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

Chapter 276 No, it's about control

early morning.

As Krystal Jung, dressed in her wedding gown, was carefully carried by her assistant, who lifted the layers of her skirt, towards the photography studio, all the staff members along the way subconsciously held their breath.

"Wow, the bride is here!"

"Oh my god...it's so beautiful!"

"This is practically a princess herself..."

Amidst a chorus of praise, Krystal Jung stepped inside, basking in the glow of countless stars.

Unlike the slightly cramped and ordinary dress she wore when she made a cameo appearance as Seo Dae-young's ex-girlfriend in "Descendants of the Sun," this wedding dress features an upper body adorned with antique lace and rose patterns, while the voluminous skirt that suddenly bursts open at the waist uses eight different types of white tulle to create a wave-like sense of layering.

Her aloof, icy demeanor, when confronted by this extreme magnificence, instead exudes a fragile yet breathtaking beauty.

"Don't just stand there, male lead!"

The stylist chuckled and reminded Kang Jae-hoon, "Go help your bride!"

Looking through the fine mesh of the veil, Jung Soo-jung saw Kang Jae-hoon walking towards her—

The generous sunshine of Jeju Island outlined a golden contour behind him, and his face held a focused expression she had never seen before. His well-tailored black suit perfectly accentuated his broad shoulders and slender waist.

Every sound of her leather shoes striking the ground felt like stepping on the sudden, accelerated beat of her heart.

"hand."

Kang Jae-hoon spread out his palm, revealing its clear lines.

As Krystal hesitated to place her hand on the fabric, her fingertips involuntarily curled up slightly—the stark contrast between the white gloves and the black suit made the scene seem even more absurd.

The last time she wore a wedding dress was in a cameo role as the ex-girlfriend, a supporting character in "Descendants of the Sun," but this time she's facing...
"Why are you shaking?"

A whispered breath, warm and gentle, pierced through the veil.

Kang Jae-hoon drew a circle with his thumb on the prop wedding ring on her ring finger, as if in some kind of subtle teasing: "It's not like you're really going to marry me."

"I'm just getting into character."

Krystal Jung gritted her teeth and retorted, but couldn't explain why her pulse was pounding wildly under his fingertips.

He was right, it was just a play, but she could clearly feel her heart betraying her reason, pounding deafeningly in her chest.

……

The lighting and shadows in the photography studio create distinct boundaries.

Kim Ji-won leaned against the door frame, holding an iced Americano, the straw bitten into jagged wrinkles.

The sunlight streaming in through the window was so dazzling that it made the pure white expanse in the distance appear exceptionally glaring.

Jung Soo-jung stood under the spotlight, the lace of her wedding dress reflecting a shimmering galaxy, while Kang Jae-hoon's fingers gently tapped her waist.

"Groom, come closer."

The photographer's voice echoed in the empty studio: "Yes, just like they're really in love..."

She watched as the smile in Kang Jae-hoon's eyes deepened, as he naturally leaned down to whisper in Jung Soo-jung's ear, and as his hand on her slender waist tightened slightly—

Kim Ji-won suddenly felt a little regretful.

She regretted taking on the role of "Smiling"—if she had played Ha Eun, she would be the one being held in Kang Jae-hoon's arms right now;

I regret agreeing to let Krystal Jung star in the film – I thought I would see my former best friend putting on a brave face, but I ended up building a bridge for her with my own hands.

Finally, I regretted my self-torture by insisting on coming to watch this show today—the Jung Soo-jung who used to have a cold face towards him now looked like a melting glacier with her eyes sparkling, dazzlingly beautiful.

Click.

In the instant the flash went off, Kim Ji-won saw Jung Soo-jung's eyes, which were filled with trembling.

That's not acting at all.

Women understand women best, especially since they've shared so many secrets.

The girl who once stubbornly bit her lip and said "I will never go back to an old flame" is now retreating step by step under the influence of Kang Jae-hoon's aura.

It's something we shouldn't care about.

The key to a luxury apartment overlooking the entire Seoul skyline by the Han River was in her handbag; her walk-in closet was filled with luxury goods, the tags still on; he even took her to participate in the investment of the movie he starred in.

Kang Jae-hoon is never stingy with material gifts.

Kim Ji-won knows that countless female celebrities would be willing to trade their souls for everything she has now.

But seeing him twirling the bride's veil around his fingers, Kim Ji-won still felt a bitter taste in her mouth—

Contentment brings happiness?

That's just feel-good platitudes to comfort losers.

The sunlight was too bright.

