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

Chapter 257 The Paris Agreement, the Battle of Gwangju, and the Final Judgment at West Ice House

The clock hands quietly moved forward a notch, filtering out the anxieties of personal emotions, and the rational rules of the office world once again took over the meeting room of Next Scene Pictures.

Kang Jae-hoon stepped steadily back into the conference room.

"Let's continue."

The figures on both sides of the long conference table straightened their backs in unison.

"The discussions in the first half were very valuable. Now, let's clarify our core tasks before the delegation arrives."

He flicked his fingers and gently tapped the first note on the gleaming conference table:
"First, the Enterprise Blue Book."

"The planning department takes the lead, and we don't just talk the talk. Every point of view must be grounded in the analysis of past projects to prove why Next Scene is the most suitable party for this story."

"Second, big data market analysis."

"It's not about catering to Gwangju nostalgia, but about opening up a gap in the memories of the new generation. Data proves that historical events are not a heavy burden, but a dynamic narrative that can resonate with the younger generation. Viewers not only need to 'remember,' but also need to 'resonate.'"

"Remember to avoid falling into the trap of traditional propaganda films."

Speaking of which.

Kang Jae-hoon paused slightly.

His gaze swept over the head of the administrative office who had just proposed the "wall of honor" plan.

His proposal was not directly rejected.

Instead, he gently adjusted the rudder:

“What we should show Park Jung-wook is not a narcissistic exhibition of a celebrity CEO, but a trustworthy and professional manufacturing machine.”

"Remove all my fancy trophies."

"Instead, replace it with a huge collaborative flowchart, marking the collaborative nodes of each department behind the scenes, and accompanied by a short declaration: 'A film is not the light of one person, but the resonance of a group of people.'"

"at last."

"Given that I will be attending an overseas fashion week as scheduled, I will not be able to personally participate in the reception of the Gwangju delegation next week."

"To ensure smooth communication and to demonstrate Next Scene's sincerity, Ms. Bae Suzy will represent me in the entire reception and communication process."

The words fell.

wow——

The group of people, who had been taking notes with their heads down, stopped in their tracks.

No words needed.

A silent sense of astonishment and doubt had already filled the conference room.

If Yoona were to be in charge of the reception...

The crowd was probably completely unmoved.

No.

There was even a hint of anticipation.

Without him.

At yesterday's opening ceremony.

Yoona's ability to control the overall situation, be tactful, and handle every aspect perfectly... had already won over most of the people present in the shortest amount of time.

That's a conditioned reflex based on the recognition of absolute strength.

But Bae Suzy...

Ms. Bae Suzy, who shines on screen as the nation's first love and is also rumored to be one of the leading ladies in her company's "Gwangju son-in-law" scandal?

It's the same thing as the president's complicated and messy romantic rumors.

(Everyone knows it but doesn't say it, and they even gossip about it in private.)

However, she was tasked with representing the president himself and the face of Next Scene Films' first project to host the reception of a key government delegation that held the power of life and death over the project...

This is a completely different matter!
Ignoring the obvious surprise and uncertainty on everyone's faces, Kang Jae-hoon emphasized only the core point:
"Sooji, cough..."

He coughed lightly, subtly correcting his form of address to emphasize the formality:
"Ms. Bae Suzy is a valuable introducer to the 'Taxi Driver' project."

"Her profound understanding of the core values ​​of the project, as well as her unique influence and bridging role in government relations, local sentiments, and even high-level communication, are irreplaceable by our production team."

"Everyone must provide Ms. Bae Suzy with the highest level of cooperation!"

"Yes, President!"

A chorus of responses filled the conference room, yet subtly mixed with a few barely perceptible hints of hesitation—

It's as if some people are secretly savoring the ambiguous weight behind the word "cooperation."

The morale of the troops is high.

The meeting seemed to be drawing to a close.

Everyone had begun to tidy up the documents in front of them.

At this time.

A young man sitting quietly in the corner, whose eyes were full of eagerness, decisively raised his hand:

"President-nim!"

All eyes immediately turned to him.

"Please say."

Kang Jae-hoon gestured.

"President-nim! So... can we confirm the direction and goals for Next Scene Films' first independently produced project?"

This is an extremely crucial question.

It instantly captivated everyone's attention.

Kang Jae-hoon did not answer immediately.

His gaze lingered on the faces of the attendees for a moment.

Speak slowly:
"Given the extreme importance of the 'Taxi Driver' project to the foundation and future strategic development of Next Scene Films..."

"Our company's first fully self-produced and independently controlled work will be postponed temporarily."

I saw the fleeting disappointment in some people's eyes.

"But the exploration must never stop."

"I hope everyone can become a 'talent scout' for the company in their daily lives—paying attention to any great stories that capture your heart."

"No restrictions on subject matter or form."

"Comics, online novels, overseas works with localized adaptations, and even the bedtime stories your grandma tells you."

"The only rule—"

Tell me in one sentence: Why must this story be filmed by Next Scene?

"Meeting adjourned—"

"Wow--"

The sounds of tables and chairs being moved, whispers, and the rapid tapping of keyboards composing the final key points all blended together instantly.

