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

Chapter 197 Reunion with an Old Flame—The Stubborn Princess's Overwhelmingly Sour Taste

The lingering scent of cosmetics in the dressing room had not yet dissipated.

Krystal Jung changed into her everyday clothes; the soft cotton fabric replaced the glamorous constraints of the wedding dress, bringing a familiar sense of comfort.

The assistant had already packed the luggage and gently reminded me of the return trip time.

It stands to reason.

She should have picked up her bag right then and there, with a professional smile, said goodbye to screenwriter Kim Eun-sook and director Lee Eung-bok, then climbed into her van without looking back and headed to her next appointment.

But it felt as if my steps were entangled by invisible threads.

Perhaps it was the long-lost warmth she felt in her palm when he clumsily and attentively put the ring on her finger (though on the wrong hand) during the photoshoot.

Perhaps it's in front of the camera, the moment the director yells "Action!"

The man who had been wearing the cold, hard military mask of Xu Darong just a moment ago suddenly had his icy gaze melt away.

When his gaze fell upon her, it transformed into a shimmering spring lake, his eyes seeming to hold a thousand unspoken words, so tender they could drown a person.

Jung Soo-jung was completely drawn into Kang Jae-hoon's silent vortex. All her pre-planned actions and acting skills became ineffective, leaving only her most instinctive reactions.

—The smile in her eyes spread uncontrollably, layer upon layer. But deep within that smile, a thin layer of water quickly welled up, sparkling and shimmering.

A smile can convey a thousand emotions and is worth more than a thousand words.

In the original script.

There should be a few short lines of dialogue here.

Then Yoon Myung-joo, played by Kim Ji-won, rushes up and grabs Seo Dae-young's arm. Only when Seo Dae-young calmly says, "I'm here to wish her well," does Yoon Myung-joo silently let go, slightly taken aback.

The silent, intense eye contact between Kang Jae-hoon and Jung Soo-jung was simply perfect.

The restrained yet surging emotions, the relieved blessings, the poignant feeling of "looking at each other in silence, only tears streaming down our faces," all accompanied by the emotionally charged melody produced in post-production.

The amount of information it can carry is enough to ignite the audience's imagination, and its artistic appeal far surpasses any deliberately designed line of dialogue.

then.

After watching the replay three times, Li Yingfu...

This pivotal scene between "Xu Darong" and his "ex-girlfriend" was preserved in its entirety with a restrained beauty akin to the blank spaces in a film.

Kim Ji-won's role became merely a background character.

The camera focused solely on that once-golden couple.

The announcement that filming was over still seemed to echo in Krystal Jung's ears, yet a vague but persistent thought lingered in her mind:

Shouldn't we... have a proper farewell before leaving?

For nothing else.

This was all to bring a real conclusion to this unexpected reunion and to the relieved smile in the play.

then.

Krystal Jung silently withdrew her steps toward the exit and sat down on a corner chair with her assistant.

This wait.

That is six hours.

During the long wait, the inexplicable feeling of wanting to see him one last time to say goodbye was gradually overwhelmed by another, stronger emotion—

I have an urge to beat Kim Ji-won to death!
This girl...

She tricked herself into playing the ex-girlfriend, but ended up getting along really well with her ex-boyfriend on set?
Even though I know it's all an act.

But I could only watch helplessly as the man who had just perfectly portrayed his "deeply affectionate gaze" came to life.

Switch in one second.

He transformed into Xu Darong, a taciturn character in the drama who adored Yoon Myung-joo with his eyes.

Watching helplessly as Yoon Myung-joo, played by Kim Ji-won, appeared.

Whether angry or irritable, whether laughing or making a fuss.

Sometimes she would lightly poke Kang Jae-hoon's firm chest with her fingers, and sometimes he would gently pull her into his arms and soothe her with a soft voice.

She just couldn't help it!

finally.

Krystal Jung could only stare blankly, forcing herself to look at the dark silhouette of the mountains in the distance.

Silently waiting for this unspoken torment to end.

……

The hustle and bustle of people finishing work finally drowned out the cicadas' chirping.

“Jaehoon!”

Song Joong-ki hooked his arm around Kang Jae-hoon's shoulder from behind:

"Going to the gym to lift weights? We're going to Greece next month to film on location, and there are a lot of scenes where we need to show some skin, so we need to get our 'battle gear' ready in advance!"

Just as Kang Jae-hoon was about to nod, he suddenly caught a familiar figure at the edge of the set out of the corner of his eye.

