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

Chapter 281 Unnie's Temptation and Unnie's Knife
[Chapter Summary - Crystal: One unnie teaches me to share a boyfriend, another unnie tries to kill my boyfriend.]

……

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows on the hotel room carpet. Jung Soo-jung was curled up in bed reading a script when the doorbell rang.

"Oh, our little bride really took a day off?"

Kim Ji-won, carrying two exquisite lunch boxes, leaned against the door frame and smiled meaningfully.

"Looks like the battle was quite intense last night~"

She dangled the room key between her fingers—obviously swiped from some irresponsible club president.

Krystal's ears turned bright red instantly. She grabbed a pillow and was about to throw it at him, but because the movement was a little too big, it aggravated the soreness in her waist, so she stopped with a hiss.

"Call me unnie and let me hear it."

Kim Ji-won placed the lunchbox on the bedside table and looked at her with a smile.

".Oni."

Krystal Jung muttered softly.

Although I usually call him that, saying it now feels like it carries an indescribable connotation.

Kim Ji-won nodded in satisfaction, unpacked the package, scooped a spoonful of ginseng chicken soup, blew on it to cool it, and handed it over:

"Open your mouth, it'll replenish your qi and blood~"

"I will do it myself!"

Krystal snatched the spoon, her fingertips trembling with shame.

She didn't want to be treated like some little girl who needed special care after her first time!
"The real culprit."

Kim Ji-won rests her chin on her hand as she watches her drink soup:
"But she's as docile as a cat in front of Kang Jae-hoon."

"cough!"

Krystal Jung almost choked: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"By the way, what's your decision? Should you sign with his company?"

Krystal Jung sipped her chicken soup and mumbled, "Still thinking about it."

"That guy—"

Kim Ji-won suddenly became serious:
"Although he may be a public bus in terms of emotions, his sense of responsibility towards his own people is hundreds of times better than those hypocrites who are affectionate on the surface but scheming behind the scenes."

Krystal Jung agreed with these remarks.

Kang Jae-hoon does indeed have a sense of responsibility typical of old-fashioned men.

"So...what did he give you?"

"An apartment in Samseong-dong with a view of the Han River."

Kim Ji-won smiled, her eyes crinkling:
"Full payment required~"

"Mo?!"

Krystal Jung's eyes widened:
"He bought you a house?!"

Kang Jae-hoon's affection for Kim Ji-won was clearly far beyond her imagination.

"Yes."

"...and then you still live in that tiny, run-down apartment?"

"That house is different for him."

Kim Ji-won nodded:
"After all, it's a place where I worked with long-legged models for seven years, so it has special significance."

Krystal Jung's feelings instantly became complicated:

If Kang Jae-hoon has treated Kim Ji-won this way, then other treatments will likely only be better, not worse.

original……

I am not the most special one.

Kim Ji-won could easily guess her little thoughts, and immediately reached out to ruffle Jung Soo-jung's fluffy head:
"He's very superstitious; a man who mistreats his wife will never have any wealth. But he'll be even more generous to you."

"Humph."

Krystal Jung shook off her hand:
"I don't care about it."

"That's perfect~ If you don't like it, all your portions will be mine from now on."

"no!"

Realizing her slip of the tongue, Krystal Jung quickly tried to smooth things over: "I meant we shouldn't waste food."

Kim Ji-won didn't call this hypocrite out on him; instead, she picked up her phone and swiped the screen:

"How about the three of us go to the Busan Aquarium tonight? I heard they have some new penguins!"

Krystal Jung, biting her spoon, looked up and asked, "Three?"

“Hmm,” Kim Ji-won waved her phone, “you, me, and Kang Jae-hoon.” She winked, “A date between the three of us, how interesting.”

Suddenly, a seagull outside the window shrieked as it swept across the balcony, and Krystal's pupils dilated slightly at the sound of its cry.

"Are you serious?"

"Does our little Crystal want to keep it all to herself?"

The sunlight suddenly became dazzling.

Krystal Jung stared at the goji berries floating in the soup bowl, and images uncontrollably surfaced in her mind—

The three of them stood side by side in the blue light and shadow of the aquarium. Whose waist should Kang Jae-hoon put his hand on?

Who should he look at first during the penguin show?

And how can she appear completely indifferent?

……

At 5:45 PM, the setting sun bathed the seaside promenade in a honey-colored glow, and the warm sea breeze lifted the hem of Krystal Jung's shirt through the window, revealing a small section of her fair skin at her waist.

Across the corridor, Kim Ji-won's door was half-open.

"Unnie isn't ready yet?"

"Right away~"

A cheerful humming came from under the door.

Krystal Jung saw her applying perfume behind her ears; her pale yellow puff-sleeved dress made her look like a glowing lemon candy.

Kim Ji-won turned her head and winked at her:
"Is Crystal going for an ascetic look today?"

Krystal Jung looked down at her outfit:
An ivory white silk shirt paired with khaki cropped trousers, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, revealing a slender wrist. This is the most casual outfit in her wardrobe, yet it still exudes a cool and aloof air that keeps strangers at bay.