The conference room door was suddenly pulled open.

A stream of figures, filled with a sense of purpose and a touch of excitement, filed out.

……

The figures disappeared.

The meeting room was still warm.

Kim Dae-won, carrying his tablet, quickly caught up with Kang Jae-hoon.

"President, I'd like to review the upcoming itinerary with you."

Kang Jae-hoon casually scanned the dense time squares on the screen:

"Just send it to me on Kakao."

"Then what do you want now..."

"Visiting the set."

Kang Jae-hoon unbuttoned the top button of his shirt:
"The company's number one female employee."

Kim Dae-won stared at Kang Jae-hoon's retreating figure as he turned toward the elevator, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back—the man was clearly still clutching the heart-shaped pendant dangling from Bae Suzy's car keys.

……

The warm breeze of early spring carried cherry blossoms across the windshield of the white Porsche.

Kang Jae-hoon rolled down the car window.

Those pink and white sprites paused briefly on the dashboard before gracefully departing.

The engine roared as it crossed the Han River Bridge, leaving a trail of cloud-like contrail in the rearview mirror.

Cheers erupted throughout the RM recording studio.

Kang Jae-hoon stood quietly in the shadows behind the PD, his gaze piercing through the chaotic camera tracks and locking onto the agile figure in the center of the room—

Kim Ji-won was tiptoeing, trying to snatch the mission card that Lee Kwang-soo was holding up. Suddenly, she turned around with a feint and stole the key prop from Haha's hand.

"Ah! Kim Ji-won!"

HAHA's screams caused the entire audience to burst into laughter.

"..."

"Cut! Twenty-minute break!"

The PD had barely finished speaking.

Kim Ji-won wiped her sweat and turned her head, her gaze unexpectedly meeting Kang Jae-hoon's smiling eyes.

My first instinct was to run over, but I stopped abruptly the moment I took a step.

It simply transformed into quickened, yet still graceful, small steps, characteristic of an artist.

"Oppa!"

Just as she was about to throw herself into his arms, she braked suddenly and ended up only tightly gripping his fingers.

Her eyes held an undeniable brilliance, like a galaxy.
"How did you come?"

"Let's see if any bad guys are bullying our Ji-won."

Kang Jae-hoon used his thumb to wipe away the colored powder that had gotten on the tip of her nose.

Kim Ji-won immediately puffed out her cheeks:
"The biggest villain is Oppa~"

Kang Jae-hoon's chest went completely soft.

But I suppressed my impulse and waved in the direction of the recording site first.

After handling the necessary social interactions.

He then led Kim Ji-won, along with her heart, into the black van with a privacy screen protector.

"Click!"

The sliding door of the nanny van was quickly pulled shut.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly grabbed him and pressed him back into his seat.

"Oppa?" Kim Ji-won's hand, which was supporting his chest, trembled slightly.

"Shh..."

"Disinfect first."

The kiss was so fierce it felt like he wanted to devour her whole.

"Bad oppa..."

She whispered her accusation during his pause for breath:

"You dare to do that on a variety show set..."

"And there are even bolder ones..."

Kim Ji-won's glaring, watery gaze held no intimidation whatsoever.
"You're just bullying me..."

Kang Jae-hoon chuckled and nuzzled her burning cheek with the tip of his nose:

"Then should I go find someone else to bully?"

"ah!"

Just as he was about to explode, he suddenly froze when he heard the next sentence:

"A Cartier dinner, and then I'll fly to Paris?"

"I?"

Kim Ji-won's pupils dilated.

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon gently rubbed the back of her neck:

"it has to be you."

Kim Ji-won's body tensed up instantly.

She instinctively wanted to blurt out "Really?", but stopped abruptly before she could speak, staring at him warily.
"It has to be me???"

Each syllable held a raised arc of doubt.

Kang Jae-hoon did not avoid her gaze:
"real."

Kim Ji-won was caught off guard by the decisiveness.

She blinked, processing the sudden surprise for a moment, and asked:
"...Why me?"

Kang Jae-hoon paused for a moment.

—Because she was gentle, proper, and never made things difficult for him?
—Because her eyes were filled with expectation, yet she was still cautiously waiting for his explanation?
He suddenly felt an overwhelming pang of heartache.

"...because Paris owes you a date."

Hear the words.

Kim Ji-won's heart trembled like the flapping of a hummingbird's wings.

(He chose me...)
This realization spread through my chest like honey, but when it touched upon deeper memories, it solidified into a tiny thorn.

She recalled the stiff expression on Kang Jae-hoon's face when he was sandwiched between two stunning beauties at yesterday's opening ceremony.

(But...why not them?)

She recalled Bae Suzy's elegant conversation with high-ranking government officials, and Lee Sung-kyung's cool and aloof demeanor as she was chased by flashing lights at Fashion Week.

A wave of inferiority washed over me, only to evaporate instantly in the next instant under Kang Jae-hoon's gaze.

The focus she felt reminded her of a Greek island where he said, "Your eyes hold the starlight of the entire Aegean Sea."

This moment.

