Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 665, "The Hunt," is a brilliant performance, and a beauty throws herself into his arms!

Kwon Hyun-hyuk returned to the film crew and resumed filming, and time slowly passed by.

They filmed diligently during the day and worked diligently on the excavation at night.

The days are regular, and they're quite enjoyable.

Until the movie "The Hunt," in which Kwon Heon-hyuk starred, was about to be released, a preview screening was held.

In August, Seoul was still sweltering, but the heat had eased slightly compared to the scorching heat of the previous days.

The highly anticipated political thriller, "The Hunt," finally had a grand preview screening for select media outlets and industry professionals after a long production period.

The venue was chosen to be the CGV Cinema in Longshan District, which is the venue for the vast majority of movie screenings.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk straightened his tie in the van.

Today, he wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, which toned down his flamboyance and made him appear more composed and reserved, a stark contrast to the sinister character he would be portraying on the big screen.

But the confidence of a newly crowned Best Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the more solid aura he exuded after the experience of "The Decision to Break Up" remained ever-present.

Although it was just a cameo role, Kwon Heonhyuk was inexplicably elevated to the status of a supporting actor. He was required to attend the screening as part of the main cast, and if Lee Jung-jae insisted on dragging him along for promotional activities, Kwon Heonhyuk could only try his best to cooperate.

In fact, a press conference for media interviews was held for "The Hunt" some time ago, but Kwon Heon-hyuk did not attend. Now that it is the test screening, he naturally has to be there.

When the car arrived at the entrance to the underground VIP passage, the security was noticeably tighter than before.

Kwon Heonhyuk entered the venue discreetly under the guidance of staff.

The cinema was adorned with a giant concept poster for the movie—Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung, two of Chungmuro's leading men, were dressed in trench coats, facing each other with serious expressions in the rain, creating an palpable sense of tension.

Stepping into the meticulously decorated screening room, Kwon Hyun-hyuk immediately felt the oppressive noise inside and the countless gazes directed at him.

Veterans in the film and television industry, seasoned media professionals, film critics, production company representatives...

A host of influential faces from the Korean and even Asian film industries gathered here.

Almost as soon as he stepped through the door, Kwon Heonhyuk saw the absolute star of the night—Lee Jungjae.

Lee Jung-jae was surrounded by several media executives. This "newcomer," who was both the lead actor and the director, had a sharp and focused expression on his face.

He had clearly poured his heart and soul into this film. Upon seeing Kwon Soon-hyuk, Lee Jung-jae smiled, temporarily pausing their conversation, and walked towards him.

"Xuanhe, you're here."

Lee Jung-jae's voice carried a sense of relief and familiarity. As he approached, he naturally reached out and patted Kwon Heon-hyuk's strong arm.

Quan Xuanhe bowed slightly and smiled, "Brother, you've worked hard these past few days."

His gaze swept over Lee Jung-jae's slightly tired yet still energetic face, revealing how much effort the other had put into this directorial debut.

Having won the Best Actor award some time ago, he naturally wants to maintain his momentum and try to channel all the attention into his movies.

"Is everything ready?" Lee Jung-jae asked with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Kwon Heon-hyuk's composed demeanor.

"You can't escape today. The media and industry insiders will be watching you closely." He said jokingly.

"Don't worry, bro, we've done all the necessary preparations. It's mainly because of your directorial skills; I'm just an extra."

He humbly demurred at the right moment, throwing the spotlight back to Lee Jung-jae.

"Don't give me that." Lee Jung-jae chuckled and lightly punched his shoulder, clearly enjoying it.

The two were talking in hushed tones when the commotion in the screening room suddenly intensified.

Several more glamorous celebrities walked in one after another at the entrance.

Kwon Heon-hyuk spotted Park Hae-il immediately after they finished working together on "The Decision to Break Up".

Park Hae-il remained as composed and low-key as ever, nodding to the two across the crowd upon seeing them.

Next up is Kim Tae-ri, who shared the stage with him at the Baeksang Arts Awards and won the Popularity Award. She was dressed in simple casual clothes, looking capable and intellectual. She was talking to the producer next to her when her gaze swept across the room and caught sight of them. She smiled and gently raised her hand in greeting.

