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

Chapter 232 Ji-won's Visit to the Set: Surprise or Shock?

Kang Jae-hoon's performance transformation showed initial success on the first day of filming.

The daily life in prison was thus recoded into a cage of light and shadow on film.

Time slipped by like flowing water until December 4th.

The cold wind was still biting.

After filming a group scene where everyone is out for a break.

Kang Jae-hoon, wrapped in a long down jacket, sat in the rest area waiting for his flight.

There was a sound of footsteps approaching from far away.

The manager, Kim Dae-won, appeared next to him with a toothpick dangling from his face, which looked much older than his actual age.

I don't have a script in my hand.

Instead, it was a kraft paper document bag.

He handed over the document bag, and Jin Dayuan sat down on the plastic turnover box that served as a makeshift stool.

The surroundings were the usual noise of a film set: the shouts of set builders, the slight friction of camera tracks moving, and the clanging of props being moved by support staff.

The two were in the middle of it.

This created a confidential little space for efficient decision-making.

"Kaisheng Beer will be restocked for six months straight."

After a pause, Kim Dae-won glanced at Kang Jae-hoon's reaction and added:

"5 billion won."

This is equivalent to a top-tier endorsement fee of nearly 10 billion yuan per year.

The sheer impact of the skyrocketing monetary figures instantly brought a smile to Kang Jae-hoon's face. The feeling of that soaring value was more direct and exhilarating than any award.

Catching the satisfaction in his eyes, Jin Dayuan continued:

"Besides Kaisheng Beer, COWAY water purifiers and LG refrigerators also offered renewal prices of 4 million yuan per year."

The endorsement fees for these two brands were approximately 2 million Korean won per year.

Now it has doubled.

Kim Dae-won deserves much credit for maximizing the interests of artists within reasonable limits.

Kang Jae-hoon was overjoyed to hear this:

"You've worked hard, bro."

"It should."

Jin Dayuan waved his hand, choosing his words carefully:

"As for the other old endorsements, I think we can consider not renewing them after they expire and upgrade them instead."

Kang Jae-hoon waited quietly for him to continue.

"For example, this one—TONYMOLY."

"The products are good, but the brand itself is positioned towards the mid-range, younger, and even student market, which is considered a 'second or third tier' level in the Korean cosmetics market."

"With your current status and image, endorsing these brands would seem... not a good match."

“The high-end makeup lines or luxury skincare lines under Amorepacific are the ones we should be targeting.”

"As for Binggrae banana milk..."

Jin Dayuan casually shrugged.

This action required no further explanation; Kang Jae-hoon fully understood its meaning.

Firstly, Binggrae is essentially still a fast-moving consumer good positioned as relatively affordable and even slightly youthful.

Secondly, there is limited room for further increases in endorsement fees.

Thirdly, for actors who are striving to move upmarket in the film industry, too much exposure to everyday fast-moving consumer brands can dilute the hard-earned aura of 'professionalism' and 'sophistication'.

—It's time to "declutter".

"understood."

Kang Jae-hoon had no objection.

People go to higher places.

Upgrading the endorsement tiers is a natural selection process for an artist's development path.

"So... are there any new endorsements being negotiated?"

This is what he cares more about in terms of future growth.

"New endorsement—"

Jin Dayuan quickly interrupted, lowering his voice even further:

"Let's hold off and talk about it after 'Himalaya' is officially released."

The two of them were well aware of the hidden meaning behind those words.

On the surface——

Naturally, we'll wait until the movie becomes a hit and our value reaches its peak before making a move... (we'll ask for as much as we can).

You can say this confidently under any sun.

However, in reality—

When "Himalaya" was taken off the screen, it was also the crucial time when Kang Jae-hoon's artist contract with SEM Entertainment was coming to an end.

Most of the huge sum of money involved in the endorsement contract will go directly into Kang Jae-hoon's own pocket.

of course.

A little "scheming" is acceptable, after all, the business world is like a battlefield.

But one must follow the rules in life and work.

We also need to consider people's feelings.

Jin Dayuan understood the rules of the game very well, so he arranged everything clearly:
The renewal of contracts with old brands was all delayed until the contract between Kang Jae-hoon and SEM agency was still valid.

