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

Chapter 274 The Heyday of Plastic Sisters
The Pacific monsoon in June swept across Ya Yue Yi with salty moisture, turning the ribbons of the opening ceremony of "Goodbye, My Soulmate" into a fluttering swarm of butterflies.

The film crew chose a coastal high school in Seogwipo City as their filming location.

As Jiang Zaihun stood before the incense table covered with red silk, he witnessed two grains of glutinous rice suddenly fall out of the pig's nostrils when the stagehands straightened the pig's head.

"A good omen!"

The production manager forcefully interpreted it as: "The movie is sure to be both critically acclaimed and a box office success!"

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

The opening ceremony was conducted according to ancient rituals.

The smoke from the three incense sticks was blown into a spiral shape by the sea breeze.

As soon as Kang Jae-hoon stepped onto the makeshift stage, he noticed the reporters in the front row all turning their heads to look at him with tense expressions.

The incident of being attacked with feces at the opening ceremony of "Gwangju Taxi" last month has clearly become the latest occupational hazard in the media industry.

"Please don't worry, everyone."

The sea breeze carried his soft laughter throughout the entire venue:
"The cost of traveling across the sea to Jeju Island to throw feces is too high, after all, the ban on aviation liquids is very strict."

Amidst the laughter, the sea breeze dispelled the somber mood, and even Krystal Jung lowered her head and pursed her lips.

"This film is not a cliché story of two women fighting over one man. It is a love letter to all women who struggle between 'stability' and 'freedom'."

The reporters in the audience suddenly started taking notes at a faster pace.

"What we want to explore is—when society builds walls around us with 'you should,' can the 'you' who climbs over the wall and the 'you' who stays inside to protect us still illuminate each other's paths at opposite ends of the world?"

The sound of camera shutters and the sound of waves intertwine to form the prelude.

As Kang Jae-hoon bowed and stepped down from the podium, staff quickly removed the incense table, and the reporters' area naturally surged towards the pre-designated interview area, like a tide overflowing a beach.

What are your thoughts on Crystal Xi taking on her first leading role in a film?

Krystal Jung gave the camera a perfectly timed smile:
"It's both a pressure and a motivation. The character Ha Eun has a lot of inner drama, and I hope that through her, everyone can see a new side of actress Jung Soo-jung."

Three meters away.

Kim Ji-won smiled sweetly at another group of reporters:
"Working with Crystal again? Ah, it feels like receiving a gift from fate~"

The reporters' cameras were fixed on the two leading actresses, their faces gilded by the clear sunlight unique to Jeju Island.

What are your thoughts on Crystal's partner's performance style?

Krystal Jung gazed at the distant waves shattered into pearls, her eyelashes casting a fan-shaped shadow on her cheek: "Ji-won unnie is like..." She tilted her head, "...a wildfire that suddenly erupted on Hallasan Mountain, full of unexpected charm."

All the recording pens turned towards Kim Ji-won, who immediately cupped her cheeks and feigned emotion.
"Ani-ah~ Our Krystal is the monsoon that can guide the wildfire!"

The reporters on the scene chuckled knowingly, and a female reporter wearing a fisherman's hat suddenly interjected:
"What if we use a Jeju specialty to describe the other person?"

"Ji-won unnie is definitely Hallabong tangerine."

Krystal Jung lightly tapped her chin with her fingertip: "She looks sweet and lovely." She suddenly revealed a mischievous smile, "You only know how sour and pungent it is when you cut into it."

Kim Ji-won immediately grabbed her arm and retorted, "Soo-jung is definitely Jeju volcanic rock, seemingly cold and hard but actually..." She suddenly leaned close to Jung Soo-jung's ear and whispered something, which made the other girl pat her shoulder and act coquettishly.

The reporters were delighted with their stories of sisterly affection, but only Jiang Zai-xun, standing outside the circle of journalists, saw it all—

The moment all the cameras panned away, Kim Ji-won's released hand fell naturally as if avoiding coral, while Jung Soo-jung's lingering smile concealed a half-moon.

well.