Others such as Jo In-sung also made appearances, along with a group of actors from his company, including Lim Ji-yeon, who also took leave from the filming set.

Quan Xuanhe responded to each of these familiar or unfamiliar but all significant faces with his gaze or a slight nod.

As his gaze swept across the room, trying to spot familiar faces, a tall and slender figure came into view.

Go Yoon-jung.

Tonight, she chose a simple yet sharp black one-shoulder gown that accentuated her graceful curves and complemented her beautiful face.

She was talking to a well-known producer, her demeanor composed, her eyes revealing a maturity born of experience.

Go Yoon-jung is arguably the only standout in this movie; she's strikingly beautiful.

Almost at the same time that Kwon Hyun-hyuk saw her, Go Yoon-jin also keenly caught his gaze.

Their eyes met in mid-air, pausing briefly. Without a word, they conveyed the unspoken understanding that they would talk about it later.

Go Yoon-jin smiled at the producer beside her, signaling him to wait a moment, and walked towards him.

"Xuanhe."

Her voice was clear and crisp as she stood before him, her gaze sweeping over his composed dark gray suit, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

"Yoonjin." Kwon Hyunhyuk's lips curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile.

Go Yoon-jin took half a step closer, closing the distance to a level where they could have a private conversation without losing their composure.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze, filled with inquiry, falling on his face: "How have you been? Busy lately?"

"Actually, it's alright. I've been staying on set filming the whole time, so there haven't been any particularly busy times."

Upon hearing this, Gao Yunzhen nodded.

"By the way, do you have anything else to do after the preview screening?"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk seemed to remember something and asked Go Yoon-jin, who was standing in front of him listening attentively to him.

"I?"

Go Yoon-jin seemed to have misunderstood, and after a brief moment of surprise, she immediately shook her head.

"It can be coordinated; I'll accommodate your schedule."

Look, Kwon Hyun-hyuk hasn't even said what it is yet, and Go Yoon-jin's attitude is already quite proactive, to the point that he doesn't even need to say anything.

"Regarding the matter you asked me before, I've looked at the recent projects and think they're quite good."

He glanced at Gao Yunzhen, but his lips twitched inexplicably.

This attitude seems a bit too cooperative.

Gao Yunzhen was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses and nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you after it's over."

At this moment, the person in charge of the event quietly walked up to Lee Jung-jae and whispered a few words of advice.

Lee Jung-jae nodded, then raised his voice slightly, guiding the core creative team into the room. The surrounding noise gradually subsided.

"Get ready to enter." Quan Xuanhe slightly turned his body to indicate the direction.

"Hmm." Go Yoon-jin nodded, then gave Kwon Hyun-hyuk a look of affirmation before turning around and joining the flow of people gradually moving towards the screening room.

The media's flashbulbs intermittently captured every moment of interaction between the important guests without disrupting the atmosphere.

The low murmurs of conversation blended into a buzzing background noise, a mix of speculation about the film and exchanges of the latest industry news.

After the pleasantries ended, Lee Jung-jae patted him on the back: "That's about enough, let's get ready to go in. Once the lights dim, it'll be time for the audience to engage with the artwork."

Just then, the person in charge of the event quietly walked up to Lee Jung-jae and whispered a few words of advice.

Lee Jung-jae nodded, then raised his voice slightly, guiding the core creative team with the air of a host:
"Distinguished guests, thank you for attending the media screening of 'The Hunt'! Please proceed to your seats as indicated on your tickets. The screening is about to begin!"

The hushed conversations inside quickly subsided, and the crowd began to move orderly toward the entrance of the screening room, their footsteps becoming clearer in the empty echo. Kwon Heon-hyuk, along with Lee Jung-jae, Jung Woo-sung, and other lead actors, as well as several important representatives from the production company, entered the suddenly dimmed screening room amidst the gazes of the crowd.

As these key figures took their seats, Kwon Heon-hyuk was positioned slightly behind Lee Jung-jae. The lights in the room were completely turned off, leaving only the screen and the emergency exit indicator lights on both sides emitting a faint glow.

