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

Chapter 208 I'm sorry, it's all because your lips are too beautiful

Chapter 208 I'm sorry, it's all because your lips are too beautiful
September 15th.

The area outside the international departure hall of Seoul Incheon International Airport was already bustling with activity.

The van carrying Kang Jae-hoon came to a smooth stop at the entrance of the special lane.

The car door slid open.

As he stepped out of the car, a small group of people who had been waiting in the vicinity immediately erupted in excited screams.

“Ahhhh——!!!”

"Oppa! Saranghae!!!"

"The new show is a huge hit!!!"

"He's so handsome! His legs are two meters long!!"

"..."

The fans' excited shouts almost lifted the entire terminal's dome off.

Kang Jae-hoon did not deliberately hide his schedule; in fact, he proactively revealed it to the fansite admins.

The filming trip to Greece lasted nearly a month and a half.

In the fast-paced world of K-pop, where trends change faster than spring flowers fade, such a long period of no exposure is undoubtedly a hidden risk. Especially during a crucial window for evaluating Carrera's endorsement deals!
then.

Airports, a semi-open stage between private trips and public appearances, have become the best choice for exposure.

The deep olive green bomber jacket neatly accentuates the shoulder line, the pure white T-shirt neckline reveals the collarbone just right, the light blue washed jeans hug the long legs, and the shoes are spotless AJ sneakers.

The metal necklace hanging around her neck silently echoes the steel blue dial of her Carrera Calibre 5 on her wrist.

—His OOTD was a visually striking look orchestrated by Lee Sung-kyung to serve commercial goals. Every single item was chosen to perfectly complement the sporty DNA of the Carrera watch on his wrist.

Kang Jae-hoon responded to the gazes and calls with an impeccable professional smile on his face.

This was then combined with different shooting angles—

The side profile, the head bowed to tie the shoelaces, the hand raised in farewell—every movement was natural and fluid, yet precisely maximized the exposure of the watch.

finally.

Kang Jae-hoon bowed deeply to the crowd of excited fans gathered outside the VIP passage, his face blurred with emotion, silently conveying his gratitude through his gesture.

I thank them for taking the time to come and see me off on my journey.

He then turned around decisively.

The security checkpoint gate slowly swallowed his back.

The fans' shouts were blocked by the glass door, becoming a distant, muffled sound of the tide.

Step into the bustling hall.

The noise did not diminish in the slightest despite the distance.

Kang Jae-hoon allowed himself ample time.

It won't arrive too early, causing the awkwardness of colleagues arriving later having to get up and greet each other as soon as they enter; nor will it be too late, leaving the impression of lacking a sense of time or even being arrogant.

Successfully passed through the security checkpoint.

The door to the private lounge was pushed open.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze swept across the small space.

A few crew members and colleagues who had arrived early were scattered around.

And on the soft sofa in the corner.

Kim Ji-won sat elegantly, a pair of large sunglasses almost covering half of her face, her aura was a slightly deliberate attempt to create aloofness.

In fact, Kim Ji-won and Jung Soo-jung are quite similar at heart—both are naturally introverted and shy. They only show their cheerful and lively nature in front of familiar people.

He saw Kang Jae-hoon come in.

Her disguise behind her sunglasses crumbled almost instantly, and her fair wrist swung at him with considerable force from several meters away.

Kang Jae-hoon nodded slightly, but did not rush to her.

She first smiled and nodded to each of the other staff members who had arrived, exchanging brief greetings. After handling the basic etiquette, she walked to the sofa and naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Kim Ji-won.

"Wow~"

Kim Ji-won turned to face him, her sunglasses slipping down her nose slightly to reveal a pair of beautiful, watery eyes.

"I could feel the ceiling shaking inside! The cheering... was it for you just now?"

That tone.

Three parts are confirmation, and seven parts are an undisguised sense of envy: "Why is there such a big difference in treatment when everyone is a second lead?"

—When she arrived at the airport, there wasn't a single bubble in the air!

"what……"

Kang Jae-hoon nodded frankly, showing no sign of showing off, and raised his wrist to shake the Carrera Calebre 5:

"There's no way around it... it's all about KPIs, KPIs!"