As Kim Ji-won turned to walk towards the exit, she heard a voice inside her sneer:

Human hearts are indeed so full that even the sea around Jeju Island cannot be filled.

……

The core of the wedding scene is "elopement".

The filming process is not complicated; in fact, it can be described as extremely simple.

Because it focuses not on grand ceremonies, but on the moment of shattering and despair.

First scene:
At the church entrance, Jin-woo, played by Kang Jae-hoon, was exchanging pleasantries with guests, his bow tie perfectly tied, his eyes brimming with feigned happiness.

Second scene:
The bride's dressing room—there wasn't even any dynamic performance from Krystal Jung in the scenes here.

The camera pans to an ornate empty chair, on which lies a lonely Polaroid photo of Ha Eun in a wedding dress.

This photo is the key to the whole play.

When taking this prop photo, Krystal Jung was brimming with emotion.

Just as the prop master pressed the Polaroid shutter, a tear slid down her cheek, hovering over her chin, about to fall. It was crystal clear, like a pearl on a wedding dress.

It doesn't flow for anyone in particular.

Instead, it is for the past called "Haeun," which is about to be buried by his own hands.

The third scene:
Zhenyu rushed into the lounge upon learning that the bride was missing.

When the camera focuses on his reaction—from shock and confusion to finally picking up the photo—Krystal Jung's performance intertwines with his reaction, completing the emotional loop of the scene.

The filming of this scene went exceptionally smoothly.

The two lead actors were in such good condition that even the director was surprised.

The scenes that were originally planned to take two days to film were completed in just 6 hours.

The afternoon sun bathed the edge of the pine forest on Jeju Island, and director Julie suddenly had a brilliant idea—to have Jung Soo-jung reshoot a dynamic scene of "running away in her wedding dress".

"Action!"

The marionette finally cut its strings.

Krystal Jung walked barefoot across the grass, her snow-white skirt billowing in an almost transparent arc. The magnificent church behind her receded into the distance, her high heels dangling in her hands like two broken crystal shoes.

As the sea breeze lifted her veil, she turned to look at the camera—

That look made director Julie clench her fist tightly: it was relief, it was resolve, and it was the final tremor before a phoenix's rebirth.

"Cut!"

When filming ended, Krystal Jung was holding her knees, panting heavily.

The assistant hurriedly ran forward with water and wet wipes, but was stopped by Kang Jae-hoon halfway there.

Before anyone could react, he had already knelt down on one knee in front of Krystal Jung:
"Lift your foot."

Krystal Jung instinctively stepped back:

"Myself...!"

Before she could finish speaking, her ankle was enveloped by a warm palm.

Kang Jae-hoon's profile as he wiped his face was backlit, his eyelashes casting a fan-shaped shadow on the bridge of his nose, his focused expression like that of someone holding a fragile crystal vessel.

As she wiped her feet with a wet wipe, Jung Soo-jung looked down at the whorl on Kang Jae-hoon's head and vaguely sensed something amiss.

Three years ago, on the set of "The Heirs".

With unprecedented focus, he held her ankle and massaged the redness and swelling of "Li Baona's" "sprain".

The image of time has been misaligned.

Is Zhenyu wiping away the wounds of Hae-eun's journey towards freedom, or is Kang Jae-hoon brushing away the dust of reality for Jung Soo-jung?

She couldn't tell the difference.

The breeze made her feel a little dazed, and an absurd thought popped into her head without warning: Could he be... that kind of fetish?

however.

What she didn't know was that Jiang Zai Xun's seemingly gentle actions were merely preparations for the next major event.

There's also a scene tonight depicting the eve of Ha-eun and Jin-woo's wedding.

The script notes "intense kiss, implying sexual intercourse," which is a key foreshadowing of Ha Eun's subsequent pregnancy and her journey to Seoul to find Smile.

For two exes with a delicate relationship, starting a shoot directly would only lead to endless awkwardness and retakes.

Therefore, breaking the ice and building emotions before intimate scenes are essential lessons.

With a hug, a line of dialogue, and a wiping of feet, the yeast of "ambiguity" was subtly injected into the already restless heart of Krystal Jung.

Let it ferment to the perfect concentration when filming officially begins at night.

This is the true self-discipline of a professional actor.

……

As dusk enveloped the ridgeline of Jeju Island, Krystal Jung took a deep breath in front of the full-length mirror in her dressing room.

The lights were so bright that she could see every uneasy pulse in her heart.

"Be more professional, Krystal Jung."

She commanded in front of the mirror:

"It's not like I haven't kissed him before."

But the woman in the mirror still had a burning face—damn it, this was supposed to be her performance according to the script, what was she so nervous about?
This is work.

