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

Chapter 259 On how to conduct a transnational appeasement in the time it takes to drink an espresso.

The moment when dawn breaks.

The sky over Milan seemed to have been spilled with diluted blue ink, creating layers of gradient indigo and light gold.

The air was filled with the aroma of roasted coffee.

It was as if even the wind was imbued with Italian romance.

Kang Jae-hoon stood in front of the dressing mirror adjusting his cufflinks. The custom-made suit from Cartier wrapped around his body, which had been tossing and turning all night.

The light spots reflected from the metal cuffs danced on the wall, and the subtle patterns on the cuffs shimmered under the sunlight.

The doorbell rang softly.

Open the door.

The scent of gardenias wafted in.

Kim Ji-won was waiting for him, holding up her skirt.

Wearing an ivory-white silk satin gown, her collarbone was outlined by a delicate diamond chain that shimmered with light, and her slightly curled black hair fell over her shoulders, she looked just like a noblewoman who had stepped out of an old oil painting.

"Does it look good?"

She twirled slightly, her skirt rippling in a wave-like arc.

Kang Jae-hoon's Adam's apple bobbed:
"Like ice cream."

"what?"

"They treat it like a precious gem, afraid it might fall if held in their hands, or melt if kept in their mouths."

"Hee~"

……

The torrential rain of flashing cameras never stopped from the moment I got out of the car.

The limousine rolled over the flocks of pigeons in Milan's Piazza del Duomo, and the red carpet spread across the marble steps resembled a bleeding wound. As Kim Ji-won walked arm in arm with Kang Jae-hoon, the rustling sound of her skirt's tassels brushing against the red carpet was drowned out by the clicks of camera shutters.

The show venue was converted from a century-old building.

The lights dimmed, and music began to play.

The music of the first show was eerie, like the low frequencies of the deep sea—

The models, wrapped in fabrics that looked like they'd been stripped from a futuristic wasteland or deep-sea fish, strolled by expressionlessly.

As a woman wearing a giant fluorescent feather headdress walked by, the tip of the feather nearly brushed against the face of an audience member in the front row.

Kang Jae-hoon quietly adjusted his posture.

What did the designer want to express?
—A protest against inflation?
He grumbled inwardly, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kim Ji-won frowning and staring intently at the suspicious metal ornament around the model's waist, her focus comparable to a student watching a deep-sea creature special on "Animal World".

Kang Jae-hoon leaned closer to Kim Ji-won's ear:

"Has this creative director been playing Angry Birds too much?"

"I suggest the next season be titled 'The Wronged Souls Under the Slingshot'."

Kim Ji-won bit her lower lip hard, her meticulously manicured nails digging into her palms, her shoulders trembling like a butterfly in a storm.

……

"Kim Ji-won-ssi, move 3 centimeters closer to the president... President, please turn your head 15 degrees toward the 11 o'clock position."

The first show has ended.

Hanna, holding a camera, transformed into a "professional fan site manager," directing the two to take promotional photos for the brand.

Kim Ji-won obediently took half a step closer:

"Oppa..."

A devilish whisper, mingled with the scent of gardenias, burrowed into his ear:

"Yoona unnie is receiving these photos in real time, right?"

Kang Jae-hoon's spine suddenly stiffened.

The hand that had been resting on her waist was swiftly withdrawn to a safe distance.

Hanna looked down at the camera feed and commented:
"Before the adjustment: Ambiguity level 85%; After the adjustment: Father-daughter feeling 40% - the effect is acceptable."

Kim Ji-won blinked innocently.

Kang Jae-hoon silently gazed at the sky.

The crystal chandeliers in the show twinkled above their heads, much like the scrutinizing gaze of someone squinting from the Far East.

……

Seoul.

The afternoon sun lazily crept through the window frame.

Bae Soo-ji was curled up on the plush carpet in the living room, having just finished an online preparatory meeting with the Gwangju Culture and Tourism Bureau delegation.

【唔——】

The notification sound broke the silence.

The iPad screen suddenly lit up—

[Breaking News: Exclusive Photos of Kang Jae-hoon and Kim Ji-won at Milan Fashion Week!]

Before your fingertips could even tap, Naver Entertainment's homepage, a veritable avalanche of visual spectacle, silently announced the arrival of a visual storm—

[Photo 1]

A candid shot at the end of the red carpet:
Kim Ji-won, arm in arm with Kang Jae-hoon, stepped onto the stairs. When she looked up at him, her eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings. Kang Jae-hoon was whispering to himself, the sunlight highlighting the melting gold edges of his suit cuffs and ivory-white skirt.

