrollably from her throat.

Like the first drop of water falling when ice and snow melt.

She quickly pursed her lips.

But the watery light in his eyes strangely softened, rippling with a hint of helplessness and amusement.

(End of this chapter)