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

Chapter 210 Sergeant Jiang's Thousand Layers of Schemes
It's too slow after all.

Speed ​​has never been Kim Ji-won's battlefield.

As she stepped out of the elevator car, breathless, the light from the corridor illuminated her vision—

He suddenly stopped walking.

Kang Jae-hoon was already standing in front of his room.

He no longer had the lunchbox in his hand, so he had obviously put it down. He was looking down, one hand casually in his pocket, the other holding his phone, his thumb rapidly tapping something on the screen.

Kim Ji-won instinctively shrank into the shadows around the corner of the corridor. Her heart was still pounding violently in her chest from running, thumping against her ribs with a dull thud.

Almost at the same time.

hum-

Her phone vibrated clearly in her pocket.

She hurriedly pulled out her phone.

The screen lights up.

The new information was immediately apparent.

[Kang Jae-hoon]: Lunch is at the door. Eat it while it's hot.

[Kang Jae-hoon]: If it gets cold, call the front desk to get a hot one. It's delicious.

Kim Ji-won's gaze swept quickly between the screen and the upright, focused figure a few steps away.

My mind is in complete turmoil.

How to do?
Should I pretend I've been "sleeping" in my room the whole time, completely unaware of what's happening outside? Should I wait until he leaves before going out to get the food?
Or... should we just walk out and "bump into" it?
My heart started pounding even harder.

She cautiously peeked out half her head.

At the other end of the corridor.

After sending the message, Kang Jae-hoon didn't look at the lunchbox on the ground again, nor did he try to knock on the door to confirm anything.

He casually raised his hand to wipe the newly formed beads of sweat from his forehead, then turned around decisively and walked towards his room.

An inexplicable impulse instantly overwhelmed all hesitation and consideration; Kim Ji-won didn't even give it full conscious thought—

She stepped out of the shadows around the corner in one stride, her clear voice echoing in the quiet corridor:
"Sergeant Xu Darong!"

The effect is immediate.

Jiang Zai Xun, who was walking, suddenly froze.

The soldier's obedience, seemingly ingrained in his bones, erupted instantly—

With a sharp "snap," he brought his heels together, straightened his back as straight as a javelin, raised his right arm, brought his five fingers together, and pressed his fingertips against his temple, and gave a perfectly standard military salute.

The movements were executed in one fluid motion, as fast as lightning.

This purely stress-induced reaction instantly made Kim Ji-won laugh.

Seeing that usually calm and handsome face now filled with forced seriousness, she almost lost her composure. She quickly pursed her lips and forced herself not to laugh out loud, but her shoulders still trembled slightly.

"Eh?"

Kang Jae-hoon blinked, clearly not expecting Kim Ji-won, who should have been "resting" in her room, to be here.

He lowered his arm from the salute, his gaze subtly sweeping over her cheeks, which were clearly flushed from exercise:

"You went out?"

"Ah."

Kim Ji-won gave a vague reply, without explaining in detail where she had gone.

"Oh."

Jiang Zai Xun didn't press the matter further, and pointed to the two white lunchboxes on the ground: "You're back just in time, eat them while they're hot."

Kim Ji-won looked in the direction he was pointing.

Two styrofoam lunch boxes stacked together.

It is simple and unadorned, even somewhat rudimentary.

But for some reason, at this moment, it was more... glaring to her than any exquisite meal.

Images of him sweating under the scorching sun on set flashed uncontrollably through my mind; of his eager figure rushing towards the cafeteria window; of the gust of wind he stirred up as he ran wildly down the hotel corridor with his lunchbox in hand…

An indescribable warm current, mixed with a strong impulse, suddenly rushed to my throat:

"Would you like to...eat together?"

As soon as the words left his mouth.

Kim Ji-won herself was stunned for a moment.

Kang Jae-hoon was clearly surprised by this sudden invitation.

"No."

He shook his head and shrugged slightly.

"I'm all sweaty, don't let it affect my appetite."

The refusal was decisive, and the reasons seemed quite valid.

"Eat it yourself."

"gone."

Done.

Without even giving Kim Ji-won a chance to speak again, she casually waved her hand, turned around, and walked towards her room without looking back.

Kim Ji-won watched that figure disappear cleanly at the end of the corridor.

