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

Chapter 277 Jeju Evening Breeze Conceals Secrets, Seoul's Fame and Fortune Are Already Noisy

Kim Ji-won watched quietly as Jung Soo-jung ran into the guesthouse, a complex light flashing in her eyes.

She then turned around, gently pushed the suitcase in front of Kang Jae-hoon, said nothing, and silently snuggled into his arms.

Kang Jae-hoon was somewhat surprised.

He had expected her to act coquettishly, to complain, or to bring up past grievances and ask him why he had so confidently declared that he had "no feelings for Krystal Jung."

But she didn't.

She didn't ask anything, didn't mention anything, and just quietly leaned against his chest.

This silence, however, stirred up a wave of guilt in his heart.

"Ji-won..."

Kang Jae-hoon asked in a low voice, "Would you mind?"

Kim Ji-won tilted her head back, her brows furrowing slightly before relaxing again.

“I’m a woman too, how could I not mind?” She paused, then gently tapped his chest with her fingertip. “...But more than anything, I don’t want to put Oppa in a difficult position.”

These words struck Kang Jae-hoon's heart directly, instantly intensifying his guilt, and he tightened his grip on her arm.
"How can Ji-won be so good?"

Kim Ji-won snuggled against him, half coquettishly and half seriously:
"Otherwise what? Should I resort to passive-aggressive tactics like Krystal? Or be sarcastic and unpredictable like Bae Suzy?"

Kang Jae-hoon was amused by her rare teasing and reached out to ruffle her hair.
"You……"

“I know that Oppa often has no choice in the matter.”

Kim Ji-won winked playfully:
"Don't worry, go back to work in Seoul. I'll take care of Soojung."

"……Thanks."

No way!

Night fell, and a gentle breeze brushed against their hair.

Kim Ji-won tiptoed and gave him a light kiss on the lips, then quickly pulled away: "Let's go, be careful on the road."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded, then turned and got into the car.

As the car engine roared to life, Kim Ji-won stood under the streetlight waving.

Kang Jae-hoon looked back through the car window—

Her silhouette grew smaller and smaller in the moonlight, yet she maintained that sweet and charming smile.

The halo of the car headlights completely disappeared into the depths of the night.

Kim Ji-won's smile vanished instantly. She slowly lowered her slightly aching arm and turned to look at the window on the second floor of the guesthouse, which was bathed in a soft, hazy light.

Behind the white curtains, Krystal hurriedly lowered a corner that had been lifted, the curtains swaying like startled white doves.

It’s over.

Krystal Jung slid slowly to the ground against the wall, hugged her knees with both hands, and buried her face deeply in her arms.

It's all over.

What are you doing?
Like a voyeur, hiding behind the curtains to spy on their sweetness?
Like a neglected little girl, gritting her teeth at the hug from downstairs?

Even earlier—she was actually obsessed with that man's kiss?
The most shameful thing is... she was actually expecting Kim Ji-won to make a scene, expecting her to break through the tenderness in Kang Jae-hoon's eyes with tears and questions.

"Xiba..."

She cursed herself under her breath.

"Tap tap. Tap."

Clear footsteps echoed up the wooden stairs, unhurried but each step felt like a blow to Krystal Jung's already fragile nerves.

Krystal Jung suddenly realized that she was actually afraid and felt guilty.

She was the one who arrived first, and she was the one who had a three-year entanglement with him.

But now it's like an uninvited guest who has trespassed into someone else's territory, awaiting the judgment of the mistress of the house.

The footsteps finally stopped outside the door.

Dead silence.

The second hand ticks, crushing the long five seconds.

The expected knocking did not occur.

There were no questions, no sarcasm, not even a single word about "let's talk."

The person outside the door finally just sighed softly.

"Tap tap. Tap."

Footsteps sounded again, unhurriedly, gradually fading into the distance along the corridor.

"Squeak-"

It was the sound of the door opening in the next room, followed by the sound of it closing.

Everything returned to silence.

Krystal collapsed onto the bed, exhausted, the moonlight illuminating her crossed arms.

Kim Ji-won's restraint was more embarrassing for her than any hysteria.

……

While the salty monsoon winds of Jeju Island still carry the love and hate of this isolated island, the air in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, has already been filled with the fragrance of "fame and fortune."

The wisps of sandalwood smoke curled above the gilded incense burner. As the director and cast bowed, holding incense sticks, the golden scissors in the hand of Cartier Asia Pacific President Renault had already fallen—

The moment the red ribbon unfurled, the shutter clicked like thunder, and the entire glass curtain wall of the Vogue Korea building trembled in a storm of flashes.

The Q&A session started peacefully until a reporter from a tabloid suddenly thrust out a sharp attack:
"Suzy-ssi, everyone knows that your previous movies did not perform well at the box office. Are you worried that you will repeat the same mistakes as the female lead in such a big production this time?"

