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

Chapter 198 The Wonderful Days of a Part-Time Worker

August 10th.

Kang Jae-hoon stands in a temporary set at Incheon Airport.

The metal supports reflected the glaring sunlight, and the huge flight information display screen scrolled with false destination codes.

Today's announcement is about his airport scene as Seo Dae-young in "Descendants of the Sun".

First round.

Kang Jae-hoon followed behind Yoo Si-jin, played by Song Joong-ki.

Facing the camera.

Song Hye-kyo (Kang Mo-yeon) and her medical team walk towards the Uruk war zone, which has just "arrived".

Imposing and dignified.

Like a fashion show on a runway.

The scene went smoothly without any major issues, requiring only two takes.

Before Kang Jae-hoon could even enjoy the relief brought by the director's "That's a wrap," the atmosphere for the next scene was already heavy.

In the script.

Xu Darong's superior, Liu Shizhen, disobeyed military orders in Uruk, and as his adjutant, Xu failed to effectively fulfill his duty to dissuade him. The consequences soon followed—

He was summoned back to the country immediately by a strongly worded summons to undergo a thorough disciplinary review and accountability process by the military's supervisory department.

While preparing to return home at the airport, he bumped into Yin Mingzhu, who had come to Uruk specifically to find him.

then.

Yoon Myung-joo mistakenly believes that Seo Darong deliberately avoided her by transferring away from Uruk. Therefore, she needs a resounding slap to vent this misunderstanding and express her grievance and anger. This foreshadows the subsequent resolution of the misunderstanding and the development of their relationship.

Once all units are ready, filming begins.

"Sergeant Xu Darong!"

Kim Ji-won rushed to him, her suitcase clattering to the ground. She looked up, her eyes instantly reddening, her voice trembling slightly with emotion:
"Why are you avoiding me?! Why aren't you answering your phone?!"

The question hadn't been finished.

Driven by emotions that had been brewing for a long time, as written in the script—

Kim Ji-won raised her hand.

A slap filled with all the grievances and anger landed hard on Xu Darong's face.

"Snapped!"

Kang Jae-hoon's face was slapped so hard that it turned slightly to the side.

"Cut!"

Director Li Yingfu's voice came through the walkie-talkie:
"Ji-won, your emotions are spot on! But your movements are a bit hesitant and not smooth enough! Let's do another take!"

Kim Ji-won immediately bowed:
"Yes, Director!"

Kang Jae-hoon silently moved his jaw muscles without saying a word.

"Action!"

Kim Ji-won gets into character again, angrily questioning him and raising her hand—

"Snapped!"

The second slap.

It's a little heavier than before.

"Cut! It hit the cheekbone; the placement needs to be more precise. Pay attention!"

"Inside!"

"Action!"

Third entry.

"Snapped!"

"Cut! Eyes! The eyes need to be angrier! More disappointed! Don't look away!"

"Inside!"

Fourth entry.

"Snapped!"

Crisp and loud.

Kang Jae-hoon even felt his back teeth vibrate. He pursed his lips, pressed the tip of his tongue against the spot inside his mouth where he had been hit, and stared intently at the person opposite him.

Kim Ji-won is apologizing to the director with a "sincere" expression:
"I'm sorry, director! I still didn't get the angle right! I'll definitely do it again..."

She apologized, but her eyes quickly swept over Kang Jae-hoon, revealing a sly and smug look of satisfaction at having gotten her revenge.

Kang Jae-hoon ground his back molars.

This girl...

It's definitely intentional!

He's getting revenge for those few takes of the "angel scene"!
But he couldn't lash out. The director's reasons for calling for reshoots were all high-sounding—emotion, angle, intensity, eye contact… Can you say the director's demands were wrong?
He could only endure it.

Fortunately, Kim Ji-won knew when to stop. During the fifth shoot, she curbed her ulterior motives, her movements were clean and crisp, her emotions were full and on point, and the slap was both loud and precise.