Her long eyelashes fluttered rapidly and helplessly, trying to process the information-packed turning point that had just occurred in those few seconds.

Her invitation, which she extended proactively and was almost an "ice-breaking" gesture...

You got rejected?!

The reason given was... that she was afraid his sweaty smell would affect her appetite??
What... what is this?!

In an instant, her mind replayed the scene in the hotel room: his self-righteous manner as he burst into the room and "forced" her to help him apply sunscreen; and his controlling nature as he forcibly wiped her hands.

This stark contrast...

hateful!

He definitely did it on purpose!
Play hard to get!

Absolutely!
"ah!"

She cursed weakly and stomped her feet twice on the carpet in frustration.

Row!
Playing hard to get, right?

I'm not buying that!
She angrily bent down, picked up the two white foam lunch boxes on the ground, turned around, swiped open the door, and slammed it shut with such force that the door frame shook.

She placed the lunchbox heavily on the small table by the window.

The lid is lifted.

Compared to the exquisite Athenian breakfast at the hotel, the food served by the film crew in front of me did indeed seem... rather rough.

Stir-fried vegetables glistened with oil, three pieces of pan-fried fish were slightly browned, pickled radish cubes occupied a corner as a regular side dish, and a small box of soft and sticky white rice was served.

but……

She picked up a piece of vegetables with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and chewed it a few times.

Huh?
The taste... seems pretty good?

Pooh!
What's so delicious!
I'm hungry!
It's definitely because I'm starving after a whole morning of running around! It's not because he ran all the way under the scorching sun to deliver it... Stop!

Kim Ji-won angrily shoveled rice into her mouth, seemingly venting her resentment towards someone on the food.

soon.

Most of the food in the lunchbox was eaten.

My stomach is full, and the feeling of satiety brings a lazy, warm sensation.

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor, and the sound of the ocean waves outside the window seemed to take on a hypnotic rhythm.

Drowsiness, like a rising tide, finally overwhelmed her tense nerves. She let out a big yawn, and a few tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

Forget it.

I don't want to deal with that jerk anymore.

sleep!

Kim Ji-won kicked off her slippers, threw herself onto the soft bed, and pulled the thin blanket over her head.

This time.

Perhaps the day's activities had exhausted her, or perhaps the satisfaction of her stomach had soothed her nerves. Before her chaotic thoughts could even coalesce, her consciousness swiftly sank into a dreamless darkness.

……

I don't know how long I slept.

Consciousness was awakened by the changes in the light outside the window.

Kim Ji-won groggily opened her eyes, reached for her phone, and glanced at the time.

Four p.m.

I slept soundly and woke up feeling refreshed, with all the chaos and fatigue from last night and this morning completely gone.

She stretched out a long yawn.

The bones made a slight cracking sound.

I lingered in bed for a while before getting up, walking to the table, and picking up the open script.

Tomorrow she will have a scene with Kang Jae-hoon—a conversation in the military infirmary.

Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, with the sunlight streaming in from the window, no longer so intense, I began to ponder Yin Mingzhu's state of mind at that time and the emotional tension behind her lines, line by line.

The room was very quiet.

The only sounds were the rustling of paper and the crashing of waves against the rocks.

Time slips away quietly while you're focused.

until--

Buzz... Buzz...

My phone vibrated clearly from the sofa cushion beside me.

Kim Ji-won's train of thought was interrupted, and she frowned slightly. Could it be a work-related message from her manager?

She reached out and grabbed the phone.

The screen lights up.

The name displayed as the source made her unconsciously tighten her grip on her phone—[Kang Jae-hoon].

Click to open.

We ordered some local food and are watching the game in Song Joong-ki's room. Song Hye-kyo is there too, do you want to come?

Kim Ji-won stared at the short invitation.

Do you want to go watch the game?

What does he mean?
He so bluntly rejected her invitation to lunch at noon, leaving her awkwardly standing in the hallway with the lame excuse that he was "sweating."

Now you're sending invitations like nothing happened?
Do they feel they've been "indulging" for long enough, and it's time to "capture" them?

go? Still not going?

The fiery little man, his head blazing with anger, screamed: "No! Absolutely not! I promised I wouldn't talk to him today! I can't let this promise I just made crumble so easily!"