Do it this way.

This approach not only retains existing clients but also allows the company to legitimately earn a few more stable and substantial commissions for its former employer, SEM.

"That's right, brother."

Kang Jae-hoon asked casually:
"Carrera... have the sales figures for last quarter in South Korea been released? Did they increase?"

The prerequisite for him to endorse this TAG Heuer Carrera series watch was that the brand's retail sales in South Korea would increase by 15% or more in the last quarter of the year.

now.

Two months have passed since the "promotion period" began.

Kang Jae-hoon cooperated in shooting high-quality advertising campaigns and wore the series of watches on several important public occasions... almost pushing his promotional duties as a "brand ambassador" to the limit.

I've used all the effort I needed to.

What were the actual results?

Hear the words.

Jin Dayuan's already somewhat weathered face showed an even more subtle change in expression.

"It has increased, but not significantly, only by 5%."

"how come?"

Kang Jae-hoon's incredulous questioning.

The exposure he tried so hard to generate should not have had this effect.

"The problem... isn't on your end."

The key is——

Carrera has only given Kang Jae-hoon the title of "Brand Ambassador" so far.

Ultimately, he's just a vague, marginalized individual, or a slightly more sophisticated image renter.

He's even worse than an ambassador.

At least the ambassador puts his face on the poster and says a slogan...

This vague marketing connection has left his fan base largely in a state of observation and confusion.
They were unsure how deeply the connection between idols and brands ran, nor did they understand the boundaries of support for "brand ambassadors."

Should we spend this money?

Can the money spent actually be transformed into capital for idol advancement?
Many doubts remain.

The result is.

The main contributors to sales have to be the relatively random, more cautious, and difficult-to-quantify group of passersby.

Even more challenging is the positioning dilemma of the Carrera brand itself.

In the fiercely competitive world of luxury watches.

It is awkwardly caught in the gap between "affordable luxury" and "high-end".

Despite its high-priced product line, it has failed to establish a sufficiently prestigious top-tier brand reputation.

This directly led to an extremely awkward market reaction.

In the eyes of consumers who value "face":
It cannot compete with highly recognizable hard currencies such as Rolex and Omega, which symbolize strength and prestige.

Wearing it out lacks that unspoken, universally acknowledged sense of "status," and the Carrera logo is insufficient to serve as social currency to demonstrate status and class.

From the perspective of consumers with limited budgets who prioritize cost-effectiveness or design:
The price is high, but it lacks the "blue blood" halo of top brands; the design lacks a striking feature or buzz; and its price-performance ratio is ruthlessly crushed by Japanese watches and the rising independent designer brands.

Its price range feels neither high nor low.

It's neither luxurious nor practical, making it a rather mediocre choice.

This deep-seated flaw—a misaligned brand positioning and low customer loyalty—cannot be easily reversed by Kang Jae-hoon's personal exposure or charisma.

Get to the root of it.

The problem lies in the deviation between the brand's overall marketing strategy and market positioning.

But conversely—

If a brand's own marketing plan is already perfect and it has already firmly captured consumers' minds, then why spend huge sums of money to hire brand ambassadors and seek external assistance?
He observed Kang Jae-hoon's thoughtful expression.

Considering the current data performance and the brand's inherent difficulties, Jin Dayuan slowly said:
"Given the current situation, it's basically impossible to reach the 15% target."

If nothing unexpected happens.

The deal to upgrade the endorsement deal is probably going to fall through.

but.

As an agent, Kim Dae-won has a responsibility to guide his artists towards a positive mindset, so he offered words of comfort:
"If you miss this opportunity, you might encounter a more suitable brand. Right now, your most important task is still to focus on performing well. Once you perform well and your popularity and status are secured, top-tier business resources that truly match your new level will naturally come knocking on your door."

This is true.

When an actor's star power and market appeal reach a sufficient level, high-quality brands will often actively seek cooperation.

on the contrary.

It is premature to force certain endorsements to match one's status before one's position is secure.

Even if you succeed in obtaining it.

The collaboration between brands and artists can easily lead to a sense of "misalignment," and even subtle "inconsistencies" in business logic or image communication, which may cause long-term problems.