Director Julie wanted restrained passion, not coy innocence.

She slapped her cheek hard.

Just treat him like a walking prop, a breathing... pig head!
"Heen, you can change your clothes now." The stagehand gently knocked on the door.

"Inside."

When she finally came out after changing into the silk strapless nightgown, she bumped into Kang Jae-hoon standing in front of the sink brushing his teeth, shirtless.

The warm light in the bathroom outlined the shadows of his abdominal muscles as if they were sculpted, and water droplets that hadn't been dried rolled down the concave curve of his spine and disappeared at the edge of his loose pajama pants.

Broad shoulders, a strong back, and... the smooth, muscular arms that bulged slightly from exertion.

Damn it...this exhibitionist!

He seemed to sense the gaze, and turned his head with his mouth full of mint-flavored foam:
"Well?"

Krystal quickly turned her face away, but it was too late—her ears, which turned bright red instantly, betrayed everything.

……

The director's order to clear the room felt like a kind of pardon. Once the last unrelated person left the room, the bedroom instantly became an isolated island.

The dim bedside lamp cast Kang Jae-hoon's shadow on the wall, magnifying it into an extremely oppressive silhouette. As he knelt on the mattress, the springs creaked dangerously.

"All personnel in position—"

Director Julie's voice came from behind the monitor:

“Remember, Ha-eun was kissing him with the mindset of saying goodbye. Jin-woo, on the other hand, thought it was the beginning of their marriage.”

The clapperboard snapped shut.
"Goodbye My Soulmate, Show 47, Take 1!"

Krystal counted Kang Jae-hoon's breathing as he approached—

By the fifth strike, the scent of cedarwood emanating from him had enveloped the area.

The script required her to reach out and touch his face first, but she recoiled as if electrocuted the moment her fingertips touched his chin.

"Cut!"

Director Julie sighed: "Ha Eun-ah, he's the man you've loved for ten years, not Dianmen."

Scattered laughter could be heard on set.

"nervous?"

"joke."

Krystal Jung glared back defiantly:
"I've filmed more kissing scenes than you've eaten kimchi."

“OK, OK, you two great actors, stop arguing.” Director Julie suggested, rubbing her temples. “Don’t rush to film. You two should rehearse your lines and get into the groove.”

The lights weren't turned off, the cameras weren't shut off, and everyone held their breath watching the two people on the bed.

Kang Jae-hoon sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, raising an eyebrow at her:

"Can you do it?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? How are your kidneys?"

"..."

The next second, the shadow loomed over.

The man in front of me suddenly leaned forward without warning—

The strong scent of cedarwood instantly invaded her senses. Krystal instinctively tried to back away, but a warm, large hand firmly gripped the back of her head.

The moment their lips touched.

The coolness of the mint blended strangely with the strawberry scent of her lipstick.

The moment her lips parted slightly in surprise, he cunningly seized control of them.

A long-dormant muscle memory suddenly awakens.

Her fingers slowly climbed up his broad shoulders and back.

I don’t know how much time passed.

When he finally pulled away slightly, his forehead touching hers, their hot breaths mingling, Jung Soo-jung realized that she was clinging tightly to his neck like a drowning person clinging to a piece of driftwood.

This discovery made her feel utterly ashamed and furious.

"Ah."

A soft laugh came from above.

Kang Jae-hoon gently stroked her burning cheeks with his fingertips, his eyes filled with a playful glint:
"Is actor Jung, who has filmed 'many' kissing scenes... unaccustomed to acting due to not having done so much filming in a long time?"

"...What do you know!"

Krystal slapped his hand away, panting as she wiped her lips with the back of her hand.
"I'm a... method actor! To fit the character of Ha Eun, I've been living on Jeju Island for years, and I feel like I've never seen the world!"

This stubbornness that led him to spout nonsense was, in Kang Jae-hoon's eyes, irresistibly adorable.

Still being stubborn at a time like this...

"The experiential learning approach emphasizes genuine listening, genuine seeing, and genuine feeling, therefore—"

He suddenly leaned down again and captured her trembling lips in his mouth.

The kiss came suddenly and forcefully.

Krystal's pupils dilated slightly, and she pressed her palm against his chest, but she couldn't muster any strength at all—her breath had already been completely drained.

The director of photography silently turned his head, pointed to the intertwined figures on the bed, locked in a passionate kiss, and asked in a low voice:

“Is that right?”

Director Angelina Jolie crossed her arms and shrugged.

"It doesn't matter, as long as the footage is usable."

Director of Photography: "..."

This is practically restricted content, is it even usable?!