The rational person, resting their chin on their hand, retorted: "It's just watching the game, not being alone with him. The Song-Song couple are there too; it's normal for crew members to watch a game together."

The entanglement is like a vine, winding and twisting.

Kim Ji-won scratched her hair in frustration.

Forcing my gaze back onto the script, I found I couldn't concentrate on a single word.

……

In Song Joong-ki's suite.

The match between Leicester City and Aston Villa at Leicester City's home ground is currently being broadcast on television.

The low table was covered with colorful Greek delicacies:
Giant octopus tentacles, roasted to a crisp and drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice; mountains of cooked shrimp; golden and crispy fried small fish; a goat cheese salad garnished with fresh mint leaves; and puff pastry desserts coated with honey and nuts.

There is no alcohol.

Only chilled juice and soda with straws, colorful and with fine water droplets condensed on the glass.

On the long sofa directly facing the TV.

Song Joong-ki was whispering something to Song Hye-kyo, which made her cover her mouth and chuckle softly, her eyes sparkling.

The atmosphere was so sweet that it formed its own little enchanted space.

Kang Jae-hoon occupied the single sofa on the side, his eyes fixed on the green field on the screen, but his mouth was also busy.

Picking up a bright red prawn with my fingers, I deftly twisted off the head, peeled off the shell to reveal the snow-white, firm prawn meat inside, dipped it in lemon juice, and put it in my mouth.

Ding-dong-

The crisp sound of the doorbell broke the subtle background noise in the living room, which was a mixture of game commentary, chewing sounds, and the low laughter of Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo.

"I'll go drive it."

Kang Jae-hoon immediately put down the second shrimp he had just peeled, took a tissue to wipe his fingers, and stood up.

The door opened.

The light in the corridor outlined the figure at the doorway.

Kim Ji-won stood there gracefully.

A simple white T-shirt paired with denim shorts, but the most eye-catching thing is that her full lips are covered with a layer of clear and alluring gray-pink glaze.

It was a color that he had "stamped his approval" as beautiful.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze lingered on her lips for half a second, and the corners of his mouth naturally curved into a smile:
"come on in."

Kim Ji-won's gaze swept quickly across his face, then briefly looked away:

"Ah."

Go into the living room.

Kim Ji-won smiled at the two seniors cuddling on the sofa:
"Song-ki oppa, Hye-kyo unnie."

"Oh! Ji-won's here!" Song Joong-ki greeted her warmly with a smile.

Song Hye-kyo also turned away from her reverie, her smile gentle and captivating:
"Come sit down, we can watch the game together."

"Uh-huh."

Kim Ji-won responded and sat down on one side of the sofa, maintaining a subtle distance from the Song-Song couple.

The dazzling array of food on the coffee table was right in front of her, and the aroma was even more irresistible as it wafted into her nostrils. Her gaze swept over the plates, and she hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to begin.

In the instant she hesitated.

A peeled prawn appeared before my eyes.

"Taste it."

Kang Jae-hoon's movements and tone were as natural as breathing, but his eyes remained fixed on Leicester City's defense in front of the television.

Kim Ji-won was clearly caught off guard; she leaned back slightly while her eyes quickly glanced to the side—

Fortunately, Song Joong-ki was whispering in Song Hye-kyo's ear, and the latter had a sweet smile on her face, seemingly unaware of their overly ambiguous and intimate behavior.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

A mixture of the sweetness of being fed and the panic of being discovered welled up inside me.

She hesitated for half a second, then leaned forward slightly and bit the shrimp that was offered to her.

The food hadn't been completely swallowed yet.

Kim Ji-won's gaze inadvertently met Song Hye-kyo's smiling eyes.

The mischievous glint in her senior's smiling eyes was undisguised, and the knowing "I saw it~" made Kim Ji-won's cheeks flush instantly.

Terrible!

Got caught!

A feeling of embarrassment instantly gripped my heart.

She hurriedly lowered her head, grabbed the nearest glass of golden orange juice with a straw, and tactically took a big gulp.

She tried her best to ignore the presence of Kang Jae-hoon beside her and Song Hye-kyo's gaze, which seemed to penetrate everything.

"Would you like to make a bet?"