Bae Suzy's perfect smile froze for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, a tall figure had already partially shielded her from behind.

"Excuse me, please allow me to correct you."

Kang Jae-hoon's gesture of taking the microphone was as elegant as if he were wielding a sword.
"Box office revenue is the production company's KPI, not the actors' life-or-death waiver."

"If the North Korean background of 'The Song of Peach Blossoms' scared away the audience, the selection team should reflect on their actions; if the narrative pacing disappointed the market, the screenwriter and director should take responsibility."

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly turned to the questioner, his eyes sharp as knives:

"And you are now questioning an actor for not taking responsibility for the capitalists' decisions—it's like blaming a cook for not curing a crop failure."

The words fell.

The flash of the cameras triggered an avalanche ten times more powerful than the one during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

But Bae Suzy's gaze was fixed on the man beside her who had shielded her from all the swords and spears.

Just half an hour ago, the standard answer she practiced in the dressing room was still on her tongue: "I will repay the audience with better works."

But at this moment, all those carefully prepared official phrases were rendered useless.

Every word Kang Jae-hoon uttered reshaped the rules:

Here, in his territory, no one can use her scars to grab attention.

How strange.

My initial attraction to him was solely based on his good looks and a thrilling, novel conquest game.

She enjoyed the thrill of snatching him away from others and the satisfaction of leaving her mark on him.

But when exactly did it start... that this game turned into a genuine relationship where he was indispensable?

Was it on the Busan film set, the moment he shielded himself from the explosion?
It was backstage at KBS that afternoon when he awkwardly tried to make himself laugh with his bangs.
Or... just now, he was like an indestructible mountain, blocking all the malice, mockery, and doubts directed at her?

Bae Suzy didn't know.

All she knew was that her heart was collapsing into a soft, wetland without warning.

……

The ring light in front of the makeup mirror cast a sharp silver edge on Lee Sung-kyung's cool and beautiful features.

The mirror reflected a live broadcast of Bae Suzy passionately kissing Kang Jae-hoon's neck.

The man's stance of supporting her in front of the media just moments before has now transformed into a more direct praise on his lips.

"President Jiang is really protective of his own people."

Kang Jae-hoon temporarily removed Bae Suzy from his clothes and smiled at her:
"Because the Bible... has protected me in the same way."

He was referring to the time when she braved a downpour to come to the premiere of Macbeth, just to see his less than fifteen-minute scene.
It was also when Jessica Jung caused trouble for Krystal Jung at Fashion Week that she would not hesitate to stand up to her.

Lee Sung-kyung paused in turning the pages of the script, then let out a soft hum, lowered her head again, and focused her gaze on the densely packed lines of dialogue.

"Oppa~"

Bae Suzy cupped his face and turned it back, her eyes brimming with tears beneath her eyelashes:
"When I get home tonight, I'll treat President Jiang to a nice meal after his long business trip..."

Kang Jae-hoon glanced at Lee Sung-kyung's suddenly tense shoulders out of the corner of his eye, and tactically cleared his throat:

“Going home is fine… but I’m currently participating in the abstinence challenge launched by ‘Global Men’s Health Month’…”

Bae Suzy: "?"

"puff--"

Although Lee Sung-kyung immediately covered her face with the script, her violently shaking shoulders still betrayed her.

Bae Suzy raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing this nonsense:

"What challenge?"

Kang Jae-hoon pulled up the fast food restaurant's promotional page on his phone:
"I've been participating in a charity event organized by a fast food brand for a week to raise awareness about prostate health."

"what?"

Bae Suzy tightened her grip on his chin: "What good will winning do?"

"A free double beef burger voucher."

His eyes were as pure as if he were reading the Bible: "A very meaningful charity event..."

The air froze for three seconds.

Bae Suzy suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled, her fingertips lifting Kang Jae-hoon's tie:

"Baby~" Her voice was so sweet it could drip honey, "If you come home with me tonight, I'll buy you a whole burger joint tomorrow, okay?"

"This is not a matter of sex—"

"Give you another chance."

Bae Suzy narrowed her eyes, her fingers slowly tightening:
Are you sure you want to reject our overflowing love just because of a hamburger?

Lee Sung-kyung, who had been pretending to watch the show, finally couldn't take it anymore:
"Hey, I didn't say I wanted to participate!"

"Oh? Don't you want to check if he cheated on us during those two weeks in Jeju Island?"

At this point, Bae Suzy turned her head, reached out and pinched his cheek gently:
"By the way, what exactly did you want to do by bringing Krystal Jung into the cast of 'Soulmate'?"

"Forehead……"

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze flickered for a moment.

He immediately adopted a serious, businesslike expression.

