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

Chapter 262 The trophy is heavy, but the kidneys are even more dangerous.
Seoul in May is enveloped in a tide of new greenery and sea of ​​flowers.

Sunlight, like cherry blossoms falling in a snowstorm, pierced through the clouds, casting a flowing golden veil over the red carpet of the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards.

Lee Sung-kyung was applying lip gloss through the car window, her elegant off-white taffeta dress softening her glamorous aura, making her resemble a goddess from a classical oil painting.

If you ignore the seatbelt buckle that she's impatiently tapping with her fingertips.

"The seventh time."

Lee Sung Kyung suddenly spoke.

"what?"

"This is the seventh time you've checked your watch today."

She put away her lipstick and smoothed out the wrinkles on her skirt with her fingers:

"What, worried that your 'Gwangju Princess' won't be able to find the meeting point?"

Before the words were even finished, the back door was suddenly pulled open—

Bae Suzy arrived gracefully.

The V-neck of the black slip dress resembles a canyon cleaved by moonlight, with the Cartier panther necklace hanging precariously at the bottom.

"Oppa~"

As she sat down, her skirt blossomed into a black tulip:
"Does it look good?"

Before Kang Jae-hoon could speak, Lee Sung-kyung's cold snort rang out:
"Doesn't it hurt to be squeezed like a soup dumpling?"

His gaze swept across the other woman's undulating chest like an X-ray, deliberately lifting his own proud curves, causing the satin fabric to sway in a dizzying wave.

"It's better than some people wrapping the murder weapon up like a mummy."

Bae Suzy breathed sourly into Kang Jae-hoon's earlobe:

"Right, Oppa?"

"Jae-hoon likes big breasts."

"Big breasts, no brains?"

"That's still better than someone dressing like a prostitute."

"Who are you talking about..."

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly gripped their hands:

"Stop, stop, stop!"

"Tomorrow's online voting plan..."

Bae Suzy's eyes immediately lit up:
"All my schedules are cleared out!"

Twisting her fingers around the ends of her hair:
"I've even bought the laptop for my internship at VOGUE!"

Lee Sung-kyung suddenly snorted coldly, her shoulders under her beige dress tensing slightly—a small movement that Kang Jae-hoon immediately noticed.

My thumb gently traced her prominent wrist bone:

"About the Cartier dinner..."

"I'm not that petty."

Lee Sung-kyung turned her face away.

But the shadow cast by her eyelashes perfectly concealed the fleeting loneliness in her eyes.

Kang Jae-hoon's voice suddenly softened:

"You know how difficult it is for Suzy to be on the big screen these days."

Fingertips lightly scratch Lee Sung-kyung's palm:

“We’re family, so let’s not be so formal. Anne Hathaway set a high bar, so if Suzy’s performance is even slightly subpar, wouldn’t she be condemned and scorned by everyone?”

The car fell silent for a moment.

Only the cheers from the direction of the red carpet in the distance could be faintly heard.

"Who's family with her?"

Lee Sung-kyung muttered to herself, but let Kang Jae-hoon play with her fingers.

"You'll play the role of Miranda's secretary, right?"

Kang Jae-hoon pressed his advantage:
"Have some practice..."

Lee Sung-kyung's eyes widened:
"I do not want it!"

"Obey~"

Kang Jae-hoon took the opportunity to squeeze her palm:
"This is our own project, and besides—I remember there's a scene where I have to slap the female lead?"

Lee Sung-kyung's eyelashes suddenly trembled.

"The real fan type."

Bae Suzy abruptly pulled her hand back:

Hey! You two—

"Ok, deal."

Lee Sung-kyung suddenly broke into her first genuine smile of the night:

"I will properly train the intern."

Just then, a staff member knocked on the car window:

"The two hosts will be on stage in three minutes."

Bae Suzy took three deep breaths to calm herself, then suddenly glared at Kang Jae-hoon:
"You did that on purpose?"

Kang Jae-hoon was helping Lee Sung-kyung fasten her loose diamond hair clip when he heard this. He looked up, his eyes as innocent as a newborn lamb.

"Ok?"

……

Kyung Hee University.

Peace Palace.

Scene from the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards.

The camera array, covering the red carpet, resembled a steel jungle, its lenses reflecting the molten gold of the setting sun in the direction of Seoul Tower.

The car door was slid open.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

The mechanical sound of the shutter shooting in rapid succession instantly tore through the air.

"Ahhhh——!"

"Kang Jae-hoon!!!"

"Look here, Oppa!!!"

"Suzy—my wife!!!"