[Photo 2]

A candid shot from the front row of the fashion show:

Kang Jae-hoon's hand hovered over Kim Ji-won's waist, seemingly about to touch her, yet not quite. Kim Ji-won's gaze passed over his shoulder to the runway, but she subtly placed her right hand, adorned with a diamond bracelet, on his. The silhouettes of the two in the dim purple light resembled stills from an art film.

[Photo 3]

The most lethal card—

"Brand Photo Retouched Version" under the "Technical Supervision" of Hanna's Assistant.

The 3-centimeter distance that Kim Ji-won was asked to get closer to became a tension of unspoken words in her smiling, downcast eyes and Kang Jae-hoon's slightly tightened jawline.

The trending search terms have taken over the charts!

#Military Couple Continue Their Romance in Milan#
#Real After-Sales Service by Yoon Myung-joo and Seo Dae-young#
#That look in my eyes is mesmerizing# Hot
……

The comments section was filled with jubilation:
"Aaaaaaah, Xu Darong and Yin Mingzhu's after-sales service is here!!! Our dreams have come true, everyone!!!"

"Waaaaah, the way she looks at him! I'm going to put on makeup TAT This is so sweet it'll kill me, no need to save me!"

"Kang Jae-hoon's posture and gaze when he speaks with his head down... his tenderness and doting affection are off the charts! Who can understand!"

"It's a hundred times more natural than in TV dramas! Help! This naturally flowing electric current is some kind of divine creation!"

"I suggest you just make 'Descendants of the Sun 2: Fashion Battlefield'! The main characters are those two! And the screenwriter is already there!"

"Hilarious! Next Scene really knows how to promote themselves! Their only two artists are personally spreading sweetness, they've won this wave of hype like crazy!"

"Kim Ji-won is so sweet! Her smile melts my heart!"

"..."

Bae Suzy's finger swiped across the iPad screen, zooming in, zooming out, and zooming in again on several trending photos—

Ah.

Sneered.

She knew it!

Your intuition is always right!

This vixen is truly a master at playing dumb to deceive others!
On the surface, they seem harmless and peaceful, but what's the truth?
How many days has it been?

Taking advantage of the momentum of work, they even extended their "after-sales service" to Milan?
They even made such a big fuss about it, creating a nationwide online frenzy.

Moreover.

The way she looked at Kang Jae-hoon was not the kind of look a simple partner should have!
That hesitant, tender look.

It is clearly—

The prelude to a meticulously planned rise to power!
Well done, Kim Ji-won!

Bae Suzy gritted her teeth, swiped her finger across the screen several times, and opened the contacts.

He's working hard here to stabilize the country for him.

As a result, he made headlines in Milan for having a "publicly funded romance" with another woman?

—Should we question them?
—Should I just call them and yell at them?
—Should we just book a flight and head straight there?

But next second.

She gave another cold laugh, her fingertips pausing.

Not urgent.

She exited the app, opened KakaoTalk, and quickly typed a few lines of text into the chat box.

Bae Suzy:
(Screenshot of gossip from a marketing account.jpg)
[Chief Park's wife asked me, "Is your boyfriend having a great time in Milan?"]

send.

Then, she squinted, tapped her fingers lightly on the screen, and added—

I said—yes, they're busy shooting couple photos to earn foreign exchange~ They're so dedicated~

When the send button is pressed.

Bae Suzy could even imagine the man's expression when he suddenly froze.

My fingertips tapped lightly on the table, waiting for the other person's excuses or evasive answers.

It's best to give her a perfunctory answer, so she can get angry without any problem.

……

Milan time 10:08 AM.

Inside the old coffee shop.

Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows onto the wooden tabletop, casting shimmering shadows that danced on Kim Ji-won's collar.

She sucked on the straw, her cheeks puffed out, as she savored the milk foam on top of her espresso, her eyes shining as if they held the entire sunshine of Milan:

"Oppa, if we sneak out on a date like this, won't Hannah's assistant catch us and take us back?"

Kang Jae-hoon lazily propped his chin up and tilted his head to look at her:
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm the boss."

"But the boss hasn't paid us yet. So—what are we now?"

