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

Chapter 271 On how a good older brother can stir up a pool of spring water in three minutes

"Your assistant won't let me in."

When Cha Tae-hyun's voice came through the receiver, Kang Jae-hoon was discussing the emotional points of the bathroom argument scene with Kim Ji-won.

Holding the phone, I opened the solid wood door—

Wearing a vest and shorts, Cha Tae-hyun was sitting at the reception desk with his legs crossed, holding a bag of dried squid and two bottles of soju, waving his phone and grinning at him.

"elder brother."

Kang Jae-hoon hung up the phone and quickly stepped forward to give the other person a hug.

Cha Tae-hyun clicked his tongue as he sized him up:

"You've really made something of yourself, huh? Now I need to make an appointment just to grab a drink with you?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Hanna, seemingly casually:
"It's rare to see a young girl with such a strong sense of responsibility!"

"Don't even think about it."

Kang Jae-hoon put his arm around Cha Tae-hyun's shoulder and led him towards the office:

"Secretary Hanna is the company's property; don't try anything with her."

As the two figures disappeared at the end of the corridor, arm in arm, Hannah pushed up her glasses to conceal the slight upturn of her lips.

—Being referred to as "real estate" by President Jiang with such certainty feels surprisingly good.

……

Kim Ji-won, who was tidying up her script, immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing the person who arrived.

"Hello, senior."

Cha Tae-hyun winked in return, then slammed a bottle of soju onto the desk with a thud.

"No wonder Secretary Han stopped me—"

"We were just talking about work."

"Yes, yes, a proper job at nine o'clock in the evening~"

Cha Tae-hyun's drawn-out voice lingered in the salty, fishy smell of the squid strips.

"...Ji-won, go back first."

Kim Ji-won, who had been chased away, lingered at the door, then suddenly stared at the soju bottle:
"Oppa wants a drink? I'll stay."

"Aren't you going to look at houses with Hanna tomorrow?"

After receiving a negative answer, she pouted and turned around, but the moment she grabbed the doorknob, she turned back—

"Chirp!"

A kiss, still carrying the scent of a cigar, was left on Kang Jae-hoon's cheek, and Cha Tae-hyun's eyebrows rose into exclamation marks as the words "I'm leaving~" echoed in his mind.

"Wow! You're getting pretty fancy with your tricks now, huh?"

Kang Jae-hoon calmly unscrewed the cap of the soju bottle:

"Columbia students dressing like that at night, could it be just for gossip?"

Cha Tae-hyun downed the soju in his glass in one gulp.

"of course not."

He smacked his lips as he took the squid strips Kang Jae-hoon handed him: "It's just been too long since I've had a drink with our maknae."

"Those idiots are all hanging around on set. Jo In-sung is filming 'The King,' Lee Kwang-soo is tied up with 'The Sound of Your Heart,' and Kim Woo-bin is constantly battling financial battles."

Kang Jae-hoon chuckled and filled his cup again:
"I'm currently dealing with more work than filming..."

Before she could finish speaking, Cha Tae-hyun snatched the script from her.

"This script?"

"how?"

Cha Tae-hyun didn't reply; instead, his eyes widened as he focused on reading.

ten minutes later.

"Snapped--"

Cha Tae-hyun slammed his fist on the table in excitement, spilling his drink in the process.

"Aren't you just riding the wave of opportunity?!"

"Ok?"

"Did you see the candlelight vigil at Ewha Womans University a few days ago? Thousands of people sang 'Into the New World' in the streets..."

“From idol songs to anthems of resistance,” Kang Jae-hoon said thoughtfully, swirling his glass. “It’s truly impactful.”

"so!"

He pointed to the script on the table, his eyes shining: "Two female leads + runaway marriage + soulmates? These days, girls would probably book the theater ten times over!"

indeed.

Whether a movie becomes a hit depends on the script, which sets the bottom line, and on the sentiment of the times, which sets the ceiling.