Suddenly, the fan area erupted in high-pitched screams.

Amidst the avalanche of flashing lights, Bae Suzy linked arms with Kang Jae-hoon, her high heels barely touching the red carpet before the sound made her stumble slightly.

Kang Jae-hoon subtly supported her elbow, eliciting another round of explosive screams from the fan section:

"Ahhh, they held hands! They held hands!"

"..."

Signature signing process.

Bae Suzy suddenly tilted her head:
"Husband and wife of one mind?"

After signing his name with a flourish, Kang Jae-hoon handed the pen back, his fingertip hooking her palm:
"Ah."

Bae Suzy quickly wrote down their names, then suddenly added a heart at the end of each stroke, perfectly enclosing both names.

The fan zone went absolutely wild, requiring security intervention.

……

20 minute later.

The host's lounge.

The makeup mirror reflected Bae Suzy touching up her lipstick:
"The scene where he was slapped..."

Kang Jae-hoon's reflection in the mirror is adjusting his bow tie.

"Ok?"

"Up to three."

As she turned around, she accidentally knocked over a bottle of mineral water.

“If you shoot one more take, I’ll tear Lee Sung-kyung apart.”

Kang Jae-hoon reached out and caught the falling water bottle, then suddenly moved closer to her pouting lips, which were painted with glossy lip gloss:
"Why don't we preview this first—"

"Oh no! My makeup is ruined... Ugh!"

The sound of the door lock turning interrupted their tender moment.

Senior Shin Dong-yeop poked his head in:
"Children, it's time for your turn—oh?"

Bae Suzy quickly pushed Kang Jae-hoon away and casually wiped the corner of her mouth.

Kang Jae-hoon looked up at the sky.

As experienced as Shen Dongye was, he could easily see through the clues, and his eyes immediately gleamed with a gossipy light:

"It's great to be young~"

……

Main stage.

A massive water curtain cascaded down from the dome, its refracted rainbow light engulfing the entire venue.

As the audience lights receded like a receding tide, the remaining spotlights pierced the darkness, striking the holographic screen in the center of the stage—

A razor-sharp montage slices through the light and shadow memories of the past year:

In "The Throne," Song Kang-ho's withered fingers grasp the moonlight on the prison gate;

The bloodshot in Ha Jung-woo's pupils when he pulls the trigger in the rainy alley in "Assassination";
In "Reply 1988," Sung Dong-il tripped while holding a coal briquette, causing the entire audience to burst into laughter...

Sudden.

The screen was torn apart by a sinister, magnificent force—

In "Veteran," Kang Jae-hoon, with a cigar in his mouth, steps out of a top-of-the-line sports car, his expensive leather shoes crunching over blood-stained banknotes, exhaling smoke rings at the camera, and the wicked smile on his lips makes the screams from the fan section almost lift the roof off.

“Ahhhh——!!!”

"Kang Jae-hoon—!!!"

The next second—

All the noise froze into snow on the screen.

The fierce winds of the Himalayas swept in, carrying prayer flags with a whooshing sound—

Park Moo-taek, his knuckles red from the cold, clumsily straightened his wife's (played by Yoona in a cameo role) askew Tibetan headdress. In the bright sunlight reflecting off the snow-capped mountains, his beautiful wife suddenly winked at him!

"Boom!"

An exaggerated heartbeat sound effect exploded.

Park Moo-taek suddenly clutched his chest and staggered back two steps, his boots leaving long tracks in the snow—the camera lingered on a close-up of his surprised and delighted grin.

“Ahhhhhh——!!!”

The screams suddenly broke through the threshold, becoming ten times more intense than before!
The camera precisely pans across the guest seats—

Song Joong-ki imitated Im Yoon-ah's wink at Song Hye-kyo, while Yoo Ah-in frantically slapped Jo Jung-seok's thigh next to him, pointed at Song Joong-ki, and laughed loudly.

Dark scene.

The lingering echo of his heartbeat reverberated through the air.

The spotlight cleaved through the darkness like a sharp sword.

The dazzling spotlights sliced ​​the stage into fragments of a galaxy, and the entire audience breathed in sync with the rhythm of the drums.

In front of the central microphone—

Shin Dong-yeop (left), Bae Suzy (center), and Kang Jae-hoon (right) are silhouettes sculpted from light and shadow.

Good evening, distinguished guests!

Shin Dong-yeop's chest resonated, producing his signature deep voice:
"I am Shin Dong-yeop, the host of the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards!"