"Your CEO Jiang is probably going to be disappointed~"

"He's not mine."

Krystal Jung's voice was muffled by her mask.

"Stubborn to the end~"

……

As the van pulled up in front of the aquarium, the setting sun was sinking behind the other end of the underwater tunnel. The two turned past a coral-shaped pillar, and the spacious aquarium suddenly came into view—

The passageway, which should have been bustling with activity, was eerily quiet, with only the sound of deep-sea fish swimming overhead.

"Are we too late?"

Before the words were even finished, the lights in the main passageway turned on one by one.

Kang Jae-hoon walked over from the corner of the whale shark exhibit, wearing a light gray Cuban-collar linen shirt with the top two buttons undone, and holding two bouquets of flowers with very different styles in his hands.

He handed over the bouquet of red roses first.

When Kim Ji-won took it, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

Then there's Krystal Jung.

The white tulips were carefully placed in her arms, the wrapping paper rustling softly.

A petal brushed against the inside of her wrist, making it tickle.

"Thank you."

She turned her face away stiffly, but did not refuse the light kiss that landed on her cheek.

"Let's go."

Kang Jae-hoon wrapped his left arm around Kim Ji-won's waist and tentatively took Jung Soo-jung's hand with his right.

Sensing that she wasn't breaking free, he slowly tightened his grip.

The three of them then walked into the underwater tunnel.

The shimmering blue light reflected on my face as a manta ray swept overhead, casting a shifting shadow.

"How did Oppa come up with the idea of ​​booking the entire venue?"

Jin Yuan asked, biting into her strawberry-flavored ice cream.

"I'm afraid someone will feel uncomfortable walking but still have to force themselves to walk."

"..."

As he said this, his gaze swept over Krystal Jung's slightly unnatural gait.

Krystal Jung quickly turned her face away—she clearly booked the entire venue to avoid being seen, yet she insisted on using such a considerate excuse.

"Oppa, look!"

At the corner of the passage, a round boxfish floated alone in the water.

Kim Ji-won suddenly pointed at it and asked, "Doesn't it look like you?"

"Not like."

A group of graceful sea breams swam right overhead, tracing smooth arcs in the water.

Kang Jae-hoon chuckled softly:
“I prefer this kind of communal living.” Jung Soo-jung stared at his profile reflected in the glass, unconsciously biting her lower lip.

".Neptune."

"Ok?"

He turned suddenly.

This movement forced Krystal Jung to take a half-step back, her back lightly touching the cool glass. Kang Jae-hoon's hand rested on her ear, and artificial seawater cast shimmering spots of light between them.

What did Krystal just say?

“...I said…”

"Crack!"

The sudden flash of light caused Krystal Jung's pupils to shrink slightly.

When I came to my senses, I found myself pulled into a crowded selfie frame—

Kim Ji-won flashed a V-sign with her pearl-colored manicure in front of the camera, while Kang Jae-hoon pinned her against the wall, her own eyes wide with panic...

"Perfect~"

Kim Ji-won hummed a song and set it as her screensaver:

"Shall we take another family photo next time we go to Everland to see Fu Bao?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating a subtle ripple.

Krystal Jung clutched the tulip in her hand tightly.

Family photo?
What kind of family are the three of them?

Kang Jae-hoon chuckled softly:

"Sure, remember to wear matching outfits."

The manta ray swam overhead again, casting the three intertwined shadows onto the blue water, making it impossible to tell whose heartbeat shattered the deep blue.

……

The summer breeze, carrying the heat and the scent of freshly cut flowers, permeated the Seoul evening.

When the final shot of "Goodbye My Soulmate" focused on a close-up of Krystal Jung's tearful eyes, there was a three-second silence on set before cheers erupted.

The wrap party was held at a restaurant on the banks of the Han River.

"Respect to President Jiang!"

The script supervisor held up a melon soda can:

"Train to Busan has surpassed 500 million viewers in five days, our film will definitely sweep the awards season!"

"President Jiang truly lives up to his reputation as a master of 'fighting on two fronts'!"

The assistant director, holding up a bottle of soju, joked, "With one hand, we fight zombies to break through the box office; with the other hand, we reap tears by falling in love."

The table erupted in laughter.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned back lazily in his chair:

"There's no way around it, director Julie is just too good at directing actors."

He looked across at the other side with a smile in his eyes:

"Right?"

"Will you come back to be my leading man next time?"

Director Julie's lips curled slightly:

"I think you have a knack for acting in pure romance films."

"It would be even better if the female lead remained the same."

The glasses clinked crisply, reflecting Jung Soo-jung's figure as she sipped her wine and Kim Ji-won's bright smile.

……

The following morning, the curtains were half-drawn in Next Scene's editing room.

Director Julie stood in front of the monitors surrounding her on three sides, biting the end of a pencil, her fingertips lightly tapping the screen:
"The montage of the wedding scene should have its saturation reduced by 10% to achieve that faded, memory-like feel."

