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

Chapter 268 Yoona, who was flattened while being sat on, and Jae-hoon, who was on the verge of death.
The morning mist, like a thin veil, enveloped the restored 1980 street scene. The cobblestone streets on both sides of the road were covered with faded Korean shop signs that swayed slightly in the wind.

"Action!"

With the crisp click of the clapperboard, the streets of Gwangju in the 80s suddenly came to life.

Song Kang-ho, playing Kim Man-seop, stoops as he crawls out of the taxi, his face, reflecting a mixture of fear and trepidation, in the rearview mirror.

German journalist Peter was gesturing in broken Korean to indicate the location of the demonstration site, while the faint sound of gunfire in the distance sent a chill down the back of the driver's neck.

Kang Jae-hoon entered the scene at this moment.

When the extras pushed him toward the foreign reporters, his subconscious gesture of smoothing his sideburns betrayed his forced composure.
"We're heading thereare you journalist?"

"Cut!"

“Jaehoon!”

Director Zhang Xun strolled over from behind the monitor, rubbing his hands together.
"You speak English very well... well, you know... around 1980... kids back then hadn't heard of K-pop! So... your pronunciation should have the feel of a BBC broadcaster."

The whole place was dead silent.

Kang Jae-hoon's first major blooper in his three-year acting career was his accent, a pain ten times greater than being criticized for his acting. His gaze swept over the production assistants covering their mouths and laughing in the crowd, and the set of "The Heirs" suddenly flashed into his mind—

The image of Krystal Jung stomping on his shadow to correct her pronunciation suddenly became incredibly clear:

"One last time! Tongue against upper gum—scene!"

Damn!

Kang Jae-hoon abruptly shook his head, forcing the phantom back.

Why is this ex-girlfriend's presence even more persistent than Bae Suzy's nagging?

"Please teach me, Mr. Peter."

He bowed deeply to the German actor, who was so surprised that the actor repeatedly said "OK, OK".

five minutes later.

"Scene 27, second take!"

When Kang Jae-hoon was reborn, it was as if he had been infused with the soul of Goo Jae-sik.

The detail of wiping sweat from fingertips along the seams of trousers, the unconscious restraint when first meeting a foreigner, and the sudden brightness in the eyes when discovering that the other person is a war correspondent.

All levels of discussion exploded with Song Kang-ho's sudden, lowered warning, "Student brats, don't get involved."

During the filming of the suppression scene, Kang Jae-hoon sat behind the monitor, notebook in hand. His headphones played BBC standard English on a loop, but his eyes were glued to the live feed.

Song Kang-ho is experiencing the same transformative moment as Kim Man-seop.

The very mercenary driver, who loved his daughter dearly, saw the military police smash the butt of their guns into the pregnant woman's abdomen, and his facial muscles began to twitch before he even realized it.
When the noodle shop owner gave him an extra rice ball, his trembling hands suddenly clenched into hard stones.

The most brilliant shot is the one where he looks back and gazes at the car on the way back to Seoul, his turbid tears appearing like molten glass under the car headlights.

"That old fox..."

Kang Jae-hoon muttered to himself, biting the pen cap.

The densely packed notes in my hands suddenly seemed ridiculous; a real textbook of performance was unfolding before my eyes.

The sound of Hannah's high heels suddenly cut through the noise from behind.

"Boss."

She half-squatted down and handed the tablet to him: "Train to Busan is a huge hit at Cannes."

Kang Jae-hoon took off one earphone and turned to look at the screen—

Exclusive: "Train to Busan" sold to 156 countries! Sales reached $250 million! A record for a South Korean film at Cannes!

The accompanying photo is a group photo taken against the backdrop of the blue sea and sky of Cannes:
Director Yeon Sang-ho, Gong Yoo, and Ma Dong-seok were all laughing, their arms around each other's shoulders, as if they had just robbed a bank.

"250 million US dollars?"

Kang Jae-hoon scrolled through his iPad with a sour expression.

It's already almost half back to its cost before it's even released! If it goes on a global tour, it'll be making a fortune!