After a moment's consideration, Kang Jae-hoon felt relieved.

My obsession with Carrera quietly faded away.

He stopped worrying about it.

He reached out and asked Jin Dayuan for a cigarette.

"Didn't you quit smoking? What's going on today?"

Jin Dayuan thought he was still a little upset about Carrera's matter, so he frowned and asked.

"We're going to film a smoking scene later. The instructor mentioned before that when people who have quit smoking for a long time suddenly take their first puff, they feel 'floaty' for the first few puffs, their eyes can't stay focused, and their movements are inevitably unsteady. I was worried that I would have to do a NG because of this detail during filming, so I thought I'd light one up first to get a feel for it and 'adapt' to this long-lost nicotine impact in advance."

Jin Da understood and said no more.

He skillfully pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his inner pocket, knocked one out and handed it over, then snapped open the cold metal cap of the lighter with a "click".

The orange-red flames drew closer.

The tobacco was lit, producing a soft hissing sound as it was sucked.

My lungs, which had been deprived of nicotine for so long, were violently cleansed by this sudden gulp. A slightly tipsy dizziness rushed straight to my head, and my vision even blurred briefly.

Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously closed his eyes, trying to suppress the physical discomfort.

When he opened his eyes again, trying to dispel the swaying double images before him.

In the depths of the gray, hazy background light of the prison photography studio.

A very familiar figure was gracefully walking towards the rest area where he was.

Kang Jae-hoon squinted, trying to focus through the smoke, but before the brief dizziness caused by the nicotine had completely subsided, he looked again—

The figure stood gracefully before him, less than two steps away. It was none other than Kim Ji-won.

Half of her face was buried in a thick cashmere scarf, only her bright eyes were visible.

Those beautiful eyes were fixed on the cigarette that Jiang Zaixun had just lit, which was emitting wisps of tar.

Talk about it.

This girl has persistently asked Kang Jae-hoon out many times.

However, with his schedule packed like a spider web and Kang Jae-hoon weighing the complex relationships in his mind, he kept declining or delaying the meeting by saying he was "too busy" or "didn't have time."

Until recently—

It has been confirmed that Yoona is in Tokyo for a concert and will not be able to return for the time being.

Bae Suzy joined the cast of "Uncontrollably Fond," and Lee Sung-kyung immersed herself in the set of "Cheese in the Trap." With their schedules set, it's unlikely they'd suddenly take time off to visit each other on set.

In addition, things have been calm at the film studio for several days in a row.

Only then did Kang Jae-hoon feel "reassured" enough to spare a little time during his break after work to invite Kim Ji-won over to visit the set.

This serves as a way to silence her increasingly dissatisfied little complaints.

"Oppa!"

Kim Ji-won politely nodded to Kim Dae-won, who had stood up beside her, as a greeting, but her gaze immediately locked onto Kang Jae-hoon.
"Why...are you smoking again?"

There was a hint of dislike for tobacco itself in his tone.

But at a deeper level, there is concern about Kang Jae-hoon's mental and emotional state.

The last time she caught him smoking was when he broke up with Krystal Jung and was at his lowest point emotionally.

So this time...

What serious event has happened that made him need to resort to nicotine again to relieve his stress?

It shouldn't be like this...

Is it because of something good like breaking up with someone again?

"Do you want to hear the truth or lies?"

Kang Jae-hoon gazed intently at the beautiful woman wrapped in a scarf before him and asked.

Kim Ji-won's big, dark eyes darted around, her long eyelashes fluttered twice, and she replied in unison:

"lie?"

Kang Jae-hoon shrugged, looking both matter-of-fact and somewhat perfunctory.

"We'll be filming a smoking scene later, so I'm getting used to it beforehand."

"Oh?"

Kim Ji-won raised an eyebrow and asked, following his words:

"Then...what about the truth?"

Kang Jae-hoon's expression instantly switched to "longing" mode. He deliberately sighed heavily, even mimicking the previous action by taking a drag of his cigarette, and frowned as he stared at the phone screen, which showed no notifications.
"Why isn't Ji-won here yet? Ugh... I'm getting so impatient!"

"..."