The film hasn't even officially started shooting yet, but the two leading actresses have already reached a level of perfection in their acting off-screen.

……

The sea breeze, carrying the salty tang of the tide, swept into the film set.

When Kim Ji-won and Jung Soo-jung walked out of the dressing room in their school uniform skirts, the curve of their skirts caught the sunlight of Jeju Island perfectly—their ages of 24 and 22 were subtly brought back to the rhythm of youth by their pleated skirts and canvas shoes.

"Oppa~"

Kim Ji-won, carrying a motorcycle helmet, jogged up to Kang Jae-hoon:

"Help me put it on!"

"You're such a big person now..."

He clicked his tongue, but his hand skillfully brushed aside the stray hairs behind her neck and fastened the clasp. As his fingertips brushed against the soft flesh of her chin, Kim Ji-won was giving Jung Soo-jung a glare.

"Giant baby."

Krystal Jung snorted coldly and rolled her eyes skyward.

"It's better than some people pretending to be aloof~"

"It's better than some people pretending to be cute."

Click——

The helmet buckle locked in place.

Kang Jae-hoon casually turned Kim Ji-won's head in a different direction:

"Go listen to the director explain the scene."

"Inside~"

Kim Ji-won ran towards director Angelina Jolie like a cheerful little deer, her shoulder "coincidentally" brushing against Krystal Jung's as she passed by.

"Your eyesight is so bad, you can't even walk properly anymore?"

Kim Ji-won continued walking, responding softly:
"Oh dear, it's because Ha Eun is standing there like a beautiful sight that makes people want to get closer~"

"you……"

Director Julie coughed lightly, and the two immediately straightened their backs and acted obediently.

The veteran photographer clicked his tongue in amazement behind the monitor—the speed at which he changed his expression was astonishing, even to seasoned actors.

How's Ji-won's driving skill?

Director Julie asked, flipping through the storyboard.

"Electric car?"

Kim Ji-won confidently gave a V-sign: "This is my specialty!"

This is not bragging; her past works do indeed feature her agile figure riding an electric scooter.

"Then... what if you ride without holding the handlebars?"

Kim Ji-won blinked: "Huh?"

"I wanted to use this long take to build the character's personality."

Director Julie spreads her arms as if flying: "Smiling and opening her arms to embrace the sea breeze, Ha Eun screams in fright behind her—the free soul and the stable body stand still in an instant."

This idea is even more impactful than the original script.

The silhouette of a girl speeding away is set against a backdrop of a turbulent blue sea, while another girl tightly embracing her waist represents both constraint and reliance.

"Excellent!"

Kang Jae-hoon sincerely praised from the side:
"If this shot is successful, the winner of the Blue Dragon Award for Best Cinematography can have his name engraved in advance."

In the distance, the stagehands were adjusting the baby pink electric scooter, sunlight reflecting off the handlebars and creating dazzling spots of light.

The first scene to be filmed:

A truant girl, carrying a top student, sped along the coastline toward the shop where her first mark of rebellion would be pierced.

The exuberance and trepidation of youth should be eternally captured in this boundless sea and sky.

……

As the setting sun was swallowed by the sea, the film crew finally wrapped up work as night fell.

The row of seaside guesthouses we booked were lit up with warm yellow lights, and the wooden structures exuded a faint musty smell in the salty sea breeze.

Moonlight streamed through the gauze curtains onto the wooden floor of the seaside guesthouse. Jung Soo-jung curled up in bed, tossing and turning several times but still unable to fall asleep.

The daytime shoot had taken a toll on her energy.

That damn beach cycling scene was repeated eight times. Her arms were red and burning from the sun, but Kim Ji-won still smiled and said, "Let's do it one more time."

She closed her eyes, trying to drift off to sleep.
Sudden--

"Um... Oppa~"

Soft whispers were mixed with ambiguous laughter, like breaths that were deliberately suppressed but couldn't be controlled from escaping the lips.

Then came a muffled thud, like someone being pushed onto the bed, followed by the rhythmic creaking of the wooden walls.

At first, it was just an occasional soft sound.

