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

Chapter 200 The Deepest Affection in the Holy Water Cave
The next day.

The filming location of "Descendants of the Sun," a military base converted from an abandoned hangar in Incheon.

A huge exhaust fan slowly rotated on the ceiling, casting crisscrossing light streaks and grid-like shadows.

Kang Jae-hoon had just changed into his olive-green military training uniform, sat down in the rest area, and opened a bottle of water.

"Hey!"

Someone nudged my shoulder with their elbow, not too hard, not too soft.

He knew who it was without even turning around.

Kim Ji-won's pretty face loomed closer from the side, winking and making faces, her voice low like a secret rendezvous:
"How about it?"

"How about what?"

Kim Ji-won clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction: "Don't play dumb! Yesterday's 'surprise project'!" She winked meaningfully, "And in the end... how did it go?"

Kang Jae-hoon recalled the pot of burnt seaweed soup and the ensuing chaos, and a slight smile involuntarily appeared on his lips:
"pretty good."

—It's really good.

The "filial piety bomb" that was prepared for Lee Sung-kyung's parents in Goyang City was successfully delivered.

After that clash of "forced delivery" and "handover" between him and Lee Sung-kyung, "mine" and "your" became synonymous.

She even successfully upgraded from "live-in boyfriend" to "head of the household".

And more importantly——

The girl agreed to move to the new place first, and he achieved his temporary goal of "living alone".

Every step is under control.

It's simply...perfect.

Kim Ji-won stared at the corners of his lips, which softened instantly and then quickly tightened, and felt a strange tickle in her heart, as if she had been scratched by tiny downy hairs.

It's itchy.

And it's a little...sour?
She immediately suppressed the untimely itch and pressed on, "How good is it? Tell me in detail?"

Kang Jae-hoon raised an eyebrow.

Tilt your head.

The sunlight cast a dappled shadow across his deep brow bone and high nose bridge, creating a three-dimensional effect that was half bright and half deep, and a half-smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"Are you trying to get more involved by asking so many probing questions?"

Kim Ji-won paused for a moment, not immediately understanding what "sense of participation" meant. But after meeting Kang Jae-hoon's meaningful gaze...

In a flash, his cheeks suddenly burned.

"Oh my! Kang Jae-hoon—!"

Kim Ji-won let out a soft cry of embarrassment and annoyance, and lightly spat at Kang Jae-hoon:
"Scumbag!"

"Tsk."

Kang Jae-hoon was displeased upon hearing this.

I didn't scumbag you, ah... no, I've never scumbagd anyone at all!

That's called deep affection!

As for how deep?
Is this question important? No! Anyway, in Kang Jae-hoon's dictionary—

"Deep affection" is the only true testament; the label of "scumbag" should never be worn!

"You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. I'm known as the most affectionate person in Shengshuidong."

"Ah, yes, yes!"

Kim Ji-won didn't even bother to roll her eyes.

She crossed her arms and gave his handsome, righteous face a chilling look—

"The most affectionate guy in Seongsudong is taking his ex-girlfriend's best friend home, right?"

"Ha! This affection... is truly profound!"

the end.

Kim Ji-won nodded seriously:

"Alright... broaden your perspective, let's explore unconventional expressions of deep affection!"

Kang Jae-hoon was so angry at Kim Ji-won's ability to take things out of context and distort the truth that his teeth started to itch. He glared at Kim Ji-won's pretty yet "sharp" little face:

"Kim Ji-won, with your ability to take things out of context, stir up trouble, and distort the truth, even if you can't continue acting, you could easily make a name for yourself as a copy editor at a third-rate newspaper!"

Upon hearing this, Kim Ji-won not only didn't get angry, but instead raised her eyebrows high, meeting Kang Jae-hoon's fiery eyes, and a sweet smile that was three parts mockery and seven parts teasing spread across her lips:

"Thank you for the compliment~"

"Then Kang Jae-hoon-ssi..."

Her gaze swept up and down Kang Jae-hoon's handsome face, whose features were sharp and taut even when he was angry. She spoke with a deliberately drawn-out, rhythmic tone:
"With that face and that figure, if you didn't become an actor, you could definitely be the star attraction of any high-end nightclub as their top male escort!"