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound.

The force was just right, and the positioning was precise.

however--

Director Li Yingfu, behind the monitor, frowned.

"Cut!"

"Jaehoon."

Li Yingfu's voice carried a hint of doubt:
"Xu Darong didn't know that Yin Mingzhu was going to slap him at this time, right? This wasn't in the script. Just now... why did you seem to know in advance that you were going to be slapped? Your expression was too tense, especially your jaw was clenched too tightly, and there was no sense of surprise or shock in your eyes."

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

What could he say?
Did you say you developed a conditioned reflex from those four slaps? Did you think Kim Ji-won was trying to summon Shenron seven times, so you subconsciously clenched your teeth to avoid biting your tongue?

He could only nod stiffly:

"...Yes, Director, my question."

Kim Ji-won stood to the side with her head down, her shoulders twitching suspiciously twice.

"One more!"

Director Li Yingfu gave the order.

the sixth time.

"Action!"

Kim Ji-won took a deep breath, got back into character, and angrily questioned, raising her hand—

This time.

Kang Jae-hoon forced himself to relax his facial muscles.

"Snapped!"

The slap landed.

Crisp and loud.

Kang Jae-hoon's face was slapped to the side.

"it is good!"

Director Li Yingfu finally uttered that heavenly word:

"Pass!"

Almost the instant the director finished speaking, the pitiful and angry look on Kim Ji-won's face vanished, and she tried to slip away.

however.

He hadn't even taken a single step yet.

A strong arm precisely encircled her chin and collarbone, pulling her back slightly—

"Well!"

Caught off guard, Kim Ji-won was forced to stagger backward half a step by a brute force, her back firmly pressed against Kang Jae-hoon's hard chest.

"We agreed beforehand that there would be no retaliation."

"Lieutenant Yin Mingzhu... is she going back on her word and breaking her promise?"

This posture.

That force.

The accusation was whispered in my ear.

A vivid example of the "Xu Darong-style" violent suppression.

Kim Ji-won tried to turn her head to glare at him, but was held firmly in place, so she could only stiffen her neck and say, with a fierce but weak expression:

"Hey! Let go... the director isn't far yet!"

Kang Jae-hoon not only didn't let go, but also showed her what it means that "truth only lies within the reach of a fist":
"answer me."

Kim Ji-won struggled twice to no avail.

Its imposing presence was visibly diminished.

Having clearly fallen into a corner, she muttered under her breath:

"...Who told you to make me do so many takes during the angel scene last time..."

Thinking about Kang Jae-hoon's several attempts to suppress laughter and feign innocence during NGs, and then thinking about how I repeatedly endured the shame of gesturing with my wings... that feeling of being repeatedly "executed" is indeed something that can make someone hold a grudge for a lifetime.

And just now, I slapped him...

Although the director called for several takes, which was more direct and public punishment—the extra slaps he added himself?

It seems... I'm a little unsure?
Kim Ji-won's voice trailed off, carrying a hint of self-deception that even she herself wasn't entirely sure of:

"I... I didn't hit you less either... so we're even..."

Even she herself felt that the reason was far-fetched.

Kang Jae-hoon was so angry at her blatantly illogical reasoning that he almost laughed.
"So, I should thank you for going easy on me?"

"Well... there's no need to be so polite..."

Done.

Kim Ji-won then felt the arm around her neck tighten again as a warning:
"Stop talking nonsense. Give me an afternoon of hard labor, and this matter will be over."

Kim Ji-won suddenly turned her head: "Laborer? What laborer? I still have to work this afternoon..."

Before he could finish speaking, Kang Jae-hoon interrupted him: "Otherwise—I'll tell Krystal... that you took advantage of filming to flirt with me."

Kim Ji-won: “…”

Blood rushed to my cheeks and ears instantly!

I'm not ashamed, I'm angry!

Logically speaking, no one would believe such vulgar language!