Krystal Jung sat quietly on a folding chair, her hands folded on her knees, her long chestnut hair falling over her shoulders, gleaming softly under the light.

She seemed to have been waiting for a long time, while her assistant sat beside her, idly scrolling through her phone.

"Wait till I can."

Kang Jae-hoon patted Song Joong-ki on the shoulder.

As I approached, Krystal Jung was looking down, fiddling with the charm on her phone case. Sensing the shadow falling over her, she looked up, her eyes reflecting the scattered lights of the film set.

"You haven't left yet?"

"Um... I'm leaving now."

After saying that, Krystal picked up her small bag, stood up, and was about to walk past him towards the exit.

"and many more."

Kang Jae-hoon spoke the moment she passed by.

Krystal Jung stopped in her tracks but did not turn around.

"Shall we have a meal together before you go?"

Krystal Jung instinctively wanted to blurt out "No, thank you," but the words of refusal rolled around on her tongue before finally escaping with a hint of wavering that she herself was unaware of:
"...Weren't you going to the gym?"

"It's not important, let's go."

Done.

He turned around and walked towards the parking lot outside the film set.

They took big strides.

He didn't look back to see if she was following.

Jung Soo-jung watched his resolute back as she stood alone in the empty rest area.

"Not important" means...

Is it more important to eat alone?

She unconsciously bit her soft lower lip, leaving a shallow indentation.

In the end, I took a step and silently followed.

not far away.

Song Joong-ki watched the two figures walk away, a few steps apart, and opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. He really wanted to ask if they were coming back to the gym, but his intuition told him... they probably weren't.

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.

In an unassuming Korean restaurant in Taebaek City, army stew bubbled on an induction cooker.

Luncheon meat, sausage, and ramen noodles soak in a bright red broth, while a plate of freshly cooked spicy rice cakes sits on the side, with melted cheese stretching into thin strands on the surface.

Krystal Jung stared at the table full of high-calorie food, her brows furrowing slightly.
"You ordered so much."

Kang Jae-hoon poured himself a glass of ice water and glanced at her.
"You're so skinny, it's okay for you to eat a little."

Krystal Jung pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, "Mind your own business."

But in my heart.

That subtly suppressed ripple has unconsciously begun to spread again.

Perhaps it was the unintentional concern hidden in his comment about being "as thin as a paper doll." Or perhaps it was because he still remembered his favorite unusual combination of army stew and spicy rice cakes.

That sense of familiarity, long washed away by time, suddenly broke through, making her chest tighten a little.

The rising steam from the pot blurred the air between the two.

A moment of silence followed.

Kang Jae-hoon seemed to want to break the silence.

My gaze fell on the edge of the bubbling hot pot, and I found a starting point for a conversation:
"I saw on the news that... Sulli left the group?"

"Ah."

Krystal Jung lowered her head and stirred the ramen in her bowl:
"She has her own ambitions and development direction, which we all understand and support."

Regardless of the speculation surrounding Choi Jin-ri's true reasons for leaving the group, Kang Jae-hoon believes that the idol industry is ultimately a young person's game.

Making plans early and seeking long-term development is indeed a wise choice.

at least.

From Jung Soo-jung's tone and attitude, Kang Jae-hoon could not sense the strong and complex emotions that her former teammates had expressed when her older sister announced her departure from the group.

When Shirley was mentioned, her expression was calm.

"You seem to have matured a lot."

Krystal Jung raised her head, a slight smile curving her lips:

People always grow and change.

"But you... are still so... stupid."

"Oh, am I stupid?"

Kang Jae-hoon glared defiantly, as if he had heard an utterly absurd accusation:

"Didn't you know that the ring is worn on the left hand?"

“I know,” Krystal Jung immediately retorted.

"lie."

"I just know it."

"..."

The two argued childishly like elementary school students, neither noticing that the night outside the window had deepened to an inky black. The steam from the army stew wafted between them, blurring the passage of time and the unspoken emotions.

I do not know how long it has been.

Oil gradually condensed on the red broth at the bottom of the pot.

Krystal put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth with a corner of a napkin.

Seeing this, Kang Jae-hoon put down his water glass and gestured to the owner to settle the bill.

Just as he reached into his pocket to take out his wallet, he lost control of his movements.

"Clap!"

The phone, which was hanging from the edge of the pocket, slipped out and hit the floor tiles.

That then-popular phone with a flip-style business protective case instantly disintegrated.

Krystal Jung almost reflexively bent down to pick it up.