Kim Ji-won blinked:
"Elopement?"

The sun is just right.

The coffee smells delicious.

The girl sitting opposite me had fine downy hairs and a healthy blush on her cheeks.

Kang Jae-hoon couldn't help but lean forward.

Just about to recreate the milk foam kiss from "Secret Garden"—

My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket.

He clicked his tongue and pulled it out, assuming it was a message from his assistant or the company.

result……

The sunlight suddenly became a bit dazzling.

Look up further.

Mrs. Park's words sent chills down his spine—

What does this mean?
Those old foxes representing the Gwangju area have already started gossiping about Bae Suzy!

Fingers hovered above the keyboard, brain working at lightning speed—

Now, how should I respond to this jealous bombshell?
Kim Ji-won paused in her act of biting the straw:
"what happened?"

Kang Jae-hoon pressed the lock screen button expressionlessly:
"...It's okay, Hannah said the brand needed to reshoot at the last minute."

"Oh? Shall we go?"

"...Sit for another five minutes."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, deciding to give himself some time to think.

A suggestion that could quell the anger in Seoul without turning the situation in Milan cloudy. Kim Ji-won noticed Kang Jae-hoon's distraction, but the next second, she nonchalantly continued sipping her coffee, her eyelashes fluttering gently in the steam—

So considerate it's heartbreaking.

buzz-

My phone vibrated again.

As expected, Hanna's kind reminder came true:

[10:15 AM | Brand Manager has arrived at the hotel]

[Note: The makeup and hair team must complete the final styling adjustments before 11:00 AM.]

[President-nim, would you like me to come pick you up?]

Kang Jae-hoon's eyes lit up—

Isn't this the perfect excuse?!
He immediately took a screenshot and forwarded it to Bae Suzy, who was in Seoul, seething with jealousy, along with a pitiful complaint:
Don't even mention it, I feel like I'm on vacation in a labor camp.

My assistant even needs to precisely tell me the ten minutes I've been drinking coffee.

[Just slipped away five minutes ago]

The message was shoved right in their face, like a wanted poster.

really--

Bae Suzy

(Read at 17:17 PM.)
"????"

"When did you get a female assistant?!"

"Looks like?"

"figure?"

"What exactly will you be responsible for?"

Kang Jae-hoon almost burst out laughing when he saw the murderous message, and quickly typed—

I didn't find it.

I had just stepped out that day when that group of people descended from the sky like messengers from hell.

I only found out after asking.

[The entire "European Special Assistant Team" was arranged by Yoona]

Seoul.

Inside the apartment.

Bae Suzy stared at that sentence for a full five seconds.

Then——

"boom!"

He punched a specially made pillow with Yoona's image on the sofa.

"Damn it!"

"Why didn't I think of that!"

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

She punched the innocent-looking pillow twice more:
"Cunning guy!"

After venting her frustration, Bae Suzy picked up her phone and sent Kang Jae-hoon a voice message.

"Fire them as soon as the European trip is over!"

The Milanese sun suddenly became exceptionally bright.

Jiang Zai Xun typed slowly; things were going much more smoothly than he had imagined.

[Just what I wanted.]

he replied.

Just then, Kim Ji-won muttered to herself:

"The assistant is here..."

Hannah stood expressionless at the cafe entrance, holding a tablet, her wristwatch indicating that they were 3 minutes overdue.

"...I hate this first-class luxury prison tour group."

When Kim Ji-won swallowed the last sip of espresso, there was still a little milk foam on the corner of her mouth.

Kang Jae-hoon chuckled and reached out to wipe it off for her.

"Come on, little fugitive. You'll be free after the banquet."

Kim Ji-won's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"of course."

The glass doors of the café reflected the silhouettes of the three people.

As he took a step, Kang Jae-hoon secretly pinched Kim Ji-won's fingertip, taking advantage of the angle to shield himself, earning her a sly wink in return.

Hannah's glasses flashed at just the right moment:

"President-nim..."

"understand."

Kang Jae-hoon raised his hands in surrender:
"Maintain social distancing."

The streets of Milan stretched behind them, the sunlight casting long shadows of the three of them.

One of them leads the way with a clear goal ahead.

Two more are behind.

Sometimes close, sometimes apart.

It perfectly reflects their complex and delicate relationship at this moment.

……

Time and space quietly flow by.

Milan's springtime fading was gently taken over by the romantic dawn in Paris.