However, Kim Ji-won's mind was instantly filled with the image of Jung Soo-jung, who seemed to have rekindled her romance the day before yesterday and even came to ask "Is he single?"

just in case……

This awkward jealous person is in that delicate state of "not liking anyone who flirts with my ex-boyfriend"?

Can her thought process be deduced using common sense?
Even if you know it's a joke, will you still find an excuse... like "Who told you to introduce me to play your ex-girlfriend?"... and give yourself a good beating?
Think of this.

Kim Ji-won shivered.

The scene was too beautiful to imagine.

"...Okay...okay!"

Kim Ji-won practically forced a compromise through gritted teeth, saying bitterly, "But... what kind of hard labor are we supposed to do?!"

She needs to know just how badly she's about to be scammed.

"You'll know when it arrives."

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.

Seoul city center.

Apgujeong.

The glass door of “Tous Les Jours” was pushed open.

The rich, sweet aroma of baking and the cool air instantly wafted in, dispelling the heat outside.

Kim Ji-won followed Kang Jae-hoon in, curiously looking at the dazzling array of desserts in the shop window.

The shop assistant confirmed the order, carefully packed the cake into a hard insulated box with the brand logo, and tied it with a pretty ribbon.

Kang Jae-hoon took the cake box, his gaze then wandering among the dazzling array of baguettes, croissants, and toast.

finally.

It landed on a "French butter bread" that was covered with a thick layer of icing sugar and filled with large chunks of butter.

The bread was baked to a golden brown and crispy crust, the icing glistening under the light, and the thick slice of butter in the middle was melting slightly, emitting a sinful yet tempting aroma.

Kang Jae-hoon picked up the tongs, grabbed two, and put them on the tray.

"Bill, please."

Kim Ji-won watched him toss the two calorie bombs into a paper bag and couldn't help but complain:
"Aren't you trying to maintain your figure?"

After paying, Kang Jae-hoon picked up the paper bag containing the bread and glanced at her.
"For you."

"The...pay for the labor?"

Kim Ji-won asked tentatively, which slightly eased the dissatisfaction she felt about being "enslaved."

"Hush money."

Kang Jae-hoon spoke succinctly, then pushed open the door and walked out.

The cool air from the air conditioner was instantly replaced by the heat wave of an August afternoon.

Kim Ji-won watched his cool, "Don't ask, just take it" back view, then looked down at the bread in the paper bag that exuded a deadly sweet buttery aroma.

In the end, reason couldn't overcome her craving. She quickly opened the paper bag, pulled out a bread roll, and took a huge, vicious bite—

The crispy crust crackled between her teeth, and the melted, salty butter mixed with the sweetness of the frosting exploded in her mouth, bringing a sinful satisfaction. She puffed out her cheeks and mumbled indistinctly:
"At least you still have some conscience..."

Next stop: the department store.

Kim Ji-won, holding a cake box in one hand and a half-eaten piece of buttered bread in the other, followed Kang Jae-hoon through the dazzling array of home furnishings.

He had a clear goal and headed straight for the holiday decorations shelf.

The shelves were filled with all sorts of decorations:

Sparkling ribbons, balloons of various shapes, banners printed with "Happy Birthday," and even... a few strings of early Christmas lights?
Kang Jae-hoon picked up a roll of golden ribbon and looked at it, then weighed a bag of helium balloons printed with cartoon patterns in his hand, seemingly not very satisfied.

Finally, his gaze fell on a string of warm white, simply designed star-shaped lights.

"How about this?" He picked up the string of lights and turned to ask Kim Ji-won for her opinion. Kim Ji-won was busy finishing the last bite of bread. When she heard this, she looked up, her mouth stuffed full, and could only mumble two "uh-huhs" to indicate that it was alright.

She belatedly realized what was happening and casually asked:
"Whose birthday is it? Why all this fuss?"

Kang Jae-hoon picked up the string of fairy lights, then casually grabbed a few packets of heart-shaped balloons in different colors and a roll of silver ribbon, walked to the cashier, and tossed out two words without looking back:

"Bible."