"By the time……"

Kim Ji-won even made a gesture of counting banknotes with her fingers:
"I promise I'll use the money those PR accounts that spread negative information about you to click on your posts and help you boost your sales figures!"

The sound is crisp and clear.

Every word is heartbreaking.

It's as if I can already see myself dominating in a luxurious private room, while a certain "top performer" forces a smile.

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

Okay.

The logic is perfectly closed.

So, this once-hot, rising star of Chungmuro's acting scene, destined for "unemployment" and a life of hardship, will have to thank this top-ranking woman for her "generosity" and "timely help," using the money she swindled from him to boost his performance?!
He felt his blood pressure instantly surge to the top of his head.

If things continued like this, he was afraid that he might act impulsively and stage an action movie in front of everyone, like "Sergeant Xu Darong angrily strangles Lieutenant Yin Mingzhu".

"Go! Go! Go!"

Kang Jae-hoon was completely defeated.

He waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away a noisy and annoying pretty little sparrow:

Go memorize your lines.

Kim Ji-won instantly sensed his palpable, almost explosive, aura.

The outcome has been decided.

Don't stay here for long!

immediately--

With her head held high and her heels clicking audibly on the concrete, her shapely waist and hips, clad in her training uniform, swayed slightly from side to side in a defiant rhythm.

Jiang Zai Xun stared intently at the twisting figure, a vein on his forehead throbbing subtly.

If the gaze could be visualized.

It's estimated that two bloody holes have already been poked into that swaying back.

Until that arrogant figure disappeared around the corner of the props area.

A young female stagehand, still affected by the dark struggle just now, shrank her neck and carefully handed over a folded white A4 sheet of paper:
"Kang Jae-hoon-ssi..."

"The next scene... is your show..."

"...Notice..."

Kang Jae-hoon forcefully suppressed the raging fire in his chest caused by Kim Ji-won.

Silently repeat three times in your heart: A good man doesn't fight with a woman.

Filming is the priority!

Trying to regain his composure, he said in a deep voice, "Thank you."

However, all the frustration that Kim Ji-won had just vented was poured onto the paper, and as a result, the force was too great. The notice sheet tore open with a "rip".

Kang Jae-hoon looked down at the tattered notice: "..."

The young female stagehand next to him: "..." (She didn't know where to look.jpg)

The air froze for five seconds.

He silently and very gently, with a hint of repentant apology, pressed the cracked corner back into place. Then he carefully smoothed it out with his fingertips.

Then, his expression instantly returned to the calm and collected "Xu Darong" style that the director liked the most.

Lower your head.

With great seriousness—

He began to study the time and scene number of the "next scene" printed on the notice, which he already knew by heart.

……

Later.

Kang Jae-hoon entered the filming area on time, as per the schedule.

For him and the veteran actor playing Commander Yin, today's scenes were merely transitional moments that propelled the plot forward.

—After returning to China, Xu Darong was assigned to work at an elite training institution under the Army Special Operations Command, where he was responsible for high-intensity training and selecting a suitable candidate to replace Liu Shizhen as the captain of Alpha Team. Liu Shizhen was then sent to work at the Army Headquarters or the Ministry of National Defense to build connections.

The dialogue flowed smoothly, and the performance was on point.

That day's filming was over.

Kang Jae-hoon sat on a plastic chair in the rest area and took out his phone.

Jin Dayuan's information had already been quietly sitting at the top of the list.

Click to open.

PDF attachment.

——【Letter of Intent for Lease of Unit 2001, 20th Floor, Building B1, Xibingkudong, Longshan District, Jiangpan Yunqi】

Lessee: Jiang Zaixun

Location: 20th floor (second highest), facing north and south
Area: 56.6 ping (approximately 16.6 square meters)

Lease term: 1 years

Deposit: 500 million Korean won

Monthly rent: 220 million Korean won

Total amount: 500 million + 2640 million = 3140 million Korean won

Additional terms: Landlord pays agency commission; includes two underground parking spaces; all property management fees included.