The clouds were bathed in sunlight.

Outside the porthole stretched an endless expanse of pure white.

Kang Jae-hoon flipped through the banquet program in his hand, his gaze falling on the gold-embossed letters "Carrière Night".

Cartier hosted the dinner at a private estate in Montmartre, Paris.

A 19th-century vintage villa, with a garden said to be full of roses, and interior decoration designed by Cartier's own designer.

the most important--

Guests do not need to bring their own video equipment; the entire event will be recorded by an official photographer.

this means--

This will be a closed-door dinner with "no paparazzi," "no passersby," and "no accidental leaks."

To some extent—

This is the perfect opportunity for "freedom of action".

As dusk, like spilled wine, dyed the Parisian sky a captivating crimson, the manor house hidden in Montmartre finally opened its golden embrace to its distinguished guests.

Kang Jae-hoon and Kim Ji-won appeared on time at the entrance to this dreamlike world where light and shadow intertwine.

Kim Ji-won has changed her evening look.

A stunning ice-blue haute couture gown, specially sponsored by Cartier, replaced the ethereal beauty of the daytime runway show.

The gown's skirt is adorned with exquisitely crafted, layered, gradient silk threads.

While walking.

It seemed to be trailing the brilliant shimmering light that emerged from the melting of the entire northern glacier in spring.

In comparison.

Kang Jae-hoon's perfectly tailored dark suit with subtle patterns served as the most serene and inclusive backdrop.

The two walked side by side, like a moving painting.

She is a walking, dazzling galaxy, while he is the deep night sky that holds the galaxy.

Upon entering the venue.

Unsurprisingly, he became the focus of everyone's attention.

And when Cartier's CEO—

Everything was perfect when the debonair French gentleman, Cyril Vigneron, warmly greeted him…

Until he said "Mwah! Mwah!" twice, and very naturally gave Kang Jae-hoon a standard French kiss on the cheek.

When turning to Kim Ji-won.

Her pupils dilated—

Instinctively, he took a half step back, his eyes flashing with a thousand signals of helplessness.

"My partner is still getting used to French etiquette."

Hannah's timely French translation elicited a loud laugh from Cyril Vigne:

"It's ok!"

Kim Ji-won secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She secretly stuck her tongue out at Kang Jae-hoon.

That little wrinkled-nose expression on her face was so cute that he wanted to pinch her cheek.

Enjoy the party!

CEO Cyril smiled and gestured for customers to make themselves at home before turning to greet the other guests.

ten minutes later.

Next to the champagne tower.

The waiter was pouring the two 1996 Krug champagne; the frost on the rim of the crystal glass hadn't even melted when a rich fragrance suddenly wafted into their little world—

"My God!"

A fashion editor wearing extravagant emerald earrings suddenly stopped in front of the two of them:
"I've seen your movies. Your roundhouse kick in 'The Grandmaster' was clean and crisp, full of Eastern power and beauty! It was simply perfect!"

"..."

Kim Ji-won's hand, holding the champagne glass, froze.

After Hannah dutifully translated, a standard sweet and professional smile instantly appeared on her lips:

“Ne…Kamsamita…”

The little voice inside me is screaming wildly:
—That's Song Hye-kyo!

—I'm a sweet girl!!

—He's not a Wing Chun master!
The veins on the back of Kang Jae-hoon's hand, which was gripping the wine glass, bulged out.

I'm trying not to laugh.

Kim Ji-won caught a glimpse of his reaction out of the corner of her eye, gave him a quick glare, and then continued to smile and nod at the enthusiastic lady, her face clearly saying, "Although I don't know what you're talking about, I appreciate your compliment."

The fashion editor, oblivious to everything, continued to speak excitedly in French.

After Hannah finished translating quietly, she thoughtfully added in a low voice:

"This is the editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris. Although he has a bad memory, he is very influential in the industry."

Upon hearing this, Kim Ji-won's smile grew even sweeter:

"Thank you, I will continue to work hard."

—I've already mentally settled: Fine, I can be Song Hye-kyo today, and I can be Son Ye-jin tomorrow.

at this time.

The editor-in-chief suddenly seemed to have discovered something new, and leaned closer to stare at Kang Jae-hoon:
"Wait! I've seen you in 'The Throne'!"

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

This time, it was Kim Ji-won's turn to suppress her laughter.

(End of this chapter)