……

No one knows how long this "rehearsal" lasted.

Krystal Jung's brain had already shut down due to lack of oxygen; in her dazed state, she could only vaguely hear the sound of the clapperboard and the distant voice of the director:

"Okay, Cut! Let's do another take with the spare shot."

She vaguely broke free from Kang Jae-hoon:
"Wait...isn't this a rehearsal?"

Director Julie smiled innocently:
"Oh? Didn't I say that? -- We've been filming live just now."

Krystal Jung: "!?!"

She shoved Kang Jae-hoon away and stumbled toward the monitor, but her legs gave way and she staggered.

The world spun around them in the next second, and Kang Jae-hoon swept her up in his arms around the waist—

"Put it down! I can walk by myself!"

Your legs are shaking.

Those four words silenced her instantly. The way Kang Jae-hoon carried her and strode towards the monitor looked just like a groom carrying his bride into the bridal chamber.

The images on the screen made her blood run cold—

The strength with which Kang Jae-hoon gripped the back of her neck, the way she wrapped her arms around him, and even the delicate threads that appeared when their lips parted—all of these were captured in exquisite detail by the camera.

What's most striking is the unspoken hesitation in her eyes, which perfectly matches the script's requirement to "say goodbye with the most lingering kiss."

The kissing scene on screen continued to play on a loop, and director Julie rested her chin on her hand meaningfully:

"Perfect emotional score. However, just to be on the safe side, let's keep one as a backup."

Kang Jae-hoon, on the other hand, remained calm:

"What is the emotion associated with protecting one person?"

"It doesn't matter."

Director Julie shrugged: "Anyway, couples on their wedding night are a complex mix of contradictions, so feel free to improvise."

Krystal Jung froze, as if struck by lightning: "???"

She suddenly realized—

She was experiencing the most absurd moment of her acting career: being forced to discuss the technical details of "doing it again" with the man who had just forcibly kissed her in front of everyone.

……

The echoes of the tide reverberated in my ears.

Silver moonlight bathed the stone paths of Jeju Island as the two walked silently, their steps dappled with the shadows of the trees. Amidst the sighing of the waves, the occasional low cry of a night heron could be heard.

The dim yellow light from the guesthouse's corridor lamps was already visible.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly stopped in his tracks:
"I'm going back to Seoul."

"Oh."

Krystal Jung responded softly, drawing circles on the ground with her toes.

His departure is a good thing for him, isn't it?
But why do I feel a little empty inside?

"Any idea what this means?"

"……what?"

"The bet—"

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly stopped in his tracks: "I won."

Krystal Jung's pupils suddenly contracted—

Exhausted from days of filming and overwhelmed by her own chaotic heartbeat, she completely forgot about the absurd bet she made that night!
"It seems that I remembered it."

Kang Jae-hoon's hand gripped her chin, forcing her to look up. Moonlight condensed into two dangerous whirlpools in his eyes:

"It's time to keep our promise."

"What are you going to do?"

"Isn't this obvious?"

She instinctively took a half step back:

"you"

Before she could finish speaking, her lips were sealed shut.

A kiss under the moonlight is completely different from one on set.

There was no director yelling "cut," no clapperboard countdown, and no more of that hypocritical veil of "work"...

Only the sound of the tide kept a secret rhythm for them.

The lingering minty flavor on my lips stirred up the emotions that remained from the film set.

She should have resisted, but her body was far more honest than her heart—her tongue had already betrayed her reason and become entangled with him.

The shimmering tears in Krystal's eyes as they parted their lips betrayed her completely under the moonlight:

This is workplace harassment.

"I'm collecting debts."

Kang Jae-hoon gently stroked the top of her head, his eyes darkening.
"This is harassment—"

A deeper and more urgent kiss landed on her, this time his hands went straight into her hair, and the kisses forced her to grip his shirt tightly to keep her balance.

It wasn't until the sound of the guesthouse door opening in the distance that Krystal Jung snapped out of her daze, raising her fist and punching the man who had thrown her into a frenzy in the chest.

"asshole!"

The fleeing figure shattered a pool of moonlight.

When she rushed to the porch, panting, she found Kim Ji-won leaning against the door.

The moonlight shone on her half-smiling face, and her fingernails tapped crisply on the handle of Kang Jae-hoon's carry-on suitcase.

"You finished work quite late?"

Krystal opened her mouth, but found any explanation would seem ridiculous. She simply lowered her head and hurried past, but as she brushed past, she heard a mocking whisper:

"What a disappointment. I bet you could make it to the wrap party."

(End of this chapter)