Attached to the bottom of the document are actual photos of the view from the 20th-floor balcony.

—Looking out over the Han River, it stretches like a ribbon, its shimmering waters reflecting the steel frame of the Banpo Bridge. The iconic Namsan Tower of Seoul is clearly visible, standing atop a lush, rolling green hillside.

The view is superb, just as the advertisement says, offering a view of the city's green lung and the dazzling river.

[Jin Dayuan]: Let me tell you, my landlady really likes the tycoon son you played. When she heard you were the tenant, she agreed to let me rent to her without hesitation. The rent is 30 won/month cheaper, and the agency fee is included. There are just some conditions…

[Jin Dayuan]: (Attached image: a handwritten note)
Kang Jae-hoon clicked on the larger image.

The note was written in neat Korean:
[Kang Jae-hoon, after you move in, please remember to get an autographed photo of Hwang Jung-min for your aunt! Thank you! ^_^]

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

They like the chaebol heir I played, and then they ask for Hwang Jung-min's autographed photo?
Fine.

Let the title of "killer of middle-aged and elderly women" go to the teachers...

Subsequently.

Kang Jae-hoon selected all the contracts and photos sent by Kim Dae-won, opened his Kakao Talk chat box with Lee Sung-kyung, and sent them all at once.

[Kang Jae-hoon]: (Forwarded: Contract.pdf) (5 images)

[Kang Jae-hoon]: You've decided on this house? If there's no problem, I'll sign the papers.

The message has just been marked as "delivered".

The phone in my palm suddenly started vibrating violently.

"Buzz...buzz..."

An unexpected yet perfectly logical note suddenly appeared—

Lim Yoona.

Kang Jae-hoon's fingertip just touched the green answer button on the screen:

"Hey?"

On the other end of the receiver, a sickeningly sweet, cloyingly coquettish voice, each syllable coated in sugar and utterly affected, burst into my ears—

"I...I just...dreamed of...a ghost!"

The final note lingered for three feet, trembling so intensely it felt like I was about to suffocate.

"..."

Jiang Zaixun was petrified instantly.

Having grown accustomed to her voice, clear as a spring falling onto a jade plate, and having witnessed her soft moans when moved by emotion, and even... the delicate whimpers that overflowed when she was aroused to the point of losing control.

But this was the first time he had ever experienced such a forceful, strained clamp, as if he had been possessed by a kindergarten child.

Kang Jae-hoon abruptly pulled the phone away from his ear, the screen flashing brightly—

17:31 PM. At this time...

The nightclub wasn't even lit up yet, so this definitely wasn't drunken ramblings.

and.

Yoona's drinking habits... don't seem to make that kind of noise.

That is……

Does this imply that he hasn't contacted her at all these days and hasn't gone to see her?

Did I neglect her?

Counting the days, it's been since that night.

He dealt with the bullying case non-stop, then threw himself into the intensive filming of "Descendants of the Sun," and later busied himself with the whole rental project and Lee Sung-kyung's new home.

Lack of separation.

Indeed... it's been a long time since we last met.

Just as eight hundred guesses were swirling through his mind, a chill began to run down his spine, and he was contemplating whether to immediately kneel down and apologize, feign amnesia, or confess and beg for leniency—

On the other end of the phone.

Im Yoona seemed to become even more nervous from his long silence, and her deliberately "cute" demeanor was about to crumble, her voice becoming even more hurried and strained:
"...How's it going to be when I talk like this now?"

A faint electric current seemed to surge through Kang Jae-hoon's spine, and his scalp began to tighten involuntarily.

Panic.

I'm starting to panic.

This is so strange, it's even more unsettling than if I just beat him up!

How do I connect this?!

Should I praise her for "clamping it well"? Or should I say, "You're acting normal, I'm scared"?
But it's not a big deal to just keep playing dead.

We must respond.

So, Kang Jae-hoon forced out a sentence from his throat:
"Why are you so cute today?"

After the words were spoken, there was a deathly silence on the receiver.

Kang Jae-hoon held his breath, sweating profusely.