Just like "The Host" might not have become a phenomenon if it were released in today's world of superhero movies.

This film, which focuses on female empowerment, is destined to become a must-see "social currency" for women. The adaptation of the elopement plot is a cultural symbol tailor-made for the current South Korean feminist movement.

"You didn't include me in this good thing? Are you even a brother?" Cha Tae-hyun suddenly changed the subject.

Kang Jae-hoon explained the current landscape of the film and television industry with a wry smile—the capital war between Kakao and CJ, and the aggressive intrusion of Netflix. He was interrupted before he could finish speaking.

"Don't talk to me about this!"

Cha Tae-hyun started dredging up old grievances by waving his fingers:

Who recommended you for the role of Baek Seung-chan in "The Producers"?

"Who pulled Jo In-sung and Lee Kwang-soo together to film that absurd yet effective clarification video for you overnight during the bullying controversy?"

"Who persuaded you to buy lottery tickets when you won billions in lottery prize money?"

"Last month, when you were splashed with excrement in Gwangju, wasn't I the first person on Instagram to defend you and rally fans to support 'A Taxi Driver'?!"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, eventually resorting to moral blackmail:
"Now that you have a good project, you've forgotten your brother who went through thick and thin with you?! Hey! Kang Jae-hoon, doesn't your conscience hurt?!"

The barrage of attacks left Kang Jae-hoon speechless and ultimately defeated.

"A maximum of 5%."

Of the 50% share, 10% has already been promised to Kim Ji-won, and 30% must be reserved for CJ, this gluttonous behemoth.

To ensure the film's smooth release during prime time in South Korea and through unimpeded overseas distribution channels.

To be able to squeeze out this 5% for Cha Tae-hyun is like taking meat from between a tiger's teeth.

"5%?" Cha Tae-hyun looked like he'd been struck by lightning. "Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar? I'm a big shot in Chungmuro! At least 10%!"

Seeing that Kang Jae-hoon was still staring blankly at the soju glass, Cha Tae-hyun slumped his shoulders and softened his tone:

"...Is 8% alright?"

"...7%? That's outrageous!"

Jiang Zai Xun remained unmoved and slowly poured him another glass of wine.

"...5% it is!"

Cha Tae-hyun scratched his head, resignedly pulled his phone out of his pocket, and expertly dialed his wife's number:
"Sion, transfer me 8 million."

Before he could finish speaking, Kang Jae-hoon immediately grabbed his wrist:

"Brother, 5% is 4 million! Don't try to raise the price!"

"400 million it is." Cha Tae-hyun awkwardly changed his tune on the other end of the phone, "What? It's not about betting on football, this is..."

With a smile playing on his lips, Kang Jae-hoon watched as Cha Tae-hyun bowed and scraped as he explained to his wife, then casually picked up the landline on the table and dialed an outside number:

"Let Hannah in."

When Hanna pushed open the door, Cha Tae-hyun was holding the phone and making a humble promise:
"It's a legitimate film investment; you can ask Jae-hoon if you don't believe me..."

Kang Jae-hoon pointed to Cha Tae-hyun, who looked embarrassed:
"Draft a 5% investment agreement for 'Soulmate'."

Hanna nodded crisply, noting it down, her gaze lingering briefly on the two men's wine glasses:
"You haven't had dinner yet tonight, would you like me to arrange a late-night snack?"

"Let's make a reservation at a restaurant."

Kang Jae-hoon thought for a moment and then added, "By the way, you don't need to come to the company tomorrow. Go pick up Ji-won in the morning and help her finalize the house viewing."

"clear."

As Hanna turned to leave, she closed the office door behind her, shutting out Cha Tae-hyun's increasingly absurd explanations:

"Darling, you have to believe me..."

……

The lights along the Han River meandered like a galaxy. On the way from the Next Scene building to the restaurant we had booked, neon lights flowed across the car window, reflecting Cha Tae-hyun's grimacing expression as he stared at the "5%" figure on the contract.