Hannah's eyes flickered behind her glasses:
"To be precise, we broke even by about 35%."

"...the international market is really..."

The swear word veered off his lips, turning into a soft chuckle:
"Film festivals are indeed luxury goods counters that come with their own holy light."

Unfortunately, none of the projects he had were up to par.

Taxi Driver?
That's hardcore enough; the Gwangju Uprising theme would definitely be popular in Europe.

But this movie wasn't made to win awards; it was made to address that deliberately obscured period of history.

The Witch Who Wears Cartier?
Come on... it's an extra-long luxury goods advertisement, no matter how many memorable lines you cram in, it won't change its essence.

"Soulmate"?
If filmed well, it could indeed launch two leading actresses into film stars, but it lacks artistic merit.

The Busan International Film Festival should have been the ideal platform for film screenings—

It was once a window into South Korean cinema and Asia's largest film market. Unfortunately, in the past two years, it has been embroiled in political turmoil, with the tug-of-war between progressives and conservatives turning this once-glorious film event into something lackluster.

Exhibiting not only fails to provide international exposure, but may also attract unnecessary controversy over taking sides.

"Ugh……"

He handed the tablet back to Hanna.

There is no use in thinking too much.

The script for "Soulmate" hasn't even been fully adapted yet, so it's too early to consider these things now.

read this.

Kang Jae-hoon then turned his head and kept his gaze fixed on the monitor.

After all, compared to the twists and turns of the entertainment industry, it's more practical to learn the real skills of national treasure-level actors right now.

……

Time slips away quietly in the midst of everyday filming.

The voting for "The Witch Wearing Cartier" has entered its final sprint.

Lee Hyeri, who was initially in the lead, was quickly overtaken by Bae Suzy after the announcement of Kim Hye-soo's confirmed appearance.

"Suzy's sense of style is just like Andy Beni!"

"As expected, the strong female lead persona still needs to be carried by a top-tier celebrity!"

"Hyeri, please wait two more years~"

—Tsk, even their rhetoric for controlling public opinion is so standard.

Kang Jae-hoon chuckled, locked the screen, and tossed the phone back into his bag.

To put it bluntly, this is a tacitly understood business game:

The production team generated plenty of buzz, the participating celebrities capitalized on the hype, and the fans had a blast.

The most troublesome are those celebrities who took it seriously.

Countless invitations rained down like snowflakes, but Bae Suzy deflected them all using Kang Jae-hoon's SIM card.

Those who know their place will wisely leave as soon as they hear Bae Suzy's voice;
Those who are oblivious to the situation will soon be exposed for "insulting China" or "acting like divas," and then be overwhelmed by a public relations disaster.

……

On the evening of the 29th.

The night was cleaved by car headlights, and rain streaked the windshield with long, silvery lines.

Hannah's fingertips traced the fireworks design on the tablet screen, the cold light reflecting off her taut jawline.
"The champagne tower supplier on the cruise ship deck has confirmed a breach of contract and has been urgently replaced with—"

"parking."

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly interrupted.

The faint glow of the phone screen illuminated his furrowed brows—

The photo Bae Suzy sent was like a poison coated in sugar: the silk quilt was piled up like the first snow, her wet eyes peeked out from the edge of the quilt, and the tip of her nose was flushed with an unnatural red.

"The medicine tastes so bitter..."

The three words, with their coquettish ending, seeped into his nerves.

“Return to Hannan Cave”.

Kang Jae-hoon tapped the driver's seat headrest: "Now."

Hannah immediately switched the navigation:

"Estimated appointment: 1 hour and 35 minutes. Making an appointment for a night clinic at Samsung Seoul Hospital..."

The words have not yet fallen.

The scenery outside the window has transformed into a trail of flowing light.

The night breeze, carrying the scent of lilacs, swept past the car window. As the wheels crushed the puddles, the lights of Hannandong flickered in the distance.

When Kang Jae-hoon pushed open the door to Bae Suzy's house—

The aroma of red wine that wafted towards him carried a dangerous sweetness that made his temples throb.