Kim Ji-won: “…”

This explanation not only failed to comfort her, but it was like pouring half a pot of lemon vinegar into the jar in her heart!
She debuted three years earlier than Kang Jae-hoon and is a graduate of a prestigious university's drama and film department.

The results of it?
That damn junior!

Not only did the box office explode, but they even managed to turn a farewell at the airport into a Carrera new product launch!

acid!
It's so sour!

Kim Ji-won couldn't help but purse her lips, and even through her sunglasses, her sour lemon-like aura of resentment seemed to intensify.

Kang Jae-hoon didn't delve into the complex emotions she was experiencing at that moment.

Or perhaps she didn't know how to comfort her about this gap in their careers.

then.

To change the subject.

His arm naturally crossed the "social distancing" line, and with a flick of his index finger, he neatly and cleanly removed the sunglasses from Kim Ji-won's nose.

Sunglasses removed.

Kim Ji-won squinted slightly to adjust to the light, and the pretense on her face instantly vanished.

Before she could react.

Kang Jae-hoon had already put his sunglasses on his straight nose with great interest and turned his face left and right in front of the reflection in the glass opposite.

"This shape really flatters the face, what brand is it?"

“BLANC&ECLARE”.

"Have not heard."

"Your ex-girlfriend's older sister started her own brand last year."

"……Oh."

Talk about it.

Jessica Jung has high aspirations.

From the very beginning, the brand positioned its products directly against the "GM" sunglasses brand's affordable luxury positioning—a single pair of sunglasses was priced at 300,000 Korean won.

The result...

Relying on the huge momentum of the early stage of the fan economy, "BLANC & ECLARE" did indeed stir up a small wave, achieving sales of 1000 million Korean won in four hours at its specialty stores.

however.

When the initial enthusiasm fades.

The consequence was the loss of a large portion of the local South Korean consumer base.

After all, for the average person, spending 300,000 won on a pair of sunglasses from a non-international top-tier luxury brand is hardly a good value for money.

now.

The brand internally clearly accepted the advice of an "expert," making a major strategic shift and concentrating its efforts on overseas markets, especially targeting the lucrative Chinese market.

therefore.

It's perfectly normal that Kang Jae-hoon hadn't heard of this small brand, which has almost no presence in South Korea.

He took off his sunglasses and handed them back to Kim Ji-won, casually asking:
How have you been resting these past few days?

"It's great, I can sleep in until I naturally wake up and watch some shows. What about you?"

"Tired."

Kang Jae-hoon twitched the corners of his mouth, an expression that could hardly be called a smile.

It's really tiring.

Compared to Kim Ji-won, who genuinely enjoyed a few days of personal rest, Kang Jae-hoon's "rest" was nothing but a sham.

These past few days he's been spinning like a top, rushing from one event to another.

During the day, she tirelessly attends promotional events for various brands she endorses.

Flashbulbs, microphones, formulaic smiles, meticulously planned schedules... every minute is burning.

At night.

Even that precious time alone became a luxury.

With an upcoming trip to Greece and a separation of a month and a half, the "pain of longing" became an excellent excuse.

Yoona and Lee Sung-kyung coexisted peacefully due to their time-difference strategy, but their need for "food" (food) surged to an unprecedented level on the eve of their departure.

Such high-intensity, non-stop physical and mental exhaustion.

Let alone flesh and blood.

Even the strongest iron could not withstand such double exploitation.

Hear the words.

Kim Ji-won was slightly taken aback at first.

Followed by.

Certain images and associations uncontrollably flooded her mind in an instant. Two distinct blushes instantly rose on her fair cheeks, her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she spat into the air with a hint of embarrassment and annoyance:
"...Serves you right!"

Tsk!
That little expression...

Kang Jae-hoon's eyes narrowed immediately. He rested his elbows on his knees and looked at Kim Ji-won with a serious expression.
"Kim Ji-won, when I say I'm tired, I mean I've been attending events non-stop these past few days, it's work! Work! What unhealthy things are you thinking about all day? Hmm?"

Kim Ji-won: “…”

She met Kang Jae-hoon's frank gaze and was so taken aback that she almost choked.

My cheeks felt even hotter.

I wanted to argue back, but I felt that no matter what I said, it would be like jumping into a trap this bastard had dug. It would only make things worse and make me look even more "unhealthy".

"whispering sound!"