"Hello everyone, I'm Suzy~"

Bae Suzy turned slightly to the side, her black dress shimmering like a galaxy, her smile flawless—

If you ignore the fact that she was secretly applying pressure to Kang Jae-hoon's instep with her stiletto heels, which were hidden under her floor-length dress.

"Hello everyone, I am Kang Jae-hoon."

His lips curved into a perfect smile, but the muscles in his calves beneath his suit trousers were subtly tensing to resist the bruising from his heels.

Cheers erupted like a tidal wave.

The applause lasted for a long time.

Shin Dong-yeop suddenly clutched his heart, his expression so exaggerated that even his eyebrows seemed to be straining:

"Wow, standing next to these two dazzling people, I feel like an old butler in a TV drama!"

Bae Suzy immediately raised her cue card to cover the corners of her upturned mouth, her eyes gleaming with mischief:
"Could the butler help me steal the Best Actress trophy for tonight?"

Kang Jae-hoon raised his index finger like a fox wagging its tail:

"According to Article 1 of the Baeksang Arts Awards Charter—"

The voice suddenly switches to Nick Wilde's voice from Zootopia:

"A pre-selected candidate should at least have a nomination, right?"

"ah!"

Bae Suzy immediately switched to Judy's voice, eliciting screams from the fans in the audience: "Nick Fox, you're under arrest!"

Under the spotlight, Kang Jae-hoon's eyes curled into a roguish smile:
"Oh? The charge is..."

He lightly touched his left chest with his fingertip:
"...Did it steal your little heart?"

“Waaaaaaaaaaaa——”

The entire venue erupted in cheers.

The silhouette of Shen Dongye helplessly spreading his hands was projected onto the big screen, making him look exactly like the real old butler.

As the noise subsided.

His voice suddenly deepened into a rich, mellow tone honed by time:

"Did you see that? The charm of Baeksang Arts Center—"

The spotlight focused into a single, intense beam of light in his eyes.

"—It's about turning the best actors into playful children, and making the most touching stories a part of our shared breath."

The elegant curve of the gold-embossed envelope unfolds like the scroll of an era.

The 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards—

"Officially begin!"

The words fell.

On the big screen, the list of judges lit up one by one like stars, and the logos of the sponsors flowed into a magnificent river in the symphony.

When the presenter announced that the Best New Actor in the Drama category was won by Ryu Jun-yeol (Reply 1988) and Kim Go-eun (Cheese in the Trap), the applause was like an avalanche.

……

The Best New Actor award ceremony in the film category.

The stage lights suddenly went out.

Only a spotlight remained, fixed on the envelope in the award presenter's hand.

The winner of the Best New Actor award in the film category at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards is—

The sound of the envelope tearing was amplified into a thunderclap.

""veteran"--"

"Kang Jae-hoon! Congratulations!"

boom--! !

The screams instantly transformed into tangible sound waves, and the light sticks waved wildly by the fans in the back row traced meteor-like trajectories in the darkness.

"Ahhh, Oppa!!!"

"This is insane! This is insane!!!"

"..."

The camera precisely captured Hwang Jung-min's fatherly applause from the guest seats, as well as Song Joong-ki's thumbs-up towards the camera.

When Kang Jae-hoon got up, he made a point of smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles on his suit.

Every step I took towards the stage was in time with the beat of my heart.

When he received the heavy trophy from his senior, his fingertips lightly caressed the words "Baeksang Arts Awards" for a moment.

In front of the microphone.

His clear voice trembled just the right amount:
"Thank you to the organizing committee and to every colleague in the 'Veteran' crew."

His gaze swept across the audience, lingering on Hwang Jung-min for a few more seconds:
"I am especially grateful to my teacher. If it weren't for your words on set back then, 'You brat, are you trying to ruin my show?', there wouldn't be the Zhao Taiwu of today."

A low laugh spread like ripples.

The trophy refracted brilliant light under the lamplight, and as he bowed slightly, a few stubborn stray hairs stuck up at the back of his head.

"This trophy is just the beginning."

"And I will continue—"

He suddenly looked up at the camera at the highest point, his pupils burning with the flames of ambition:
"To become an actor that everyone can be proud of."

This is the end.

At 26, Kang Jae-hoon won the Best New Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards, and Baeksang Arts Awards for his portrayal of the sinister third-generation chaebol heir Jo Tae-oh in "Veteran".

JTBC's live broadcast viewership ratings surged to a record high at that moment.