The editor typed rapidly on the keyboard:
"Where's the rhythm of the cross-cutting?"

"Set against the backdrop of the piano version of the theme song, here—"

Julie pointed to a spot on the screen with her pencil: "Mute for three frames, then suddenly cut to a close-up of Ha Eun's tears."

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the door frame and watched quietly for a while, the light and shadow highlighting the sharp features of his profile.

Until Jin Dayuan gently patted his shoulder—

“There’s a great script, with a bit of the structure of ‘The Big Short’, but… it’s more Korean.”

Kim Dae-won is no longer the extra who only knew how to use petty tricks.

Having been influenced by Hwang Jung-min over the years, my eye for scripts has changed dramatically.

He could say it was good, and Kang Jae-hoon was genuinely interested.

His increasingly serious expression was reflected in the glass of the office corridor.

The words "The Day the Nation Goes Bankrupt" on the script cover struck me like a bolt of lightning.

As Kang Jae-hoon walked, he flipped through the pages, the financial hurricane of 1997 howling between the pages.

Three narrative threads intertwine—

A conscientious head of the Bank of Korea's monetary policy team.

It was the first to use data to warn of impending national bankruptcy, but it fought alone within the bureaucratic system, repeatedly failing in its attempts to turn the tide, and eventually became a core member in negotiations with the IMF.

A financial genius with a keen sense of opportunity.

Having identified the fatal weaknesses in the South Korean economy, and disregarding moral pressure, they persuaded clients to short South Korea, attempting to make a fortune from this national crisis.

A kind and honest small factory owner.

The factory, which was originally doing well, was driven to the brink of collapse by the bankruptcy of a major client and the cessation of bank loans. It struggled to save the factory and the jobs of its employees, and ultimately became the most direct victim of the crisis.

as well as.

Those high-ranking finance ministers and politicians who, in order to protect their power and interests, constantly concealed the truth from the people, and ultimately signed an unequal treaty with the IMF in a secret room...

Kang Jae-hoon's hand, which was turned to the script, suddenly paused slightly on a certain page—

[Yin Zhengxue put down the international fund's financial report, his eyes gleaming: "While you are still calculating your losses, I have already seen the dawn of a thirty-fold return."]

This one sentence immediately conjured up an image in Kang Jae-hoon's mind:
His hair was neatly combed back, and behind his glasses lay a wolf-like gaze; his three-piece suit was always spotless.

This financial hyena, which smells blood during a national crisis, might be shorting the Korean won while chatting and laughing on a golf course, but one night it stands alone on its balcony, looking down at the city filled with debt collection notes flying like snowflakes.

"interesting."

Kang Jae-hoon's thumb rubbed against the pages.

Over the years, he has played roles such as a tycoon's son, a zombie fighter, and a mountaineering hero, but he has never actually played a morally ambiguous opportunist.

The close-up of Yoon Jung-hak's silence at the last moment in the script is more chilling than any heroic shout.

"This kind of subject matter."

Kang Jae-hoon slammed the script onto the table with a dull thud.

"It will either become a mass criticism session or a populist carnival."

"So what do you think?"

"good."

"Coincidentally, the other party wanted to collaborate with us on the production."

Kim Dae-won clearly had high expectations for this project, but Kang Jae-hoon shook his finger:

"To attract investment, I'll go to CJ or Lotte; I only sign performance contracts."

"Didn't you just say you were interested in the script—"

"Acting skills are acting skills, and the market is the market."

Kang Jae-hoon got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the towering office buildings of Seoul:

"The viewing threshold for financial dramas is more complex than that for foreign exchange charts. Even if you play the sentimental card of national grievances, it's hard to guarantee that you won't lose money. It's different from 'Taxi Driver.' Next Scene is just starting out; they can't afford to play this game..."

"boom!"

The office door was suddenly kicked open.

The two turned around in surprise.

Jessica Jung stood at the doorway, wearing seven-centimeter high heels, her cold gaze sweeping across the room like a blade.

Behind her, Hanna gave a wry smile that said, "I tried my best," and further behind were Jung Soo-jung, who seemed to want to say something but couldn't, and Kim Ji-won, whose expression was complicated.

"Talk?"

Jessica Jung's voice is even sharper than her eye makeup.

Jiang Zai Xun's gaze swept over the three women, and he slightly raised his chin, signaling Jin Da Yuan to take his men out.

The sound of the door closing was exceptionally crisp.

Kang Jae-hoon turned and walked towards the tea cabinet:
"Drink Longjing tea or..."

"No need."

Jessica Jung raised her hand to stop her, saying, "I'll leave after I finish speaking."

Kang Jae-hoon calmly put down the tea set and made a "please" gesture.

"What do you take my sister for?"

Jessica Jung's voice was like ice: "Your chaotic private life—are you worthy of her?"

The clouds outside the window blocked the sunlight, and the office suddenly became gloomy.

(End of this chapter)