Kim Ji-won grabbed a magazine from the side and flipped through it noisily, trying to hide the heat on her face and end the conversation.

About half a minute later.

Her almond-shaped eyes darted around to make sure no one was watching, then she covered her face with the magazine and nudged him furtively with her elbow.

"Hey."

"what?"

"...You...that aspect of..."

Kim Ji-won paused for a moment, seemingly choosing her words, but ultimately used the most direct approach: "Isn't it really amazing?"

Rather than being wrongly accused of having unhealthy thoughts, it's better to... better to just confirm it!
Let me clarify!

This bastard can navigate between Lin Yun, Lee Sung-kyung, and Bae Suzy, and keep the three of them "at peace on the surface." How could he possibly do that without some extraordinary "skills" and "energy"?

In her opinion.

This is probably one of the key elements that is indispensable for maintaining that dangerous balance.

Kang Jae-hoon: "...?!!"

Even with his strong mental fortitude, this sudden, direct, and "fatal" question made him momentarily think he was hallucinating.

This girl... isn't even going to act anymore?

To ask such a question so brazenly in the common lounge?!
“…I refuse to answer!”

For an instant.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly remembered the news that Lee Byung-hun had been exposed by the media for talking about restricted topics with two former girl group members.

That kind of thing...

Those explicit topics...

How can we so openly and shamelessly bring it up for discussion and exchange?
Such a comparison.

Jiang Zai Xun suddenly realized that he was still too innocent and harmless on this track. His usual carefree and innocent behavior was like that of a pure white flower.

……

The electronic announcements from the terminal building continued to coldly cut through the air, bombarding passengers with flight information in four languages.

The door to the lounge was pushed open again.

Song Joong-ki walked in.

Kang Jae-hoon sprang up from the sofa almost reflexively and strode over to meet him.

"Brother Song-ki!"

"Jaehoon."

The two approached each other, their fists lightly touched, and their shoulders bumped.

They exchanged a few pleasantries.

The two sat down together and began to talk in hushed tones, seemingly about the upcoming filming.

It didn't take long.

The boarding announcement clearly drowned out the last whispers in the lounge.

The staff member stood up to confirm the list.

The group filed out, passed through the designated passage, and headed towards the boarding gate.

The automatic gangway slowly rose, shutting out the noise from the ground. The hatch closed, and the deep roar of the engines could be heard through the fuselage.

……

Kang Jae-hoon and Kim Ji-won were seated next to each other.

Take your seat.

fasten your seatbelt.

He glanced at Kim Ji-won's dignified and serene appearance, as if the person who had made the startling remarks in the lounge just minutes before was someone else entirely, and had nothing to do with her.

But he knew it in his heart.

Beneath this calm surface, who knows what kind of surprise attack might be brewing.

To avoid her bringing up that dreaded question again, Kang Jae-hoon decided to strike first.

Thoughts flashed through.

He casually pulled out his tablet and opened his pre-cached movie list.

Then he pulled out a pair of high-fidelity wireless earbuds covered in delicate silicone ear tips. Without asking for permission, he gently inserted one of them into the ear that Kim Ji-won was facing towards him.

Kim Ji-won was caught off guard.

But her body only shifted very slightly to the side, without resisting.

The light from the tablet shone on her face.

The images began to flow.

It's a slow-paced romantic movie.

Kang Jae-hoon also put on another earphone.

In the cramped space, the two sat side by side, their cochleas filled with the resonance of the same movie soundtrack.

One trying to feign composure.

One is trying to forcibly divert attention.

The world was temporarily shut out by those tiny headphones.

……

After the flight stabilizes.

The cabin lighting was designed to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Perhaps the days of filming and preparation had taken a toll on my mental energy, or perhaps the pace of that romance film was too slow.

Kim Ji-won's head unconsciously rested on his shoulder.

Breathing is even and long.

Kang Jae-hoon tilted his head slightly.

His gaze lowered, landing on her sleeping face.

Too close.

So close that you can see the fine hairs on her delicate skin.

Closer still, were those soft lips.

It wasn't the usual bright red lipstick, but an extremely clear and natural grayish-pink. It was as if covered by a layer of soft mist, appearing gentle and non-aggressive, creating a wonderful contrast with her eyes when she was awake, whether they were cunning or lively.