But the pace quickly quickened, accompanied by the clanging of the bed frame, like some kind of shameful metronome.

Krystal frowned, turned over, and buried her face in the pillow.

Clang, clang, clang!

The vibrations of the wooden wall suddenly intensified.

Kim Ji-won's tearful moans, mixed with broken pleas in Korean, scraped across Jung Soo-jung's temple like the sharp edge of a seashell.

"Xiba!"

She pulled the blanket over her head tightly.

But the noise from the other side of the wall grew louder and louder, the vibrations even causing her bed to shake slightly. "Bang!"

Krystal Jung suddenly sat up, jumped off the bed barefoot, and rushed to the wall where the noise was coming from.

But just as the fist was about to strike, it abruptly stopped—

What right does she have to stop it?
From what standpoint?
His arm hung limply at his sides.

In the end, she could only fall heavily back onto the bed, gritting her teeth and staring at the ceiling.

The battle over there showed no sign of stopping, and the creaking of the bed even reached a new peak at two in the morning.

"Kim Ji-won..."

She squeezed out the name through gritted teeth:
"You bitch, you're definitely doing this on purpose."

As the moonlight gradually sank in the west, the sound of the waves and the commotion next door intertwined to create a devastating concerto.

Krystal Jung picked up her phone and glanced at the time—4:37 AM.

She sat up with dark circles under her eyes. The next room finally quieted down, but her temples were throbbing.

Outside the window, a faint light was already appearing on the horizon.

"Damn teddy bear."

As the first rays of dawn climbed onto the windowsill, she finally drifted off to sleep, her dreams filled with the sound of a swaying bed and piercing laughter.

……

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, but the filming location was already bustling with activity.

From afar, Kang Jae-hoon saw Jung Soo-jung curled up on a folding chair, her hands tightly holding a huge iced Americano, her eyes staring blankly at the ground, even her hair had lost its usual delicate luster.

"Recognize the bed?"

Krystal paused, too exhausted to even glare at him, and simply forced a cold snort through clenched teeth:
"Ah."

Good morning, Oppa!

A sweet, cloying voice pierced the air.

Kim Ji-won appeared bouncing around, her skin glowing, her eyes brimming with a satisfied charm.

She affectionately took Kang Jae-hoon's arm, but her eyes were fixed on Jung Soo-jung:
"Aigoo~ Why does Crystal look so haggard?"

She deliberately leaned closer to examine her, blinking her innocent-looking big eyes:

"Could it be... that you're thinking about something..." he drawled meaningfully, "...having trouble sleeping?"

Krystal's fingers tightened suddenly, and the plastic cup creaked under the strain.

The stage manager's loudspeaker came to the rescue just in time:

"Teachers, get ready to begin!"

A staff member jogged over to hand over the clapperboard, and director Julie waved from afar:

"Today we're filming the emotional scene where they're getting their ears pierced!"

Kang Jae-hoon raised an eyebrow, watching Jung Soo-jung's retreating figure as she abruptly stood up—

She didn't spill coffee on Kim Ji-won's face? Looks like her acting skills have really improved.

……

"Cut!"

Director Julie's shouts rang out from not far away:
"What's wrong with the lighting? The angle of the sunlight is wrong!"

One, two, three.
The numbers on the clapperboard had already flipped to 17.

Krystal Jung's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and Kim Ji-won's smile became increasingly stiff.

The atmosphere on set became tense under the scorching sun, and it wasn't until lunchtime that the director managed to squeeze out a few usable shots from a bunch of "plastic" performances.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the primeval forest of Hallasan Mountain, turning it into scattered gold. The film crew moved to a winding path at the foot of the mountain.

The script is set up so that Ha Eun (played by Jung Soo-jung) and Mi-so (played by Kim Ji-won) take Jin-woo (played by Kang Jae-hoon) to climb a mountain to worship Buddha.

"Action!"

The camera followed the three figures as they climbed the steps.

Kim Ji-won, who plays Mio, skips and hops along the mountain path:

"Haeun, walk faster!"