"Cough...cough cough cough!"

Kim Ji-won was instantly choked by the last crumb of bread in her throat.

Bible?!
Lee Sung-kyung?!
That Lee Sung-kyung with an aura that seems to stand two meters and eighty centimeters tall?!
and so……

The expensive cake she was happily carrying for him, and the decorations she accompanied him to buy... was it all a birthday surprise for one of Crystal's rivals?
Ugh... what is this?!

Kim Ji-won watched Kang Jae-hoon's back as he calmly paid the bill, savoring the lingering sweet taste on her lips and teeth, and silently rolled her eyes.

Fine.

Eat people with short mouths, and take people softly.

Besides, he had indeed slapped the other person a few more times because he was settling a personal score, so he was in the wrong from the start.

So be it, I'll just be a tool!

She quickly got into character—today she was just an emotionless handbag carrier, odd-job doer, and ribbon hanger!
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.

The silver-gray Santa Fe cruised through the bustling streets of Seoul before finally turning into a slightly run-down neighborhood.

The walls are mottled, the tree canopies are low, and the milk crates at the entrance of the building are faded.

Kim Ji-won, carrying a cake box, followed Kang Jae-hoon out of the car, curiously looking around at her surroundings:
"You...you live here?"

"how?"

Kang Jae-hoon carried the shopping bags and kept walking.

"nothing."

Kim Ji-won quickened her pace to catch up:
"It's just... a bit unexpected. I thought you would be living in a high-end apartment with tight security in Cheongdam-dong now."

In her opinion, given Kang Jae-hoon's current status and popularity, it's rather...unbelievable that he would choose such an open, old neighborhood with seemingly non-existent security.

Actually.

The accommodation environment was not that important to Kang Jae-hoon.

His schedule was so packed that he was like a spinning top being whipped, constantly going back and forth between the hotel and the film set. Even in Seoul, he often had to stay overnight elsewhere for various reasons (such as going to Yoona's house to "discuss projects" or being "checked up on" by Bae Suzy).

The amount of time I actually spend holed up in this little place is very limited.

But for Lee Sung-kyung...

This is her haven after get off work where she lets her guard down; it's where she keeps her bottles and jars of skincare products, and sometimes even lazily lounges on the sofa to binge-watch TV shows.

It's her home.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze swept over the familiar milk box at the entrance of the building, and a belated sense of guilt mixed with heartache quietly crept into his heart.

This dilapidated neighborhood.

This narrow stairwell.

They have lived here for almost seven years.

From an unknown extra and struggling model to now making a name for herself in her respective fields, Lee Sung-kyung has never complained.

Back when we were struggling financially.

It feels like just yesterday that the two of them were grabbing discounted bento boxes together at the convenience store downstairs.

Now conditions have completely changed; his endorsement fees are pouring in, and his rental housing project is booming...

She seemed to take the convenience of "home" and her care for granted, but never seriously considered whether she should also move to a more comfortable, safer, and more suitable environment for her current status.
"Aren't you leaving?"

Kim Ji-won's voice pulled Kang Jae-hoon back to reality. He turned to the side, letting Kim Ji-won go first:

"The stairs are a bit steep, be careful."

Holding the cake box, Kim Ji-won carefully stepped onto the narrow, steep concrete stairs. Her high heels clicked crisply on the smooth concrete steps.

"call……"

After climbing to the fifth floor, Kim Ji-won took a breath.

Kang Jae-hoon took out his keys and opened the door.

"Squeak-"

The security door made a familiar scraping sound.

The living room is not big.

But it was clean and tidy.

The afternoon sun slanted in through the balcony window, casting a warm patch of light on the beige fabric sofa.

"Change your shoes."

Kang Jae-hoon took a pair of clean slippers from the shoe cabinet and tossed them to Kim Ji-won.

Kim Ji-won changed her shoes, holding the cake box, and curiously looked around at the somewhat simple yet lively space.