"Suzy? Did you take her temperature?"

His voice was still hoarse from the journey.

however.

The moment I stepped into the living room—my steps came to an abrupt halt.

In the ambiguous interplay of light and shadow, two women, already waiting lazily, were nestled in the sofa.

Bae Suzy was indeed wearing the pure white silk nightgown from the photo, but now the straps had slipped down to her elbows, and the crimson wine swirled in the tulip glass between her fingers, a manifestation of desire—

"Oppa, you're so slow~ Ah~ I've been waiting for you so long the red wine is practically turning into vinegar~"

Lee Sung-kyung, on the other hand, was dressed properly in a T-shirt, but her cheeks were flushed like a ripe peach. Her fingers were twisting the tassel of the cushion, and she dared not look him in the eye.

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon slowly took half a step back:

I suddenly remembered there's another one tomorrow.

"Want to escape?"

Bae Suzy suddenly stood up, grabbed his belt buckle, and dragged him towards the master bedroom.

Kang Jae-hoon caught a glimpse of Lee Sung-kyung gulping down most of a glass of red wine to bolster her courage, and resigned himself to his fate.
"So tonight is Judgment Day?"

Bae Suzy turned around and smiled:
"It is a gift of compassion."

Kang Jae-hoon's Adam's apple bobbed, and he was about to speak—

"and many more!"

Lee Sung-kyung suddenly sprang forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Kang Jae-hoon's waist:
"I agreed to go first!"

"???"

Kang Jae-hoon's pupils dilated in shock:
"The Bible, you..."

"What are you!"

Lee Sung-kyung, her face flushed, dragged him toward the second bedroom:
"I'll tolerate that old woman... Ugh!"

The second half of the sentence was precisely covered by Bae Suzy's small hand.

As he staggered, Kang Jae-hoon caught a glimpse of a cushion lying on the sofa where Lee Sung-kyung had been sitting.

The velvet pillow was rubbed raw with deep buttock marks, and right in the center... was Yoona's smiling face!

The glaring lights shone on it, distorting Yoona's smiling eyes as she sat there, as if silently mocking the absurd night.

"..."

The light from the crystal chandelier shattered into a kaleidoscope in my field of vision.

He suddenly felt—

I'm the one who should be in the emergency room.

……

The morning light, like a stowaway, sneaks in quietly through the gaps in the blackout curtains.

When Jiang Zaixun opened his eyes, the soreness in his waist immediately returned, every muscle silently accusing him of the absurd battle of the previous night.

Bae Suzy was curled up in his arms, fast asleep. Her raven-white eyelashes cast a faint shadow on her porcelain-white skin, and her long hair, like dark seaweed, wrapped around his arm.

He carefully pulled his arm, which had gone numb from being pressed down—

"Hiss..."

Bae Suzy frowned and hummed softly in her sleep, and he immediately held his breath.

After a full three seconds, making sure she wasn't awake, he quietly rolled out of bed.

Click.

The moment the unit door opened, Hanna was already waiting beside the nanny van.

She adjusted her glasses, and the tablet lit up with the appointment interface:
【09:00-11:30 Muscle rehabilitation therapy (with a top-tier Thai massage therapist pre-booked)】

[12:00-13:00 Intravenous nutrition (VIP medical care home visit service)]

……

evening.

Gimpo Airport.

The twilight, like melting gold, dyed the wings of the Boeing 787 like phoenix tail feathers.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the railing at the arrival gate, watching the flight information screen change from "Arrived" to "Landed." Amidst the surging crowd at the gate, Im Yoon-a's figure, wearing a bucket hat and mask, remained conspicuously visible—

It wasn't because of the floral dress, but because of the unique rhythm of her walk.

"Welcome back to China."

Kang Jae-hoon presented him with Ecuadorian roses, asking, "Are you tired?"

Lim Yoona took the flower, lowered her head, and smelled it:
"Seeing President Kang personally pick me up at the airport suddenly made me perk up!"