"It's purely a business consideration. Her acting opposite Kim Ji-won naturally generates buzz. This is a win-win situation for the project's promotion, and it's the best choice based entirely on the suitability of the roles and their commercial value."

His words sounded grand and righteous, but Lee Sung-kyung glanced at him coldly from the mirror, her words hitting the nail on the head:

"Are you sure it's not about rekindling an old flame?"

Kang Jae-hoon's heart skipped a beat at this direct question, his survival instincts kicking in instantly. He immediately raised three fingers as if making a vow:

"I'll send it—"

Before he could even utter the word "oath," two sharp gazes locked onto his face.

One gaze came from Bae Suzy, her eyes filled with seductive allure, while the other came from Lee Sung-kyung, her reflection in the mirror as cold as ice. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly under her gaze, and he slowly lowered the three awkward fingers, choosing to surrender.

"...I'll explain to you tonight."

"President-nim! The storyboard needs your approval!"

The voice of the offstage staff was like a lifesaver. Kang Jae-hoon instantly sprang from Bae Suzy's "gentle embrace" and rushed to the door: "Coming!" Before leaving, he didn't forget to turn back and add, "It really is a serious job!"

The moment the door closed, the dressing room fell silent again.

Bae Suzy and Lee Sung-kyung exchanged a glance and simultaneously snorted.

The next second—

Why did you just undermine me?

"Who wants to examine him with you?!"

"Then can you actually stomach him?!"

"None of your business!"

"..."

The two women, who had just been arguing fiercely in the dressing room, seemed to have taken on completely different souls the moment they stepped onto the film set.

Inside the studio.

The editorial office of Vogue Korea was transformed into the heart of the fashion empire called "Runway" in the movie.

The clothes racks were filled with the latest haute couture designs of the season, and invitations to fashion shows from all over the world were scattered on the desk.

Everything was so exquisite it seemed unreal.

However, this sophistication was soon shattered by a panic known as "Miranda is about to arrive."

The clapperboard snapped shut in front of the camera.

"The Witch Who Wears Cartier, Scene 1, Shot 1, Action!"

At the director's command, the entire office instantly came to life.

The camera slowly zooms in from the doorway, following a girl wearing a plain blue sweater, her eyes filled with confusion and curiosity—

Bae Suzy plays "Andy," who steps into this glamorous battlefield that is completely out of place for her.

"Bring me that damn Armani shawl! Not that one, but the one that was just flown in from Paris!"

"Five minutes! I only need five minutes to get the PR department to release the statement, or we're doomed!"

"No! Tell him that no one is allowed to touch the cover until Miranda sees the final version!"

Amidst the rising and falling roars, a slender and sharp figure swept past Andy like a gust of wind.

— Lee Sung-kyung plays Emily, the first assistant, who walks with more steadiness and speed than Andy, who is wearing flat shoes, even though she is wearing 12cm Jimmy Choo high heels that could be used as weapons.

She had a cell phone tucked between her left shoulder and cheek, communicating with a brand in Paris about seating arrangements at the fashion show;
Holding up another phone in her right hand to check Kim Hye-soo's private schedule for the afternoon; while a third anxious voice came from the Bluetooth earphone hanging on her ear.

"No, tell him that's impossible! Miranda's schedule is full!"

"Just to confirm, has the final seating chart for the Cartier dinner been sent to my email?"

"Have the stylist on standby; we need to start immediately as soon as she arrives!"

In that suffocatingly fast pace of speech, Emily didn't even glance at Andy, only haughtily raising her chin towards an empty table as she passed by:

"Coffee, two cups, sugar-free, skim, the temperature must be hot enough for her to contemplate life. Place it there, within the line, not a millimeter off."

"Also, that sweater, did you find it in your grandma's old closet? In our magazine, blue is a forbidden color unless its shade code is sky blue."

"..."

The entire long take, from the start to the end, lasted nearly a minute and a half.

For those ninety seconds, Bae Suzy only needed to play the role of a clueless country girl, watching all of this happen with wide eyes.

Lee Sung-kyung, on the other hand, had to deliver extremely long, sarcastic lines, demonstrate precise movement, and express deep contempt for newcomers.

Without a teleprompter, we had to memorize everything.

No wonder.

In the dressing room.

While the couple was embracing and kissing each other oblivious to everyone else, she was still diligently memorizing her lines like an ascetic.

behind the monitor.

Kang Jae-hoon crossed his arms and watched the replay.

He thought that this was perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Lee Sung-kyung.

Not the gentle woman at home who wears an apron and cooks seaweed soup for him.

But under the spotlight, this shining actress is Lee Sung-kyung.

"Cut!"

Although Lee Sung-kyung's first take was already perfect, they still went ahead with another take just in case.

On her second attempt, her performance remained consistent.

Both the rhythm of his speech and the perfectly timed disdain in his eyes were impeccable.