"let's start."

Kang Jae-hoon placed the shopping bag on the coffee table and began taking things out—fairy lights, heart-shaped balloons, ribbons…

Kim Ji-won resignedly put down the cake box and rolled up her sleeves.

The tasks were assigned and distributed very clearly.

Kang Jae-hoon was in charge of inflating the balloons with an air pump.

Kim Ji-won took the inflated balloon, quickly tied a knot, and tossed it away.

The pink balloons then swayed and drifted into the gradually expanding colorful cloud above the living room.

Soon.

The small living room floor and the area beneath the low ceiling were already filled with dozens of floating pink, red, and gold heart-shaped balloons.

Kim Ji-won looked up at the blank space above her that needed to be filled.

—It's all bare there; hanging a string of them up there would look pretty good.

Next comes the part about displaying the artwork on the wall.

Kim Ji-won took off her slippers and stepped barefoot onto the soft fabric sofa. She stood on tiptoe, holding a balloon in her hand, and gestured to find a suitable spot on the wall.

Kang Jae-hoon was responsible for handing out balloons and tearing double-sided tape from behind.

The cooperation is quite good.

Four in a row failed.

When the fifth one is hung—a full red heart.

suddenly!

"boom--!!!"

The pink heart-shaped balloon, which was perfectly round and full just a moment ago, suddenly turned into countless rapidly flying pink rubber fragments at her fingertips without warning.

Kim Ji-won was terrified by the explosion so close at hand, and a short scream escaped her lips:

"what--!"

Startled, she almost instinctively took a step back.

But she completely forgot—

The floor beneath my feet isn't solid, but a soft sofa with varying heights.

He stepped into the air and instantly lost his balance.

His body suddenly fell backward uncontrollably.

My vision was spinning.

Finished!

Kim Ji-won closed her eyes in despair, anticipating a close encounter with the hard floor the next second, and perhaps even twisting her ankle...

however.

The expected pain did not occur.

—Kang Jae-hoon caught her in the blink of an eye. But his body was also forced to bend forward and perform a large-scale cushioning and deceleration movement due to the sudden weight and strong downward inertia.

The distance between the two instantly shrank to an extremely ambiguous threshold!
Kim Ji-won opened her eyes, still shaken.

What immediately catches the eye is Kang Jae-hoon's stunningly handsome face right up close.

She could even count his lowered eyelashes and feel his warm breath on her forehead.

thump!
thump!
My heart was pounding wildly in my chest!

Kim Ji-won, who was experiencing the shock of losing her balance and the panic of being so close at hand, had her beautiful big eyes wide open because she was at a loss. Her long eyelashes blinked rapidly and frantically like the wings of a startled butterfly!

My mind went blank, then was frantically filled with countless chaotic thoughts—

Is he going to kiss me? This distance... is too close! Oh no, I'm doomed!

【What should I do?! What should I do?! Should I just push her away? Wouldn't that be too embarrassing? Scream? That seems too exaggerated... Maybe... I should just close my eyes?! Ugh! What am I thinking?!】

[But seriously... from this unnaturally high angle, his taut jawline and... bobbing Adam's apple... are actually... kind of handsome?!]

[Pah! Kim Ji-won, have you lost your mind?! Is this the time to be thinking about something like this?! Help! I'm going crazy! The balloon explosion must have damaged my brain!]

Just as her mind was in complete chaos, with a mini-drama playing out in her head, and she didn't know whether to keep blinking or just close her eyes and pretend to faint.

The arm, as strong as steel, around her waist gently lifted her body upwards, helping her stand upright.

The movements were crisp and clean, without a trace of hesitation or affectation.

immediately.

Kang Jae-hoon took a small step back, widening the dangerously close distance between them, and his deep, steady voice rang out softly:

"Be careful."

Kim Ji-won stood there blankly, her cheeks uncontrollably burning hot.