Upon hearing this outrageous "truth," Jin Dayuan's facial muscles twitched uncontrollably.

He decisively grabbed the several renewal contracts that Kang Jae-hoon had already signed and stuffed them into his briefcase.

He turned and left cleanly and decisively.

The entire process was smooth and seamless, without uttering a single word.

Just as he passed a few cameras, this dedicated driver pulled out his phone, his fingers flying across the screen, the screen's dim light illuminating his face, a face accustomed to handling complex public relations matters—

He was intently communicating with an "investor" about important information.

Wait until Jin Dayuan's figure completely disappeared around the corner.

Kim Ji-won sat down without any hesitation on the plastic crate he had just been sitting on, leaning slightly forward and wrinkling her nose in Kang Jae-hoon's direction, a mixture of coquettishness and dissatisfaction:

"You liar! If you really missed me, would you not have contacted me even once in so many days? You often take ages to reply to my messages, and you always give me perfunctory answers!"

Faced with this pointed accusation, Kang Jae-hoon showed no sign of panic. Instead, he stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette on the edge of a nearby metal trash can.
"You heartless little thing, you're blaming me first? I've been working non-stop these past few days just to prepare a surprise for you."

"surprise?"

Kim Ji-won's eyes lit up instantly; her attention had indeed been successfully diverted.
"What surprise?"

Kang Jae-hoon raised his hand and pinched her cheek:

"Don't rush. A surprise isn't a surprise if you tell everyone. We'll talk about it after we finish filming today."

Although I am a little unwilling.

But the other party successfully diverted their attention with the enticing bait of "surprise".

In addition, since they hadn't seen each other for a long time, the sweet feeling of longing instantly overshadowed other minor emotions.

This psychological suggestion, imbued with expectation, is exceptionally powerful.

So much so that when Kim Ji-won sat quietly in the folding chair, her gaze followed Kang Jae-hoon, who had changed into prison clothes and was fully immersed in his role, as he worked in front of the camera.

Even when faced with the cold and oppressive reality of prison scenes and the intensive and complex filming process, she did not find it boring at all.

This is a major scene that is currently being filmed intensively.

The story revolves around Han Ji-won, a conman played by Kang Jae-hoon, and Byun Jae-wook, a prosecutor who has undergone a remarkable transformation and become a "prison godfather" played by Hwang Jung-min—their first and highly charged confrontation.

Byun Jae-wook was no longer the spineless coward he had been at the beginning, who could only swallow his anger and was beaten and kicked by so-called "seniors" every day.

With his astonishing ability to pull strings and secure reduced sentences for prisoners, coupled with his shrewd methods of secretly elevating the warden to a higher position, he has become the undisputed uncrowned king of this prison's underworld.

In order to consolidate authority and win over the hearts and minds of the people.

This "prison guard" was in a good mood today and, through the warden, bestowed a "gift"—distributing cigarettes to his underlings so they could enjoy them during their limited outdoor time.

Han Chiyuan was "honored" to also receive a cigarette.

at that time.

Han Chiyuan leaned casually against the cement wall, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he leisurely exhaled smoke, and proceeded to give his fellow inmates a vivid and engaging explanation of the inmates' situation:

"Did you know that migratory bird routes are etched into their genes...?"

however.

The phrase "migratory birds" was like a bomb that had been buried deep in Byun Jae-wook's mind.

Just moments ago, Byun Jae-wook had been relaxed and at ease, but now his eyes were sharp and piercing.

Without any warning, he grabbed Han Chiyuan's prison uniform collar tightly, and the huge momentum slammed him hard against the wall.

It all comes down to that one key word—bird migration!

This was precisely the crucial information fragment uttered by the mastermind behind his disgrace and imprisonment before his death.

……

Filming this scene, which included conflict, fighting, and emotional outbursts, was quite challenging.

Several takes were needed to achieve the "real anger" and "unexpected" effect that the director wanted.

When director Li Rijiong finally shouted "Cut! That's a good take! That's a wrap!" with satisfaction, the few cold, high-powered incandescent lights on the top of the prison studio had been on for who knows how long.

The props team began collecting the junk with clanging and clattering.

The lighting crew was busy reeling in the cables.