A low voice came from the side.

Kim Ji-won subconsciously raised her eyes, with the orange juice straw still in her mouth, and mumbled a "hmm?"

Kang Jae-hoon gestured with his chin toward the television screen, his gaze still fixed on the intense ball game:
"Which team will win? I'll pick Leicester City."

Kim Ji-won immediately turned her gaze to the screen.

The score is clearly visible – Leicester City 1-0 Aston Villa.

The advantage is on their side!
That bastard is so despicable!
Isn't this blatantly an attempt to take advantage?!

But the strange thing is...

After that moment of anger, what welled up inside her wasn't an immediate aversion to rejection. She didn't even think to question what price she would pay or gain from winning or losing the bet.

A strange acquiescence had been established before she even realized it.

She simply bit her straw, her eyes following the trajectory of the football on the screen, and didn't say anything more in response.

The betting game is set.

There seemed to be an invisible tension in the air.

Kang Jae-hoon slowed down his shrimp-peeling movements, and Kim Ji-won forgot to continue drinking her juice.

Two people who only had a superficial understanding of the rules of football became more focused than ever before on this impromptu bet.

The game time is ticking by.

Sudden.

Aston Villa launched a quick counter-attack!
The ball flew in a tricky arc, heading straight for the top corner!
“Woo——!”

A short, sharp whistle blew, signaling the goal.

"GOALLLLLLL!! - Aston Villa!!!"

The commentator's excited roar was deafening, and the score was instantly updated at the bottom of the screen—Leicester City 1-1 Aston Villa!
Kim Ji-won suddenly turned her face, staring at Kang Jae-hoon with a smug look in her eyes.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze finally shifted from the arena to that radiant little face.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned back to the television screen.

Kim Ji-won's smug smile was still on her face when she was momentarily stunned by this silent "ignorance".

snort!
Pack!
She angrily grabbed the remote and deliberately turned the TV volume up two notches.

……

The battle on the field became a stalemate.

The two people on the sofa were the same.

Every time Leicester City attacked, Kang Jae-hoon would lean forward slightly.

Kim Ji-won holds her breath every time Aston Villa comes up with a threatening shot.

The only sounds in the air were the narrator's passionate shouts from the television and the almost synchronized, subtle rises and falls of the two men's breaths.

The whispers between Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo seemed to fade into distant background noise.

Time slips away like quicksand.

The standard 90 minutes are about to expire.

The score is 2-2.

"Injury time...four minutes!"

The time of the commentary announcement.

Just when everyone thought the game was a draw, and the referee was constantly checking his watch—

The ball was passed to the edge of the penalty area!
A devastating, ground-hugging strike!
The ball, like a bullet, tore through the grass and air, darting past the Villa goalkeeper's fingers and into the bottom left corner of the goal!

"Beep—beep!!!"

The whistle blew right after the goal!

boom! ! !
The entire screen was instantly flooded with a blue torrent!

The roaring shouts seemed to break free from the constraints of the television set!

"...GOALLLLLLLLLLLL! A last-minute winner! Leicester City!!! A magnificent last-minute winner!!! 3:2!!! The game is over!! They are the creators of a miracle!!!!"

The commentator's screams were filled with a frenzied, broken voice.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly sprang up from the sofa and clenched his fist, swinging it hard!
But next second.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed his phone from beside the sofa.

Unlock!

His fingers moved with lightning speed!

Kim Ji-won was still reeling from the shock of the final, decisive blow when she heard Song Joong-ki's smiling comments.

She looked at Kang Jae-hoon somewhat blankly, completely ignoring the result of his "win" bet, and instead acting as if he were dealing with some urgent military affairs.

The finger moved quickly and rapidly!
What immediately catches the eye on the screen is—

Leicester City's odds of winning the title!
The odds for this underdog team to win the championship have now dropped from an absurd 1:5000 at the beginning of the season to 1:3000.

After this comeback victory, the score fluctuated again, eventually settling at 1:2500.

what does this mean?
This means that this team, once considered on par with absurd events like "Obama playing professional cricket" and "Elvis being found alive" in terms of championship aspirations, seems to be transforming from a farcical joke into a...