All those jumbled thoughts that had been swirling in my head vanished instantly, leaving only a deep sense of embarrassment and awkwardness spreading wildly.

She lowered her head and quickly straightened the hem of her clothes, trying to cover up her earlier embarrassment.

Jiang Zai Xun acted as if nothing had happened, bent down and picked up a intact red heart from the pile of balloons scattered on the ground, and handed it to her.

"..."

Looking at the brand-new, bulging "heart" before her, and recalling the terrifying moment it had exploded in her hand just moments before, Kim Ji-won grabbed it with amusement, blushing and muttering under her breath:
"...It's all your fault for buying those cheap balloons..."

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.

As the last balloon floated safely to the ceiling, it adorned the warm white string lights.

The living room has been completely transformed.

The originally simple, even somewhat shabby space was filled with a sweet atmosphere—

A silver ribbon hangs gracefully in an arc from the corner. Warm, star-shaped string lights meander up the wall behind the sofa, reaching the edge of the ceiling.

Countless pink, gold, and red heart-shaped balloons floated gently in the low sky, refracting a dreamy halo under the soft glow of the string lights.

"call……"

Kim Ji-won looked around and was fairly satisfied with her cooking skills.

Kang Jae-hoon was quite satisfied with the ambiance. He immediately went to the kitchen, took a carton of banana milk with his handsome image and brand logo printed on it from the refrigerator, and handed it directly to her.
"You've worked hard, so I won't keep you for dinner."

Kim Ji-won silently accepted the box of cold banana milk, said nothing more, just nodded, and changed back into her high heels.

"Click."

The security door closed gently behind her.

She completely shut out the dreamy, warm light that she had just created, a light that didn't belong to her, from inside the door.

The dim light in the hallway carried a chill.

Kim Ji-won descended the steep, worn-smooth concrete stairs step by step. The strange feeling in her heart did not dissipate; instead, it continued to grow.

It feels a bit empty.

I'm a little... inexplicably annoyed.

She helped (though it was hard work), tidied up the house, and even almost tripped... but she was "kicked out" before she could even finish a glass of water?

This treatment...

Step out of the building entrance.

The evening breeze, carrying a slight chill, brushed against my cheek.

Kim Ji-won instinctively stopped in her tracks.

Looked up.

My gaze traveled through the intertwined leaves of the sycamore trees to the balcony window on the fifth floor.

The curtains were drawn tightly.

It felt as if the time spent busily setting things up inside, and even experiencing that little "accident," was just an illusion.

She looked away.

As I passed a car parked on the side of the road, I inexplicably turned slightly to the side, using the car window as a mirror—

An impeccable face was reflected in the glass.

Her skin was fair and delicate, her nose was straight and upturned, and her lips were full. In particular, her big eyes, which had been blinking wildly from fright and close contact just now, were still clear and bright in the dim light, with a natural sense of innocence.

Such a beautiful face...

Kim Ji-won silently raised an eyebrow at her reflection in the car window.

That distance just now...

That pose...

If it were any other man, even if he didn't take the opportunity to do anything, his eyes would at least show some reaction, right?
But what about him?
Hold on tight, stand still, let go, and hand over the balloon.

His movements were fluid and graceful, his eyes were calm and unwavering, and his tone was businesslike.

He's not the clueless, clueless blockhead he was two years ago!

Now, Kang Jae-hoon is surrounded by the tender affections of several female confidantes, and has long since shed his former naiveté.

How could he not understand?

This reaction...

It's so abnormal.

Kim Ji-won frowned slightly, a thought popping into her head uncontrollably, gently scratching at her heart:
Could it be...

Is this a case of feigned indifference to lure the prey into a trap?
Deliberately feigning indifference?
I want her to...

What do you want her to do?

The evening breeze, carrying the lingering heat of late summer, brushed against my cheeks.

It brings a sense of clarity.

She shook her head vigorously, as if trying to shake off this sudden, even more outrageous idea.

(End of this chapter)