Could it be... that the flattery went awry?!

The next second—

"Wow--!!!"

"Oh mo! Oh mo! Oh mo!"

"Wow! He actually said it!!"

"Yoona won!!!"

Seven or eight female voices, some high-pitched, some surprised, and some bursting with uncontrollable laughter, instantly broke through the receiver's confinement, roaring out from the eerie silence that had just passed.

The sound waves made his eardrums ring!

Followed by.

Amidst a chaotic background noise of chickens and dogs running amok.

Kwon Yuri's energetic voice forcefully drowned out the chaotic wave of girl group music, crashing directly into Kang Jae-hoon's ears:

"Hello Kang Jae-hoon-ssi, this is Yuri. Were you surprised? We were just filming our variety show 'Girls' Generation Channel'!"

"Yoona's mission objective is to hear something like 'Why is Yoona so cute?' from you within one minute!"

"Your last line, 'You look so cute today,' perfectly meets the mission requirements, so the mission is a success! Congratulations Yoona, and thank you Kang Jae-hoon for your wonderful performance!"

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

Okay...

All that frantic, brain-racking response I put together was actually for the young lady to rack up points for her variety show tasks!
The inexplicable and eerie pressure hanging over my chest vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of speechless absurdity and absurdity, as if I had stumbled upon incredible luck.

"Kang Jae-hoon-ssi, would you mind saying hello to our viewers?"

"Ok."

Kang Jae-hoon cleared his throat, switching his voice to a professional radio announcer's tone:
"Dear viewers of Girls' Channel, I am very happy to meet you in this way (actually, no). I am actor Kang Jae-hoon."

"We hope everyone will give Girls' Generation lots of support for this comeback..."

There was a pause.

Professionalism is paramount; not a single advertising space will be wasted.

"In addition, the movie 'Veteran,' in which I starred, is currently showing in theaters nationwide. Please give it your attention and support!"

"Yes! Thank you for your help with the performance, Kang Jae-hoon!"

Yuri's voice, tinged with laughter, officially concluded:

"If you have the chance next time, please come visit our 'Girls' Channel'?"

In the background, Yoona seems to be complaining quietly about something, but her voice is drowned out by a chorus of cheers: "Come! You absolutely have to come!"

"Definitely next time."

Kang Jae-hoon provided the standard answer for a working professional.

"Hey! You promised? 'Next time' won't do! You need to give me a specific time!"

Hyoyeon's "questioning" was accompanied by laughter.

"Alright, alright!"

Taeyeon interrupted with a smile, her voice close to the microphone: "Kang Jae-hoon-ssi, thank you again! Bye-bye~!"

"Bye-Bye!"

"Bye-bye!"

A series of clear and bright female voices bid farewell, filling the receiver one after another.

"beep--"

A busy tone sounds.

The world was once again filled with the loud hum of exhaust fans and the noisy chatter of people on the film set.

Kang Jae-hoon stared at the screen, which had returned to complete darkness, for two seconds.

The cloying, sticky aftertaste seemed to linger on my auditory nerves, impossible to shake off.

He rubbed the goosebumps that had risen on his arms, a subtle impulse unconsciously rising within him—he wanted to go see her.

After all, that sweet and coquettish voice is quite captivating...

Swipe to unlock your phone screen and tap to open the chat window with Im Yoon-a:

What time does recording finish? Should I come see you tonight?

Just as I was about to click send, certain unusually intense scenes from last night flashed through my mind like a movie...

And at this moment, there are still fresh red marks on my neck and chest, barely covered by my clothes, that haven't completely faded.

In well-lit areas, you think you can just use the tired old excuse of "mosquito bites" to get away with it?

The difficulty level is a bit high.

Especially since the person opposite her is as insightful as Yoona.

The risk factor is at its maximum.

He could almost picture Yoona's bright, doe-like eyes scanning those marks with a playful smile...

hiss……

Think before and after.

Kang Jae-hoon silently deleted the draft of the line, "I'll come see you tonight?"

Tap with your fingertips:

[I was so busy on set today... I'm exhausted (crying panda face emoji). Maybe we can meet up in a couple of days?]

send.