Although the chances are still slim, the "grassroots underdog story" is an inspirational symbol that shines with a real glimmer of hope.

Kang Jae-hoon stared intently at the number 1:2500.

He generally disdains high-risk speculation like betting on sports.

But right now we're desperately short of money.

Yoona's steady but slow investment model couldn't satisfy his snowballing ambitions.

And this dark horse that has suddenly emerged, with odds so high they're making your heart race...

Those ambitious investment plans; those meticulous plans for the future; even that little bit of confidence that's hard to tell outsiders about—the "secret treasure"—all urgently need the support of real money.

Won!

The cash in your hands will instantly become abundant, and the freedom and sense of control that comes with that economy is extremely tempting.

Even if we lose...

It's only ten million Korean won.

Even if it all goes down the drain, it won't cause any serious damage or shake the foundation.

At best, it was paying an expensive ticket for "possibility".

This price is entirely bearable!
This thought lasts a lifetime.

Kang Jae-hoon no longer hesitated.

His eyes narrowed.

They decisively operated the phone screen with their fingertips.

I predict Leicester City will win the title.

Bet amount: 10,000,000 Korean won.

confirm.

Paid.

The movements were swift and decisive.

He wanted to invest more, but the cash he could use was very limited—Lee Sung-kyung's 1.5 million was an absolute bottom line that couldn't be touched, and the renewal fee from Kaisheng Beer was still in the process of being paid out.

Ten million was all the chips he could muster at that moment for this "high-stakes gamble".

payment successful.

Kang Jae-hoon raised his head, his gaze naturally sweeping to the other side of the sofa.

Song Joong-ki's arm was loosely wrapped around Song Hye-kyo's waist, and Song Hye-kyo's eyes were curved, her head resting slightly on Song Joong-ki's shoulder.

See this.

Kang Jae-hoon stood up nimbly and grasped Kim Ji-won's slightly cool little hand that was resting on her knee.

She was captivated by the slow-motion replay of the decisive goal on TV when her hand was suddenly grabbed. Startled, she trembled and looked up at him blankly.

"gone."

Jiang Zaixun spoke succinctly, and with a slight pull, lifted her up from the soft sofa.

Kim Ji-won was pulled so hard she stumbled, her mind still a little fuzzy, but her body instinctively followed suit and stood up.

When she saw Kang Jae-hoon nod his chin in the direction of the Song-Song couple, she suddenly realized—

If I stay any longer, I'll really be a clueless third wheel.

She quickly smiled and waved goodbye to the figure nestled on the sofa:

"Song-ki oppa, Hye-kyo unnie! We're heading back now~ Thank you for the hospitality!"

Song Joong-ki smiled and nodded: "Okay, see you later."

Song Hye-kyo also said softly, "Get some rest."

Kang Jae-hoon had already opened the door.

Light streamed in from the corridor.

Kim Ji-won quickened her pace almost instinctively, following him as they left the space enveloped in sweet affection.

The corridor lights had a cool tone, and the silence instantly enveloped the two of them.

Kim Ji-won then suddenly realized—

Her own hand was still being held tightly by Kang Jae-hoon.

She subconsciously struggled slightly.

Not moving.

Never mind, the hallway is empty, let's just leave it at that...

She thought to herself in despair.

He let Kang Jae-hoon lead him forward.

The footsteps landed silently on the thick carpet.

"Ji-won".

Kang Jae-hoon's voice broke the silence and interrupted her reverie.

"Ok?"

Kang Jae-hoon stopped and turned to face her.

"you lose."

Kim Ji-won's heart suddenly raced; she sensed something was about to happen.

We lost the game...

Bet...

Is he about to make a request?

She almost immediately thought of the worst possibility, one that best reflected the guy's despicable nature—

He asked her to allow him to kiss her one more time?
it's here?
No, no! Absolutely not!
Just imagining that scene makes me want to suffocate!

Just as she held her breath, awaiting the request that might stop her heart—

But then Kang Jae-hoon raised an eyebrow:
"Show me how to act cute."

Kim Ji-won: "...??!"

His eyes widened in disbelief.

Acting...acting cute?!

There were no ambiguous requests as expected, and no mention was made of that kiss!
Just... being cute?
This is just for him to see... acting cute?!

(End of this chapter)