The top five trending topics on social media were instantly dominated:
1. #KangJaeHoon wins all newcomer awards#
2. #ZhaoTae-wonSuitThug#
3. #BaeksangArtNewMostBeautifulVisuals#
4. #Hwang Jung-min's pleased father's face#
5. #Kang Jae-hoon's speech stole my heart#
……

The sound of camera shutters clicking wildly was deafening in the press area; one media outlet even had such shaky hands that it produced a blurry, afterimage-like image.

In the image, Kang Jae-hoon's profile as he lowers his head to kiss the trophy appears even more divine amidst the out-of-focus light.

The crystal chandelier cut the stage into diamond-like facets. When Han Junxi, director of "Chinatown," held up the Best New Director trophy, the reflection from his glasses obscured his reddened eyes.

When Lee Yoo-jung, the screenwriter of "Reply 1988," accepted the Best Screenplay Award for a drama series, Lee Hyeri in the audience cheered even more enthusiastically than the winner herself.

"52nd Baeksang Arts Awards Popularity Award"

The envelopes in the award presenters' hands gleamed with a pearly luster under the spotlight.

"Drama department, Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo!"

The moment when Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo stepped onto the stage side by side.

Yoo Ah-in's whistle triggered a chain reaction.

Song Hye-kyo's fingers trembled as she held the trophy.

"Thank you to every viewer who voted..."

When Song Joong-ki spoke, his eyes were only on the person next to him:
"This honor is shared with the most important people in my life."

Immediately afterwards——

"Film department, Kang Jae-hoon, Bae Suzy!"

When Kang Jae-hoon gentlemanly helped Bae Suzy up the steps, the flashbulbs from the audience instantly created a galaxy-like effect.

As Bae Suzy's skirt brushed against Kang Jae-hoon's suit trousers, the big screen cut to a scene from "Train to Busan" showing the high school couple they played running through a horde of zombies.

"Thank you to every fan who voted for us. We will continue to work hard and repay everyone's love with better works!"

Kang Jae-hoon's voice trailed off, blending into the sweetness Bae Suzy added:
"Please continue to support our upcoming movie 'Train to Busan'—come and witness how long this high school couple can survive."

As the trailer for "Train to Busan" ended on the big screen, the lights in the venue gradually dimmed.

The symphony orchestra began preparing the intermission program.

……

As the magnificent symphony began, the lights in the entire venue came on again.

The viewership ratings climbed again with the appearance of this couple.

Kang Jae-hoon wore a midnight blue velvet suit with a silver brooch in the shape of the North Star pinned to his collar;

Bae Suzy changed into a rose gold sequined gown, with a diamond pendant on her collarbone shimmering like a galaxy with each step.

Welcome back to the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards ceremony!

Kang Jae-hoon's voice was as clear and crisp as champagne bubbles:
"The main event of the second half is about to begin—"

Bae Suzy lightly tapped the microphone with her fingertip and smiled sweetly:
"First up are... the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards in the film category!"

The words fell.

Last year's Baeksang Arts Awards Best Supporting Actor winner, Yoo Hae-jin, strode onto the stage, his憨厚 (honest and simple) smile revealing his ease and confidence.

"Hello everyone, I am Yoo Hae-jin."

The audience immediately responded with friendly applause.

This hardworking actor filmed four movies last year, and this year he has taken on roles in both "Taxi Driver" and "Confidential Assignment".

This can be seen.

If Kang Jae-hoon and Im Yoon-ah want to maintain their relationship on set in the future, they will probably need this senior actor, who is constantly filming in Gwangju and Seoul, to act as their emotional deliveryman.

"When I received this award last year, some people said I was lucky—"

Liu Haizhen suddenly glanced mischievously at Huang Zhengmin sitting in the audience:

"But this year... that guy didn't even get a nomination!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience. Hwang Jung-min pretended to throw a water bottle, but Cho Jin-woong next to him stopped him with a laugh.

The big screen began playing clips of the nominees in rotation—

[Kang Jae-hoon, Himalayas]

On the snow-covered plateau, Park Moo-taek's rough fingers offered a cup of butter tea to a shivering mountaineer. His face, covered in frostbite, held bright eyes that were warmer than the sunlight.

[Oh Dal-soo's "Veteran"]

In the police station interrogation room, he squinted as he flipped through case files, a cigarette dangling from his lips, when he suddenly slammed his hand on the table: "You bastard! You think you can do whatever you want just because you have money?!"

[Cho Jin-woong's "Assassination"]

In a rainy alley, he wiped his sniper rifle, raindrops dripping from the brim of his hat: "This shot... is for forty million compatriots."

……

After the clip ended, the entire audience held their breath.