This color... is so beautiful.

A sudden surge of heat shot up his spine, and he turned his head almost instantly, his gaze fixed on the tablet screen in front of him, which was still quietly playing a romantic story.

Brain: Keep your eyes peeled for the plot!

Eyes: Command received! Analyze the color composition of the image...

but……

The full, slightly upturned contours of those grayish-pink lips, and their glossy sheen, were like a high-definition projection implanted in the brain, uncontrollably seizing control of the visual nerves.

On screen, the male and female leads are kissing passionately, seemingly inseparable.

His mind was filled with that slightly open, damned grayish-pink color beside him.

torment.

He shifted restlessly in his seat.

His Adam's apple bobbed unconsciously.

My gaze finally couldn't resist, slowly sliding back to the sleeping face so close to mine.

then.

He almost had a "passing the buck" mentality—he deliberately shrugged his right shoulder a little too much.

The head on my shoulder was shaken.

"Well……"

Kim Ji-won uttered a muffled murmur, her long eyelashes fluttering a few times before she opened her sleepy eyes in a daze.

She was clearly not fully awake yet, her eyes still watery and dazed as she stared blankly at the face of the person whose shoulder she had just used as a "pillow".

Kang Jae-hoon turned his body slightly to the side, his face displaying a perfectly balanced expression of discomfort and apology for disturbing the other person. He then rubbed his index finger firmly against the side of his neck.
"This necklace pendant has been digging into my skin the whole way, and it seems... my skin is a little red and irritated. Could you help me take it off?"

Kim Ji-won had just woken up and was still a little dazed. Upon hearing this, she nodded subconsciously.
"Oh."

Her voice still carried the soft sweetness of someone who had just woken up, and her movements were somewhat clumsy due to drowsiness.

Her slender fingers carefully explored the small metal clasp.

His body naturally leaned towards Kang Jae-hoon in order to get closer and see the fine structure clearly.

Kang Jae-hoon kept his head down, his gaze seemingly fixed on her hands. But as she drew closer, he naturally moved half an inch toward her as well.

The distance between them was rapidly shrinking without them even noticing.

Not long after.

Kim Ji-won finally unbuttoned the clasp.

mission completed.

She raised her head subconsciously.

The moment I looked up, my gaze met a pair of eyes that were inches away.

The distance... is just too close!

So close that I could even see my own bewildered, magnified reflection in his pupils, the fine texture of his skin, and every tiny hair on his face.

The warm breath brushed against my cheeks and lips without any obstruction, stirring up a slight shiver.

thump!
thump!
thump!
The violent thumping sound pounded wildly in my eardrums, drowning out the faint movie sound effects remaining in my headphones, and also drowning out the hum of the airplane engine.

The blood seemed to rush to my cheeks and ears all at once.

It was burning hot, and I forgot to breathe.

This is the moment!

Jiang Zai Xun no longer hesitated, not even giving himself time to back out. He tilted his head forward slightly and covered her slightly parted, yet incredibly alluring, grey-pink lips.

It has a soft and warm feel.

The stay was so short that it was almost negligible.

Like a hallucination.

Yet it feels incredibly real.

"——!!!"

Kim Ji-won's eyes widened instantly, filled with a bewildered, utterly shocked expression.

That audacious bastard!!!
What did he just do?!

After being startled awake by that brief but burning touch, Kim Ji-won felt as if her soul had been ripped away for a few seconds before returning to its place.

however.

After the initial shock, what occupied her mind first was not anger, not shyness, not even any emotional processing of this transgression itself.

But -

She abruptly turned her head, subtly scanning the surrounding space, searching for any possible prying eyes.

The middle-aged man wearing noise-canceling headphones and dozing off to the left front didn't react.

The young female assistant behind her, engrossed in watching a drama on a small screen, didn't look up.

Further away, the rest of the crew either closed their eyes to rest or were engrossed in their respective screens.

Quiet.

Only the engine's continuous low-frequency hum could be heard.

There were no strange looks.

No spying was detected.

Safety confirmed.

The nerves that had been stretched to the limit finally relaxed a little.

But what followed was a belated and overwhelming surge of shame and anger!
She whirled around, her beautiful eyes practically spitting fire, glaring fiercely at the instigator beside her:
"what are you doing?!"