Kim Ji-won suddenly realized:
She shouldn't be the choice he makes after weighing the pros and cons; she should be the one he resolutely and unwaveringly commits to.

A smile then appeared from her dimples, and she swung her toes, thinking—

(Then let you all see.)
(What he liked most was always my smile.)
"In that case——"

Kim Ji-won proudly raised her chin:

"Then I'll reluctantly go with you."

But the jubilant tone at the end and the furtive swaying of her legs had already betrayed her feigned composure.

in the sun.

Kang Jae-hoon saw the butterfly shadow cast by her eyelashes tremble slightly on her cheek:

"Do not worry."

He gently kissed the back of her hand:
"You must have been the most beautiful person there that day."

The words have not yet fallen.

Kim Ji-won suddenly leaned forward and planted a loud kiss on his cheek:
"It's a promise!"

Then, like a joyful little deer, she jumped off the car, ran a couple of steps, then turned back as if remembering something—

Bathed in the dazzling spring sunlight, she cupped her hands around her mouth:
"Oppa—!"

"Salangheyo~"

Then she smiled and ran towards the recording venue, leaving Kang Jae-hoon staring blankly at her energetic back.

A joking remark from Yoo Jae-suk drifted from afar:

"Ji-won, what's making you so happy?"

She only responded with a sly wink:

"secret!"

.........

As dusk settles, the setting sun casts a golden glow.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the car window, watching the flowing light outside gradually ignite the lights of Seoul's homes.

The white Porsche merged into the winding river of cars, weaving through the steel jungle bathed in the twilight. Its engine hummed softly as it swept across the Luyangjin Bridge like a weary bird returning to its nest. The black river, reflecting the starry sky and shimmering waves, stretched out and receded beneath it.

Traffic gradually thinned out.

The familiar silhouette of the apartment building, a symbol of brilliance and extravagance, silently blended into the depths of the newly lit streetlights.

Soothing jazz bass filled the apartment.

Bae Suzy slumped lazily into the large, block-shaped sofa in the living room.

The pure black silk satin slip dress made her bare shoulders and neck appear even whiter and more delicate. The hem of the dress barely covered her thighs, and her smooth, long legs were casually crossed, her toes lightly tapping the soft velvet cushions beneath her.

The fingerprint lock made a soft sound.

"came back?"

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon loosened his tie and tossed his car keys into the tray in the entryway:
"Next week, you will represent me and the core team of Next Scene Films to meet with the Gwangju authorities."

"So now it's... all business as usual?"

The silk robe slipped open a crack as she leaned forward.

"Shouldn't hiring me involve...discussing compensation?"

Bae Soo-ji's toes slowly traced the folds of his trousers.

"The new Delvaux? Or the Graff earrings you mentioned last time?"

Kang Jae-hoon grabbed the restless foot.

"No, no, no~"

Bae Suzy gently withdrew her foot.

"Those things are so tacky."

Suddenly, the arch of his foot exerted force, pulling him towards himself:
"Besides you, Oppa... what other reward could possibly be worth Bae Suzy's interest in?"

Kang Jae-hoon staggered half a step, managing to brace himself against the back of the sofa to avoid falling on her:

“…Again?”

His response was a dizzying spin—Bae Suzy suddenly exerted her strength, throwing him onto the sofa, and straddling him as the hem of her robe bloomed like flower petals:

"I've drained you dry."

"So that when flying to Europe..."

Her pearly teeth gripped the unbuttoned button of his shirt:
"Excessive energy..."

"...Am I that kind of person?"

This weak and feeble rebuttal.

Given its own numerous misdeeds, it seems particularly absurd and ridiculous.

Bae Suzy sealed it with her lips.

"If you're a man, let your men prove your mettle!"

(Three thousand words of indescribable, intense battle details are omitted here)
……

It turns out.

Queen Bae's tactical skills are somewhat lacking compared to the physical prowess she displayed last night when she overdrank Lee Sung-kyung.

When the moonlight climbed onto the windowpane, the battle was already decided.

She curled up in the messy velvet blanket, her breathing even and long like a kitten. Kang Jae-hoon gently wiped the thin layer of sweat from the back of her neck with a damp cloth, his movements as careful as if he were handling a fragile underglaze painting.

In the still of the night, my phone suddenly vibrated.

Lee Sung-kyung's message exploded with a cold light on the lock screen:

【go home】

West Ice Cave

I haven't seen you for half an hour.

【Your own consequences】

……

The threat without punctuation is like a haiku.

I looked up at the clock—22:53.

He stared in despair at the ceiling at some non-existent god.

A previously overused organ in my lower back suddenly began to convulse in protest.

The gentle night of Seoul enveloped this human-shaped wishing machine, which had already been drained three times—while God was clearly working overtime tonight to process more important requests.

As the white Porsche once again glided into the night.

The taillights traced a blood-like arc across the Hanjiang Bridge.

The car navigation system shows two routes:
One takes 28 minutes, the other takes 32 minutes.

Kang Jae-hoon chose a longer route—

Mercy that would allow him to linger on for another four minutes.

(End of this chapter)