Silence descended.

The air was filled with a blend of air conditioning, leather seats, and premium perfumes.

Everyone seemed to hold their breath.

After a brief period of darkness, the giant screen suddenly lit up.

The company logo flashes by quickly at the beginning of the film, followed by a gloomy and oppressive scene accompanied by a gripping and tense soundtrack that suddenly assaults the audience's eyes.

The movie has started.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk leaned back, sinking deeply into the large, soft seat.

In the darkness, he stared intently at the subversive role he was about to play on the screen, a role that would soon spark widespread discussion.

Although he only had a brief role, the rough texture, the sinister eyes, and every fierce movement were clearly imprinted on the film, awaiting the rigorous scrutiny of professionals for the first time.

The cinema fell silent, with only the light and shadow on the screen dancing on the face of professional film critic Kim Sung-ho.

He wasn't acting out of fan bias, but rather scrutinizing every shot with a critical eye.

When Kwon Hyun-hyuk's cold-blooded character first appeared in the dim light of the abandoned factory, Kim Sung-ho's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

The deliberately tanned, weathered face on the screen, along with the extremely short, rough side-parted hairstyle, was completely different from the sunny or affectionate idol he remembered.

What caught Kim Sung-ho's attention even more were those eyes.

It is sinister, fierce, and carries an almost indifferent cruelty.

This is a huge contrast to his perception of the actor's past roles.

In the fast-paced, tense scenes, Kwon Heon-hyuk's screen time is not long, but his presence is exceptionally strong.

Kim Sung-ho leaned forward slightly, observing Kwon Hyun-hyuk's body language and micro-expressions.

He accurately captured the coldness and numbness of someone on the verge of dirty killing, conveyed solely through subtle movements and glances, without needing many lines.

Although his role had limited screen time, Kwon Hyun-hyuk imbued the cruelty and indifference with a believable depth within those limited scenes.

As the image of Kwon Hyun-hyuk's expressionless face and cruel stomp flashed by, even though the audience couldn't fully see the target, the brutality of the action was already palpable. Kim Sung-ho subconsciously nodded.

The performance was solid, and it was almost impossible to see any trace of the previous character.

Instead of clapping immediately, Kim Sung-ho quickly jotted down a few notes in his notebook.

"Kwon Hyun-hyuk: A breakthrough role with high completion. The styling was a complete sacrifice, and the precise eye acting and body language control conveyed the character's ruthlessness and numbness. He was not overshadowed in the intense acting battle with the top cast, showing the potential to handle a complex villain. Worth watching."

His expression was calm, but his eyes revealed his approval of discovering new possibilities for the actor and his satisfaction with the professional performance.

The final blank frame on the screen fades away in a tense atmosphere, the credits begin to roll, accompanied by the film's signature, lingering soundtrack.

The brief, almost breathless silence in the screening room was broken.

Immediately afterwards, applause, like a long-brewing tide, surged from every corner, quickly converging into a warm and lasting torrent.

These rounds of applause, coming from professional media personnel, seasoned film critics, and discerning industry peers, carry undeniable weight.

The movie is still acceptable.

Director and lead actor Lee Jung-jae, who had been standing ramrod straight, slowly relaxed as the applause thundered, and an uncontrollable smile spread across his face, revealing an indescribable sense of relief and satisfaction.

In the darkness, Kwon Heon-hyuk could clearly sense that the applause was not only for Lee Jung-jae or the lead actors, but also for all the actors who had left their mark on the big screen, including his brief but striking villainous role.

Amidst the waves of applause, he could catch glimpses of gazes directed in his direction, filled with wonder and inquiry.

The lights gradually came on, some of them quite dazzling.

The organizer stepped to the front of the stage and announced in a loud voice: "Thank you for your presence! Now, please welcome director Lee Jung-jae of 'The Hunt,' along with our lead actors and the main creative team to the stage to meet everyone!"

Amid even more enthusiastic applause, Lee Jung-jae was the first to stand up, followed closely by Jung Woo-sung.

Kwon Heon-hyuk, Go Yoon-jung, and several other main actors and core staff members also stood up from their seats, walking onto the stage one by one with varying degrees of smiles and relaxed postures.