The sound of Liu Haizhen opening the envelope was amplified tenfold by the microphone—

"Does anyone know why these awards were created?"

His gaze swept across the audience, and he asked himself a question, answering it himself:

"It's because... we want actors to keep learning and constantly pushing their own boundaries."

"And the talent of this trophy winner is so enviable that it makes one's teeth itch with jealousy."

"Winner of the Best Supporting Actor Award in the Film Category at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards —"

He suddenly turned his head and looked directly at Kang Jae-hoon on the side stage:

"Himalayan, Kang Jae-hoon! Congratulations!!!"

"Wa ...

It was as if a thousand tons of gunpowder had been detonated in the Temple of Peace!
The screams created a sound wave that almost lifted the dome, and the entire fan area went completely into a frenzy, with countless light sticks almost waving into the air!
Song Joong-ki raised his hands and clapped, while Lee Sung-kyung's eyes were practically overflowing with pride.

at the same time.

The deep, resonant voice of the ceremony narrator perfectly filled the entire venue:
"In 'Himalaya,' Kang Jae-hoon brought the character of Park Moo-taek, a member of the expedition team, to life with his natural and unpretentious acting."

"From body language to dialect dialogue, he demonstrated an amazing ability to embody the character, and the final result was so realistic and moving—congratulations again on winning the award!"

Bae Suzy nudged Kang Jae-hoon, who was still in a daze, with her elbow. He then straightened the front of his suit jacket as if he had just woken up from a dream.

As he hugged Yoo Hae-jin, the senior whispered something in his ear:
"Don't let me completely crush you when you act opposite me in your next film."

Kang Jae-hoon paused for a second, then burst into laughter:

"Senior...we'll see the real deal on the set of 'Taxi Driver'."

On the podium.

The dazzling lights made the trophy in Kang Jae-hoon's hand shine brightly.

His gaze swept over the familiar faces in the audience—director Lee Seok-hoon's gratified smile, Lee Sung-kyung's sparkling eyes, and Hwang Jung-min's thumbs-up.

"Thank you to the Baeksang Arts Awards organizing committee for this weighty recognition, and thank you to director Lee Seok-hoon for giving me the opportunity to set foot on the snowy plains of the Himalayas."

His gaze swept across the audience, lingering on the area where the "Himalaya" production crew was located:
"This trophy belongs to every staff member who stayed with me at four in the morning, shivering on set in minus twenty degrees Celsius."

He bowed at a 90-degree angle as he turned to the nominees' seats.
"It is a great honor for me to be nominated alongside seniors Oh Dal-soo, Cho Jin-woong, Eom Tae-gu, and Lee Kyung-young..."

His wisps of hair fell across his forehead, obscuring his slightly reddened eyes.

He got up, but his signature smile had already returned:
"The role of Park Moo-taek taught me far more than I could present to him..."

The final note faded into increasingly enthusiastic applause:

"This trophy is not the end, but rather a driving force that spurs me on. I will continue to approach this with reverence and repay all expectations with even better roles. Thank you everyone!"

The awards ceremony was like a magnificent dream that came to a swift end.

Lee Byung-hun for "Inside Men" and Jeon Do-yeon for "Shameless" won Best Actor and Best Actress respectively; Yoo Ah-in for "Six Flying Dragons" and Kim Hye-soo for "Signal" won Best Actor and Best Actress respectively.

When director Ryoo Seung-wan's "Veteran" won Best Director, Kang Jae-hoon accepted the award on his behalf, looking as well-behaved as a model student.

The media area was already filled with a dense, impenetrable jungle of cameras and microphones.

"What does it feel like to win the grand slam of newcomer awards?"

"The pressure outweighs the joy, which means we'll disappoint even more people."

Kang Jae-hoon smiled and pointed to his shoulder.

"Winner of the youngest Best Supporting Actor award in Baeksang Arts Awards history?"

"I really want to ask the judges—did they mistake 26 for 62?"

The reporters burst into laughter.

Kang Jae-hoon's phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

Jin Dayuan's excited voice almost pierced through the receiver:
"President! It's completely overloaded! The official website is down! Your search index—"

"We'll talk about it later."

"President..."

Jin Dayuan's voice suddenly became cautious:

"Now there's an even more important question. Who exactly are you celebrating with tonight? The D-News reporter has already... all the exits..."

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly caught two figures approaching out of the corner of his eye—

One fingertip was casually twirling the end of her hair, while the other was lip-reading "Cartier".

He suddenly felt.

Compared to the awards podium just now, this is the real test of acting skills.

(End of this chapter)