My fingertips had just touched the edge of the phone case when my gaze was drawn to something sandwiched between the phone's back panel and the hard case, with a small section of dark blue satin edge peeking out.

She paused.

Carefully peel off the phone case completely.

A neatly folded amulet lay there quietly. Its background was a deep blue silk, with an intricate lotus pattern embroidered in gold thread in the center, and a touch of vermilion red at the heart of the lotus, exuding solemnity and tranquility.

In the lower right corner of the talisman, a line of fine, dark characters was clearly visible—

Zheng Xiujing.

The surrounding noise—the clanging of spatulas in the kitchen, the laughter of customers in the distance, even the bubbling of hot pot—was completely silenced in that instant.

All that's left is a heartbeat.

thump.

thump.

It struck my eardrums heavily.

"that……"

Seeing her suddenly stop, and hearing the voice from above, Jiang Zaihun bent down and reached out as if to take it:

"I prayed for it at Feng'en Temple last New Year's Day. If you mind, I'll throw it away now."

"I do not mind."

The words slipped out so quickly that even Krystal Jung herself was caught off guard. There was a hint of urgency in her voice that she herself was unaware of, almost to the point of losing her composure.

As if afraid he would really throw it into the trash can the next second.

Kang Jae-hoon's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, a clear look of surprise flashing across his eyes.

Krystal Jung immediately realized her slip of the tongue, and her cheeks flushed instantly. She quickly lowered her head again, her lowered eyelids concealing the embarrassment and regret that flashed in her eyes.

But the mouth, as if possessing its own consciousness, frantically began to try and cover up the "truth" that had revealed something:

"...What I mean is, isn't throwing it away a form of cursing me?"

The logic is somewhat forced.

But the urgency and effort in his voice revealed more panic than the words themselves.

It seems they're trying to use this sophistry to cover up their earlier, inappropriate and off-timely "I don't mind."

Kang Jae-hoon was momentarily speechless at this logic, raising an eyebrow slightly. Looking at Jung Soo-jung's awkward, downcast expression, he suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

The awkward atmosphere from before dissipated somewhat.

"Do you still believe this?"

In his impression, Krystal Jung should be more inclined towards Western rationality at heart, and should have always been dismissive of these Eastern metaphysical and fortune-telling methods.

But in fact.

She shouldn't have believed it.

But after all, she was taken back to South Korea by her parents when she was very young.

I grew up here, and I became famous here.

Day and night on this land.

Stunned.

Immersed in it.

— Rumors have never ceased that the master of the Blue House has a "national advisor" behind him to guide him through his troubles; fortune-telling stalls on the streets and alleys, like cram schools that spring up everywhere, constitute a unique landscape of this country.

Having been immersed in such an environment for more than a decade, even the most staunch atheist will inevitably be moved by a sense of awe that is hard to explain at certain moments.

She ultimately did not answer Kang Jae-hoon's question.

She quietly and meticulously placed the amulet bearing her name and carrying some distant sentiment back into the compartment between the back of her phone and its hard case.

then.

She then handed the phone back to Kang Jae-hoon, now that it was back to normal.

"Here."

……

The wind chimes above the restaurant's entrance tinkled, shattering the warm yellow light and the aroma of food inside. The two stepped into the cool night breeze of Taibai City, one after the other.

The streetlights stretched and shortened the shadows, silently spreading them across the quiet sidewalk.

"The car is over there."

Krystal Jung pointed to the outline of the nanny van that was quietly waiting under the shade of a tree not far away.

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon responded, his gaze lingering on her profile for a moment:
"Be careful on the road."

"You too."

Krystal Jung didn't turn around, but went straight to open the car door and got in. The dull thud of the door closing shut shut out the two worlds. Leaning back in her seat, she whispered to her assistant in the front seat:
"Let's go."

The engine starts.

The wheels rolled over the road surface.

The van silently glided into the flowing neon lights.

The street scene outside the car window rushed past, and the colorful light and shadow flickered on Jung Soo-jung's face. She slowly closed her eyes, trying to dispel the images churning in her mind, but the images became clearer and clearer.

Under the lights of the dressing room.

His warm palm enveloped her slightly cool hand, and he clumsily pushed the wedding ring onto her ring finger—his focused expression seemed to transcend time, momentarily overlapping with the figure hanging a lock atop the Nanshan Pagoda.

Even more lingering is that dark blue silk amulet.

Unbeknownst to her, in a time she thought was long past, hidden in the most secret crevice of his belongings, it had been carried by him through nearly two years.

what does this mean?
Is he... still thinking about me?
The thought, like a pebble thrown into a pond, instantly stirred up countless tiny ripples, spreading silently with a secret, untimely expectation, leaving her heart in turmoil.

My fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of the phone case.

again and again.

finally.

As if driven by some invisible force, she opened the chat box with Kim Ji-won.

My fingertip hovered above the screen, rising and falling several times.

Delete, delete and modify.

At last.

I pressed the send button with my eyes closed:

[Unnie, is Kang Jae-hoon... single right now?]

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.

Kim Ji-won was comfortably nestled on the sofa in her hotel room, her legs soaking in an electric foot bath filled with warm milk, humming contentedly.

With a crisp notification sound, the phone screen suddenly lit up.

A new message popped up on "Stinky Crystal's" profile picture.

Click to open.

Read the content carefully.

Kim Ji-won's mouth instantly stretched to her ears in a wide grin.

I haven't even officially tied the knot yet, and this girl has already walked right into my life?!

Tsk tsk.

It seems that the "ex-girlfriend" scene on set today had quite a lasting impact!

Kim Ji-won was too lazy to even watch variety shows, and was happily tapping the screen on her phone:
[Kim Ji-won]: What did you two talk about during dinner?! Tell the truth! (3 meme emojis)
The message was replied almost instantly.

With a hint of annoyance and embarrassment:

【Stinky Crystal】: Oh, never mind that, answer my question first! (Bomb emoji)
I can almost picture that girl jumping up and down, even through the screen.

Kim Ji-won's smile froze slightly as she looked at the "bomb" on the screen.

Emmm...

Would it be too cruel to tell her "I'm not single"?
It's like watching a child excitedly open their birthday present, only to find two sets of workbooks inside...

Did not say?

That's what you call stabbing someone in the back.

Wouldn't it be even more painful to discover the truth later?
Kim Ji-won took a deep breath and typed the decisive truth on the virtual keyboard:

[Kim Ji-jung]: He is not single.

……

In the nanny's car.

Krystal Jung stared at the five words on the screen.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, and then I suddenly felt weightless and plummeted.

The dazzling neon lights rushing past the window instantly lost all their color.

A few seconds.

Or even longer.

She tugged at the corners of her mouth, a self-deprecating bitter smile appearing on her lips.

All those random, unfounded thoughts I had just made were laughable and unnecessary.

Why should someone as brilliant and successful as him stay put and wait for her to turn back? It's because she... takes herself too seriously.

The dialog box displays "Read".

Kim Ji-won waited a few seconds without a reply, and she roughly knew what was going on. After thinking for a moment, she added:
It's Bae Suzy.

"Om-"

Her phone vibrated again, and Krystal looked down.

Bae Suzy?
Is his girlfriend Bae Suzy?
Not that sharp-tongued but kind-hearted model roommate from Seongsudong, with whom he lived and worked closely?
It's not the gentle and insightful Yoona either.
It's... Bae Suzy?!

This answer was completely unexpected.

A fleeting, almost distorted sense of schadenfreude unexpectedly surfaced from the darkest corner of my heart.

Live it!

Let those two women who were eyeing us with predatory intent have wasted their time!
But this twisted pleasure lasted for less than half a second before being crushed by a deeper, indescribable sense of absurdity.

Looking at it from another angle...

Bae Soo-in-law successfully rose to power amidst the pursuit of two other heavyweight "good wives." Her skills and background... aren't they even more impressive than imagined?

A complex feeling, hard to describe, spread through my chest.

but……

What does this have to do with me?
Krystal Jung squeezed her eyes shut, as if trying to pack away all the chaotic thoughts along with the lucky charm bearing her name. Then, with a hint of defiance, she forcefully tapped the screen and typed out a reply:
【Stinky Crystal】: Oh. I see. I have a boyfriend too.

Message sent.

She tossed her phone heavily into the seat next to her and turned to look out the window. The night was deep, the neon lights still flickered, but they could no longer capture her gaze.

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.

In the hotel room.

Kim Ji-won burst out laughing when she saw the last sentence on the screen, "I also have a boyfriend," causing the milk in her foot basin to slosh around a few times.

This awkward little thing, and she says "I have a boyfriend too"?!

There is no three hundred taels of silver here!
That adorable, stubborn, and prickly demeanor... it's still so familiar!
She happily rolled around on the sofa, clutching her phone.

of course.

If Kim Ji-won knew that during the six-hour wait on set, her best friend had stared at her with a "death stare" countless times and mentally berated her a thousand times, she probably wouldn't find her "cute."

(End of this chapter)