"As for it?"

Seeing this, Jiang Zaixun chuckled, "I'd have to explain 4 million to you for ten minutes. If it were any bigger, your money would probably still be stuck in your sister-in-law's account by the time the project starts." "Hey! What do you know, kid!"

Cha Tae-hyun rolled his eyes with genuine emotion: "That's called respect!"

This is true.

In the entertainment-obsessed, decadent world of K-pop, Cha Tae-hyun is indeed a rare example of a good husband who remains untainted by the corruption.

He has had zero scandals in his more than 20 years in the industry, and his love with his wife, Choi Seok-eun, remains as sweet as ever.

Hwang Jung-min is also that kind of person—he spoils his wife, with whom he has had a long-term relationship, like a princess. Even Kim Woo-bin, who has not yet tied the knot with Shin Min-ah, is known in the industry for his unwavering devotion over the years.

People often say, "Birds of a feather flock together."

Logically speaking, a playboy like Kang Jae-hoon, surrounded by actresses like Lim Yoon-ah, Lee Sung-kyung, and Bae Suzy, should be someone these "pure love warriors" avoid like the plague.

Ironically—

He, however, firmly stood at the core of this circle, and even became Cha Tae-hyun's best partner for sneaking in with soju late at night to build connections.

Fate can be quite ironic sometimes.

……

The sandalwood screen was embroidered with a subtle pattern of pine trees and cranes symbolizing longevity, and the glow of red lanterns shimmered above the blue and white porcelain bowls and plates. Cha Tae-hyun poked at a crystal shrimp dumpling with the tip of his chopsticks, but his eyes remained glued to the "5%" figure on the contract.

"Besides this, what other projects does your company have recently? You can't just be relying on this one movie, can you?"

He suddenly asked a question, and the moment the shrimp dumpling skin was punctured, amber-colored soup seeped out.

Kang Jae-hoon slowly scooped up a spoonful of crab roe tofu:
"A remake of 'The Devil Wears Prada,' but..." He glanced at Cha Tae-hyun's casual shorts, "hyung, you're a fashion disaster, so you shouldn't get involved."

"...There is a TV series in preparation..."

Suddenly remembering something, Kang Jae-hoon asked, "By the way, what has Bo-gum been up to lately?"

"A precious sword?"

Cha Tae-hyun reminisced while chewing on a shrimp dumpling:

"He's currently filming that historical romance drama on KBS, playing a lovelorn prince. What, are you eyeing him now?"

"What a coincidence."

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly snapped his fingers: "Our first drama is a historical drama, how about pairing him with Yoona?"

Yoona's ability to carry viewership ratings on her own is indeed... debatable, but if she brings in Park Bo-gum, who is at the peak of his career, as "ratings insurance," the risk factor can be immediately halved.

Cha Tae-hyun was about to nod when he suddenly became alert:

"Wait...who are you partnered with?!"

"Lim Yoona."

Cha Tae-hyun's expressions were instantly fascinating:

"Wait a minute, let me sort this out... Who's the lead actress in 'The Witch Who Wears Cartier'?"

"Senior Kim Hye-soo, Bae Suzy, Lee Sung-kyung."

Cha Tae-hyun turned his chopsticks toward the "July" contract: "And this one?"

"Kim Ji-won, and... Jung Soo-jung, whose relationship is still undecided."

"Good guy!"

Cha Tae-hyun leaned back abruptly, almost knocking over the blue-and-white porcelain vase behind him.

"So all three projects in your company were just your girlfriend's parties?! Is this how you internally manage resources?!"

Kang Jae-hoon leisurely picked up a slice of abalone:
"Brother, this is called internal optimization of high-quality resources."

"Optimize my ass!"

Cha Tae-hyun was heartbroken, wondering how he could have met such a jerk.

……

Krystal Jung tapped her fingertips on the steering wheel, and the neon lights outside the car window blurred the road surface.