"Because I'm afraid that if someone else answers, they won't be able to resist turning around and hiding you."

"Pfft~"

……

As the car slowly came to a stop at the Han River ferry crossing, Kang Jae-hoon suddenly took out a silk handkerchief and gently covered Im Yoon-ah's eyes:
How many years is the sentence for kidnapping?

Yoona smiled and said, "It's shorter than the sentence for stealing President Kang's heart—"

Before she could finish speaking, the world spun around her, and she was already firmly in his arms!
Step by step, I stepped onto the deck of the cruise ship.

She heard the gentle lapping of the river at her feet and felt the cool evening breeze on her cheeks.

Then——

The moment the ribbon slipped!
"Boom boom boom!!!"

The entire Nanshan Mountain on the opposite bank seemed to be ignited by divine flames!

Thousands of gold and silver fireworks shot into the sky from the base of Seoul Tower, and a shower of meteors and firework rained down, tearing the night sky into dazzling fragments.

First, silver chrysanthemums bloomed in unison, like an inverted Milky Way;

Then, the golden willow branches spread across the sky like a goddess's long hair;

Finally, the cursive letters of "Yoona" burst into flames and bloom in the night sky, with a diamond crown slowly unfolding at the top, each facet reflecting dazzling starlight.

Lim Yoona slightly covered her mouth, her pupils filled with the reflection of the entire Milky Way. The sparse firelight reflected on her cheeks, illuminating her usually calm and serene eyes, making her look like a sixteen-year-old girl.

Kang Jae-hoon gazed quietly at her profile.

this moment.

Fireworks costing tens of millions of Korean won, a meticulously planned surprise, and all the carefully calculated return on investment...

All of this received its most luxurious reward in the pure glow in her eyes.

The embers of fireworks shattered into starlight on the river, and the silhouette of the cruise ship swayed in the distance like a dreamlike silhouette.

The moment Lim Yoona turned her head—Kang Jae-hoon magically presented her with a manila envelope, sealed with a fox badge bearing the logo of Next Scene:
"birthday present."

Her eyelashes trembled slightly.

The surprise of knowing the contents from Hannah beforehand was still as solemn as opening a first love letter.

As the velvet ribbon slipped off, the gold lettering emerged from the water under the moonlight.

[Proposal for a Korean remake of "Go Princess Go"]
[Starring: Lim Yoon-a (as Zhang Pengpeng (tentative name)]
"A modern, straight-laced man's soul transmigrates into the body of the Crown Princess."

Kang Jae-hoon tapped the "gender dysphoria" label on the proposal with his fingertip, his smile bathed in moonlight:

From criticizing chauvinistic men to turning the Eastern Palace into a battlefield—

A second document was revealed as the pages were turned:

[SPV Equity Certificate]
[Beneficiary: Lim Yoona | 20% stake | Permanent benefit rights]
"President Jiang now..."

Yoona suddenly looked up, her fingertips tugging at his tie as she pulled it down:
"Do you like to shower women with money?"

"..."

This deadly question made Kang Jae-hoon break out in a cold sweat.

At this moment——

A string orchestra rises from the lower deck, and the prelude to Chopin's Nocturne is like moonlight washing over your feet.

He suddenly had a flash of inspiration:
I said that on my birthday last year.

He placed his palm on her lower back and pulled her into his arms: "For the next eight years, I want you to be the favored Lin Yoona."

The moment the strings vibrated, she suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

This kiss carried the scent of the Han River's moisture and the gunpowder of fireworks, as well as the peach flavor that belonged to Yoona's very essence.

As they parted, her eyelashes brushed against Kang Jae-hoon's cheek.
"Nice gift." She twirled his tie with her fingers. "Sweet nothings." She chuckled softly. "So-so."

The Nocturne has now reached its most tender and poignant section.

Lim Yoona slid back half a step and stretched out her arm towards him:
Aren't you going to invite me to dance?

"My pleasure."

Kang Jae-hoon secretly breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully it was just dancing.

(End of this chapter)