Kang Jae-hoon, playing Jin-woo, shook his head helplessly, but considerately reached out to help the staggering Jung Soo-jung:
"Haeun, are you alright?"

On the monitor, Krystal Jung's forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, her lips were pale, but she forced a smile.

"You guys go up first. I'll rest for a bit."

As the two figures disappeared around the corner, the crew quickly moved to a cave halfway up the mountain. The stalactites gleamed with a cold, eerie blue light under the lamplight, and the sound of dripping water echoed hollowly between the rock walls.

The cave was dimly lit.

Kim Ji-won pointed curiously at the silver pendant that had slipped from Kang Jae-hoon's collar:
"Zhenyu, what's this? I've always seen you wearing it."

"For your safety."

Kang Jae-hoon gently touched the Guanyin statue that gleamed with a warm, lustrous sheen:

"When I was three years old, I had a high fever that wouldn't go down, so my mother went to a temple to pray for this."

Kim Ji-won's fingertips lingered on the silver chain, her eyes gradually becoming cunning.

Suddenly, he stood on tiptoe.

He reached around the back of his neck and unfastened the chain.

The cool silver chain fell into her palm, the pendant swaying on her fingertips:
Will the Bodhisattva protect bad girls?

Kang Jae-hoon's Adam's apple bobbed.

The next second, Kim Ji-won suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled it down, then tilted her head back and kissed him.

In the shadows, the overlapping figures of the two were magnified by the rock wall.

At this moment——

The light at the cave entrance was quietly blocked by a slender figure.

Jung Soo-jung, who plays Ha Eun, is struggling to climb the rock face, her hair sticking to her cheeks with sweat.

next second.

She bit her lower lip and retreated rapidly, stumbling and falling onto the stone steps, deliberately breathing heavily and raising her voice:

"Smile! Zhenyu! Are you inside? I... I've rested enough and climbed up!"

The sound of lips and teeth separating inside the cave was masked by footsteps.

As Kim Ji-won stuffed the Guanyin jade pendant into her pocket, Kang Jae-hoon was smoothing out the wrinkles on his collar.

"He Eun has arrived just in time!"

Kim Ji-won bounced and linked arms with Jung Soo-jung.

Jung Soo-jung let her hold her arm, her gaze sweeping over Kang Jae-hoon's empty collar.

As the three continued their return journey, she fell behind.

The mountain wind swept away the lingering warmth in the cave behind us.

"Cut!"

Director Julie's voice echoed outside the cave. Three monitors simultaneously replayed the final footage—

Camera 1 clearly captured Jung Soo-jung's figure as she "struggled to climb" the rock face, and her rapid breathing could be heard clearly through the microphone.

Camera 2 focuses on the two blurry, overlapping figures in the shadows of the cave;
The most intriguing scene is the close-up of Unit 3: the fleeting expression on Krystal Jung's face as she turns around—the shock of her pupils contracting, the slight trembling of her lips, and the forced calm that follows; all her emotions are precisely shifted within two seconds.

"Perfect."

Director Angelina Jolie's eyes curved into crescents behind her round glasses:
"This performance was absolutely brilliant!"

"pass."

The moment those two words were spoken, Kim Ji-won snuggled close to Krystal Jung's ear:

"Can you see clearly from the corner?" she blew a breath. "Will you have a stereo special tonight?"

Krystal Jung brushed a stray hair from her ear with her right hand, but her middle finger deftly flicked up, hidden by the strands of hair—

This international gesture of goodwill was executed quickly and discreetly.

Kim Ji-won's pupils contracted slightly, then her smile became even sweeter:

"Krystal's hands are so beautiful, perfect for pinching pillows."

In the distance, waves crashed against the black volcanic rocks, wave after wave.

Looking at the two actresses' seemingly intimate yet tense demeanor, Kang Jae-hoon suddenly recalled what Kim Ji-won had whispered in his ear the night before:
"Does Oppa think she understands our lines from 'Obsessed' (the Korean version of 'Lust, Caution')?"

What did he say in response?
Oh yes, he simply didn't have time to answer.

(End of this chapter)