It's clear how much effort she put into the role of "Emily" behind the scenes.

After the scene was filmed smoothly, it was Kang Jae-hoon's turn to take the stage.

Yes, he also has a role in this movie.

How could Next Scene, a big-budget production they invested in, possibly let go of Kang Jae-hoon, a walking "trend-generating machine"?
It would be a waste of the exorbitant production cost not to fleece every last hair from it.

He plays the role of "Nigel," the magazine's art director.

A seasoned "male best friend" who has been immersed in the fashion industry for many years, has a sharp taste, and a soft heart.

The role of this character is to guide the female protagonist "Andy" when she is being abused and humiliated, and to be an important mentor in her career.

His role was small, but crucial.

According to the script, his first scene was very simple.

The script only states: "[After learning that Miranda had arrived early, Nigel walked out of his office, saw the unfashionable Andy, and made a sarcastic remark.]"

When all camera positions are ready.

"Action!"

The office was once again gripped by the panic that preceded the arrival of the Queen.

The moment Kang Jae-hoon entered the frame wearing a flamboyant Gucci printed suit, he casually covered half of his open mouth with his pinky finger, his eyes filled with dramatic disbelief:

"Wow~"

"Did I miss something?"

"PD Na Young-seok is coming to our studio to produce a segment called 'Three Meals a Day: Fashion Hell Edition,' and this is the new guest... in charge of starting the fire?"

His sarcastic lines, coupled with his expression of utter disgust that made his features almost scrunch up, instantly brought the character to life.

But that's not all.

Kang Jae-hoon pinched his nose, as if avoiding some plague, and walked with a seductive cat-like gait to the door of a room with a "Fittings" sign, lightly touching it with his fingertip—

"Girls, time to get ready for work!"

He shouted in a gorgeous, androgynous voice:

"The Queen's chariot has already rolled over the Han River Bridge!"

Inside the door, a group of models changing clothes were thrown into chaos. The sounds of clothes racks falling over, high heels clattering, and panicked screams mingled together, and the scene was briefly out of control.

……

"Cut!"

The director's voice, when he called "cut," was tinged with helplessness.

"Come on, everyone, come over here and watch the replay."

A crowd instantly gathered in front of the monitor.

in the screen.

Kang Jae-hoon's screen time was less than 10 seconds, yet he managed to draw everyone's attention—

The mockery in his raised eyebrow, the sultry gestures, even the leg lines outlined by his trousers when he turned around—all exuded a damnable charm…

They stole the spotlight to an outrageous degree.

What's more terrible is——

The two female leads completely lost control of their facial expressions.

While it's genuine and endearing to burst into laughter, such a mistake shouldn't happen on the first day of official filming for a professional actor.

The director sighed:

"One more."

He glanced at Kang Jae-hoon, who seemed to immediately understand the problem—

If they keep going all out like this, this show won't be "The Witch Who Wears Cartier," it'll be "Nigel's Fashion Class."

Kang Jae-hoon stroked his chin with one hand, pondering for a few seconds.

He then cleared his throat and began adjusting the tone of his voice:

"Girls~"

The wrist rotation movement was also deliberately reduced by 30% of its power:

"The Queen's car has already pulled into the parking lot!"

While the director was confirming the camera angles with the cinematographer, Bae Suzy quietly took Lee Sung-kyung's arm and whispered in her ear:

"If only he could come in this flamboyant state tonight."

Lee Sung-kyung flung her hand away:
"Are you crazy?!"

But she couldn't help but glance back at Kang Jae-hoon's meticulously crafted "low-key" performance, biting her lip and adding in a low voice:
"You're the real show-off."

"Same here~"

Kang Jae-hoon happened to turn around and, seeing the two of them looking strange, raised an eyebrow and asked:

"What are you whispering about?"

Bae Suzy immediately flashed her signature sweet smile:

"Nothing much~ we were just discussing the Bible...and the unnie's performance was absolutely amazing!"

Lee Sung-kyung: “…”

The director's shout broke the eerie atmosphere at just the right moment:

"All departments, prepare! One more!"

This time, Kang Jae-hoon deliberately toned down his sharp edges, delivering a more restrained charm that brought the scene back to balance.

The "rustic" charm of the female lead, Bae Suzy, and the "elite" aura of Lee Sung-kyung were perfectly complemented, while his portrayal of "Nigel" was like a perfectly placed diamond, neither overshadowing the main characters nor being out of place.

……

After the shoot, Bae Suzy leaned on Lee Sung-kyung's shoulder, looking mischievous.
"How about it? Want to join us tonight—"

Lee Sung-kyung immediately raised her hand and covered her mouth: "Shut up."

Watching the two bickering from afar, Kang Jae-hoon had a feeling that tonight might not be going to be too good...

(End of this chapter)