Kang Jae-hoon showed no remorse or panic at being caught red-handed stealing a kiss; his gaze was open and almost self-righteous.

"I'll kiss you."

Kim Ji-won was so taken aback by his straightforward, blunt, and shameless admission that she almost choked on her breath.

Is she asking about this description of behavior?!

She was asking about the motive!

That's the reason!
Why did he do that?!
Her full breasts heaved with rapid breathing as she gritted her teeth and said:

"Why?"

She needed an explanation. An answer that could give her confused mind some direction.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze fell on her face, lingering for two seconds on her lips, which were even more moist from their angry kiss, and he said:

"beautiful."

Kim Ji-won: “…”

All the questions, anger, and prepared rebukes stuck in her throat. She opened her mouth, only to find that she had suddenly lost the ability to speak.

To be fair.

Did she resent Kang Jae-hoon's sudden action?

If we truly delve into the deepest, most fundamental feelings...

the answer is negative.

Otherwise, Jiang Zaixun would already have a clear five-finger mark on his face by now. The fact that she didn't make a move already speaks volumes.

but!
This feels even worse!

Does not being averse to something mean...some degree of acceptance? Or even...a flutter of the heart?
This realization made her even more panicked.

It wasn't guilt towards Kang Jae-hoon's "official" ambiguous relationships (those complicated emotions were temporarily suppressed), but rather towards Jung Soo-jung!
That close best friend with whom she once shared her secrets, complained about men, and was inseparable.

Kim Ji-won was kissed by Jung Soo-jung's ex-boyfriend tens of thousands of feet in the air?!

How will she face Krystal Jung in the future?
How do you explain this?!
The foundation of their friendship seemed to crack at that moment.

This moral constraint and the weight of friendship weighed far more heavily on her heart than Kang Jae-hoon's scumbag behavior of cheating on her with several women. It became the clearest and most insurmountable obstacle in her mind.

finally.

All emotions were transformed into a strong accusation against the culprit before them.

Kim Ji-won glared at him again:

"Apologize to me!"

"...sorry."

The apology was for this sudden transgression, and also for her obvious distress at that moment.

"continue!"

Kim Ji-won persisted, as if a simple apology was far from enough to heal the wounds in her heart.

"Sorry, sorry."

however.

Her eyes remained wide open, clearly dissatisfied with this perfunctory repetition.

Seeing this, Kang Jae-hoon immediately switched to repeating mode:

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry..."

Apologies poured out of his mouth like beans, faster and smoother with each word.

then.

Something magic happened.

In continuous, rapid syllable output...

A certain brain cell irresponsibly strung a strange string, and that addictive electronic dance music rhythm that once swept through South Korea... popped out from the depths of memory without warning.

The muscles controlling the vocal cords and tongue instantly betrayed their master's will, and the repetitive "sorry" seamlessly switched at a certain critical point to a more rhythmic tone...

Kim Ji-won: “…”

She stared at Kang Jae-hoon's face, which was earnestly humming a song (or apologizing?).

The anger and resentment deflated like a balloon punctured by a needle, leaving behind a feeling of utter absurdity and absurdity.

She wanted to keep a straight face and stay angry, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

This bastard!
How did he manage to turn an apology into a concert at such an awkward moment?!
finally.

She simply couldn't hold it in any longer.

All the intense emotions turned into a powerless sigh, filled with a deep sense of frustration and a mixture of exasperation and amusement.

She gave up.

If she kept staring, she was afraid she would burst out laughing, which would be too embarrassing.

Kim Ji-won glared at him fiercely, as if using all her strength, one last time. Then she abruptly turned her head, leaned back heavily in her chair, and closed her eyes tightly.

Let my actions speak for themselves: Out of sight, out of mind! Time to sleep!
Out of sight, out of mind?

Even with your eyes closed, the lingering sensation on your lips becomes even more vivid in the darkness.

My heartbeat showed no signs of calming down, and my jumbled thoughts were still churning inside me.

at this time.

She felt a rustling sound coming from beside her.

Followed by.

A soft object was gently placed over her eyes.

It's an eye mask.

The silk lining is very comfortable.

Kang Jae-hoon gently adjusted the position of his fingers near her ear, his movements unexpectedly gentle.

Kim Ji-won's body stiffened slightly.

but.