Kwon Heonhyuk followed the strict rules of the entertainment industry, deliberately standing half a body length behind Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung on the side of the stage, which not only showed respect for his seniors but also ensured sufficient exposure.

The flashbulbs instantly turned the stage as bright as day, intensely capturing the people on stage.

Lee Jung-jae naturally stood in front of the center microphone, with Jung Woo-sung on his left and Go Yoon-jung and a veteran supporting actor on his right.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk was positioned closer to Go Yoon-jung.

Lee Jung-jae spoke first, his voice slightly hoarse from excitement, but still clear and strong:
"Hello everyone, I am director Lee Jung-jae, and also actor Lee Jung-jae. Thank you very much to all the industry seniors, media friends, and partners for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the preview screening of 'The Hunt'..."

The microphones were passed around in sequence.

Finally, the microphone was handed to Quan Xuanhe. He bowed slightly in thanks as he took the microphone, then stood still.

"Aneehasay yo, I'm actor Kwon Seonhyuk. In the outstanding film 'The Hunt,' I played a completely new and very special role for me. It was an honor to have the opportunity to work with Jung Jae-hyung's directorial debut and to collaborate with so many respected seniors and actors, including Woo Sung-hyung and Yoon Jin. Although my role was small, I received a lot of guidance and inspiration from the director and my seniors during filming. Thank you for the director's invitation and thank you for everyone's recognition. I hope the film will be well-received when it is officially released. Khamsamyak-dha!"

He adopted a very humble attitude, and his words were full of gratitude to the director and his seniors, but his composure remained undiminished.

His speech drew another round of applause from the audience.

The other actors also gave brief self-introductions in turn.

At the start of the group interview, the media's questions naturally flowed first to director Lee Jung-jae and the two male leads, Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung, discussing the director's intentions, the difficulties in acting, and the filming of action scenes.

But when the topic shifted to more specific roles and performance highlights, many media outlets turned their attention to Kwon Heon-hyuk.

A senior film critic was the first to ask Kwon Hyun-hyuk a question:
"Congratulations to actor Kwon Hyun-hyuk on winning the Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor! Although your role in 'The Hunt' had a concentrated amount of screen time, it left an extremely deep, even completely different, impression on the audience."

"This character is completely different from any of the roles you've played before; he's full of violence, ruthlessness, and a chilling coldness. Could you talk about how you understood and portrayed this character? What preparations did you make for this subversive change?"

All eyes were on Kwon Heon-hyuk, including the other main cast members on stage.

Quan Xuanhe looked focused and, after a moment's thought, answered calmly.

"Kamsangmidha. As you said, this is indeed a huge challenge and breakthrough for me. When I received the script and saw the role, my biggest feeling was excitement, because this is something I have never tried before..."

He's currently enjoying a surge in popularity, so the roles he plays naturally attract more attention.

In the audience, film critic Kim Sung-ho was looking down at his notebook, adding a sentence after writing his review of Kwon Heon-hyuk.

"...Off-screen, she handles the media with ease, speaks humbly and appropriately, and maintains a clear attitude and understanding, which complements the energy she unleashes on the big screen, demonstrating her sustainability as a top-tier actor."

Under the dazzling lights and with everyone's attention, Kwon Hyun-hyuk clearly felt that the feedback from this preview screening exceeded some of his expectations.

The ripples caused by his "minor role" seem to be a little more intense than expected.

It was a pleasant surprise.

After all, who would complain about having too many compliments? It can also add a small touch to one's resume.

This is a good thing.

After the media interviews ended, the crowd began to disperse one after another. Go Yoon-jin took the initiative to walk towards him with a bright smile on her face.

"Xuanhe!"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's gaze fell on Go Yoon-jin, who was walking towards him.

The preview screening was one thing, but the arrival of Go Yoon-jin at this moment was another.

Looks like I'll have to skip Han Hyo-joo a bit tonight. After all, Go Yoon-jung has been so enthusiastic towards me, I can't let her down.

Thoughts flashed through his mind, but a friendly smile appeared on his face.

(End of this chapter)