She originally just went for a drive because she couldn't sleep, but the Chinese restaurant with red lanterns hanging around her mouth whetted her appetite—since she had no plans recently, it shouldn't be a problem to indulge herself once, right?
The moment you push open the carved wooden door, the steam from the steamer, mixed with the aroma of five-spice powder, hits you.

She was studying the menu when she suddenly heard a surprised greeting:
"Crystal?"

Looking up, I saw Cha Tae-hyun swaying towards me from the direction of the restroom, his face slightly flushed, with two buttons undone on his shirt collar.

"Ah, senior!"

Krystal Jung bowed quickly.

Cha Tae-hyun scrutinized her bare-faced appearance:

"Alone so late...?"

"Buy some late-night snacks..."

Krystal waved the menu: "I'm leaving soon."

Cha Tae-hyun, his eyes glazed over with drunkenness, suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

—Didn't Kang Jae-hoon say that this girl is still hesitating?
—If only I could convince this girl to take the role…

—Isn't that 5% project quota a foregone conclusion?

"Let's eat something together?"

He suddenly stepped aside to make way, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha:

"We're currently discussing a project that you might be interested in."

“No, no.”

Krystal waved her hands repeatedly and took two steps back, but froze when she heard the next sentence—"Kang Jae-hoon is here too."

The body reacts before the brain.

By the time Krystal Jung came to her senses, Cha Tae-hyun had already half-pushed her through the corridor painted with "The Night Banquet of Han Xizai".

Just before the sandalwood door was pushed open, Cha Tae-hyun suddenly lowered his voice:
"That kid said you hesitated because you were thinking about old feelings?"

Krystal Jung's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Let me tell you..."

The old fox suddenly grinned: "Use the resources he squandered to make your own money and infuriate his people—that's what it means to be a winner."

The moment the carved screen was pushed open—

The wine glass in Kang Jae-hoon's hand tilted slightly, the lamplight reflecting off the silver chain at his collarbone, creating shimmering, cold light. When he turned and saw who it was, his eyebrows lifted slightly.
"...Soojung?"

Krystal Jung suddenly curled her toes—

She then realized that she had hastily slipped on a pair of slippers when she left the house, and the Nick Wilde pattern was now blatantly exposed to Kang Jae-hoon's view.

"Add another serving of our signature dish."

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly raised his hand to signal the waiter: "Don't put any melons in any of the dishes."

Krystal Jung's breath hitched.

—He actually remembers that he hates melons?
"I was just passing through."

She spoke first, trying to use indifference to mask the surging embarrassment and the inappropriate flutter in her heart: "Don't overthink it."

However, no sooner had the words left his mouth than—

The familiar intro and vocals suddenly filled the private room; it was the OST they sang together for "The Heirs" three years ago—"Heart Attraction".

"I think this is the law of attraction~"

"Find what you want to say to me~"

"We've been slowly growing closer for some time now."

"..."

The melody is sweet, and the lyrics are straightforward, but at this moment, they sound dramatically awkward.

Cha Tae-hyun smiled and waved his phone:

"Oh my gosh~ This song just happened to play randomly, what a coincidence!"

(Nobody believes he did it randomly.)
Krystal's eyes started darting around—her toes were digging into the ground! She was really digging! The soles of her slippers were practically sparking from her scrubbing!
Kang Jae-hoon coughed lightly and calmly poured himself another glass of wine.

"Did you do this on purpose, brother?"

Cha Tae-hyun remained completely calm, even appearing self-assured:

"What's wrong with reminiscing? Back then, your song was a surprise hit, even beating IU!"

talking.

He slapped his thigh, his acting exaggerated:

"Crystal, did you know that this kid never sang an OST with anyone else again after that?"

A flash of lightning suddenly streaked across the window, and a summer downpour began unexpectedly. The sound of raindrops hitting the green-tiled eaves just masked the sudden acceleration of Jung Soo-jung's heartbeat.

(End of this chapter)