He placed his phone face down on his lap.

Forget it...

Safety first.

Let's wait a couple of days until the mark fades.

Immediately, Jiang Zai Xun picked up the half-empty mineral water bottle next to him, trying to extinguish the inexplicable heat in his heart stirred up by various "voices".

The instant the icy water slid down my throat.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kang Jae-hoon spotted a tan-colored figure moving furtively in the shadows of the film set.

Not long after.

The figure swayed forward and stopped a step away from him.

No words were spoken.

She simply held up her small hand holding the phone in front of him, with the screen facing him.

A clear picture on the screen—

Just a minute ago, he awkwardly took the phone away from his ear, then put it back, and finally squeezed out the words "Why are you so cute today?" into the video.

"Wow……"

"Our Chungmuro's rising acting star, the number one romantic contestant in Seongsu-dong—Kang Jae-hoon-ssi?"

The last syllable of his voice trailed off slowly and for a long time, allowing the audience to appreciate the fleeting, brilliant look of astonishment that crossed his face.

"you say……"

"What would happen if I sent that sweet video call I just had to Queen Lee Sung-kyung?"

"..."

The look of astonishment in Kang Jae-hoon's eyes lasted for less than half a second.

immediately.

Like thin ice melting in the sunlight, a faint smile spread from the corners of her mouth.

He was not at all alarmed by this threat.

The conversations on the show were all polite exchanges and business dealings; every single sentence could withstand repeated scrutiny.

Don't even mention sending it.

He was even willing to personally present himself to Lee Sung-kyung to prove his innocence.

At most, I might get bitten a couple of times by a jealous lioness, but that's a family matter, a business matter behind closed doors.

As for the "threat" posed by this beautiful sparrow in front of us?
It poses no threat whatsoever.

He knew Kim Ji-won's personality well; would he really let her send out something that could trigger a "family annihilation tragedy"?
She wouldn't dare even if she had ten times the courage.

This girl's pose is clearly just a bluff.

What is the purpose?
They simply want "compensation," or simply enjoy the pleasure of having him under their thumb.

then.

Kang Jae-hoon simply relaxed his back and even changed to a more comfortable sitting posture.

One leg was casually crossed over the other bent knee, elbows rested on the chair armrests, and chin slightly raised. He leisurely met Kim Ji-won's bright eyes, which seemed to say, "Beg me now."

A knowing, amused smile played at the corners of his lips as he raised an eyebrow and said:

"So, what are the conditions for deleting the video?"

Let’s get straight to the point.

Let's jump straight to the negotiating table.

Kim Ji-won's smug smile, which seemed to say "You'd better beg me," froze for a moment.

This guy……

It's one thing to do things differently than usual!

How come he doesn't show even the slightest bit of nervousness one would expect from being "caught red-handed"?! He even seems to be showing a hint of... indulgence, as if he saw through her trick?
This made her carefully planned opening scene of "clutching at someone's weakness"... instantly fall flat!
A sense of defeat made her cheeks puff out slightly, but she quickly composed herself, gathered her thoughts, and gave herself a way out:
"I haven't decided yet!"

"...I just think it's fun. Hmm! It's better to have something on you than to be caught off guard...you get it?"

Done.

She seemed afraid that his insightful eyes would reveal more flaws in her.

Kim Ji-won turned around decisively!
The high heels clattered on the concrete floor, creating a slightly frantic rhythm.

Slim waist design.

They vanished in a flash.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze remained fixed on that almost breezy figure, the playful smile on his lips fading, replaced by a thoughtful and contemplative expression.

—Has this girl been paying a little too much attention to me lately?

From the "voluntary work" at the birthday venue (now that I think about it, wasn't that a bit too "thoughtful"?)...

She would tirelessly run to the film set to banter with him (I don't think we'd ever had such frequent "chance encounters" and "provocative exchanges" before)...

Then, at this moment, he captured the "socially awkward moment" and immediately clutched the phone in his hand like a "toy" (although he said he hadn't thought of the conditions, he was still gripping the phone tightly...).
Could she be...?
(End of this chapter)