The extras left in twos and threes.

The chill intensified as the night deepened.

The night outside the shed was already as dark as ink.

Kim Ji-won's gaze pierced through the dispersing crowd and landed on Kang Jae-hoon, who was walking towards her.

Even though he was covered in dust and dirt at that moment.

But in Kim Ji-won's eyes, it was as if she had a spotlight shining on her.

"are you hungry?"

Kang Jae-hoon approached and casually ruffled Kim Ji-won's hair.

"It's okay~"

"That means they're hungry."

Kang Jae-hoon didn't give her much time to agonize over her choice:
"What do you want to eat? Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)?"

"Whatever you say, Oppa."

Kang Jae-hoon knew exactly what was going on, and skillfully took out his phone to order a late-night Korean soul-stirring snack set meal:
Two servings of noodles with soybean paste, one serving of sweet and sour pork, plus spicy stir-fried rice cakes and spicy chicken feet as side dishes.

Order completed.

He then grabbed Kim Ji-won's shoulder and started walking towards the brightly lit hotel where the film crew was staying.

The hotel elevators were clean and bright.

The smooth, mirror-like metal wall reflected the figures of the two people embracing.

The facade of being a public figure quietly fades away.

Kang Jae-hoon's hand, which had been resting on her shoulder, slid down and grasped her small hand, which was tucked into her coat pocket.

"Aren't you going back tonight...?"

This question is less of an inquiry and more of a confirmation imbued with strong confidence and allure.

The small hand in his palm visibly flinched slightly.

She then pressed herself even closer to his burning palm.

Kim Ji-won buried half her face deep in her thick, soft cashmere scarf, and the tips of her ears blushed uncontrollably.

"Um... I told my mom... there was some last-minute filming work here... we talked until very late..."

This clumsy yet endearing lie touched a nerve with Kang Jae-hoon.

He held their clasped hands up to his eyes to display her "evidence":
"A bad kid who lies..."

These words instantly touched on Kim Ji-won's slight embarrassment and guilt.

"ah!"

She quickly raised her eyes, which had been lowered in embarrassment, and glared at the smiling man beside her. Without thinking, she clenched her free hand into a harmless little fist and lightly punched his arm like a kitten scratching an itch.

This little gesture is less of a punishment and more of a playful complaint:

—You scoundrel! Who did I lie for?! It's all because of you, you...big bad guy!

The elevator emitted a perfectly timed "ding-dong" arrival signal.

The abrupt electronic noise temporarily dispelled the burgeoning, sticky, ambiguous emotions and playful banter that were rising within this small space.

The metal door slid open slowly to both sides. The two exchanged a glance, their eyes still holding lingering feelings, but they tacitly restrained themselves.

Kang Jae-hoon held Kim Ji-won's hand without letting go, only taking out a hotel room key from his pocket.

Swipe to open the door.

The chilly air in the corridor was instantly replaced by the warmth of the hotel's uniform incense.

The entryway was dimly lit, with scattered city lights casting long, thin streaks of light on the carpet through gaps in the loosely drawn curtains.

Kim Ji-won is still untying her scarf.

The cashmere scarf had just slipped down to my neck, and I hadn't even had a chance to take a good look at the room's furnishings—

A warm, tobacco-scented aroma suddenly approached.

Lips and teeth touching.

The touch was soft and moist, carrying her sweet scent and a faint trace of tobacco from his mouth, instantly igniting all the fantasies that had been rehearsed countless times.

A kiss.

It carries the longing of those who haven't been able to send their greetings in a long time.

It also opened the door to the enchanting night that everyone was looking forward to.

Like thirsty travelers finally finding the sweet spring of an oasis, their breaths instantly intertwined and became inseparable.

however.

At this critical juncture, when emotions were running high and reason was rapidly melting away...

A continuous buzzing sound instantly shattered all the beautiful, dreamlike bubbles.

—From deep inside the pocket of Kang Jae-hoon's down jacket.

A fleeting hint of frustration crossed his brow as he reluctantly separated himself from the person he was standing just inches away from.

Take out your phone.

But see.

A video call invitation with a calico cat icon was prominently displayed on the screen...

(End of this chapter)