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

Chapter 100 The Morning Light at the Crossroads
Jiang Jae-hoon's palms were hot from rubbing against the steel pipe, and his forearm muscles were trembling slightly due to the continuous force.

Sweat dripped down his chin onto the practice mat, leaving dark spots.

Lee Sung-kyung sat cross-legged on the sofa.

The DJ was playing on her phone, and she would look up at him from time to time.

"Move your center of gravity a little more to the left."

Her voice is like an MC's shouting, mixed in with the dynamic DJ.

As Jiang Zaixun adjusted his posture, the screen of his mobile phone on the coffee table suddenly lit up.

A message popped up in the Kakao notification bar:
[Krystal Jung]: I just received the news - SBS invited us to perform "Gravity" at the end-of-year acting awards!
[Krystal Jung]: The choreographer said we can start rehearsals the day after tomorrow~
[Krystal Jung]: It’s great~ We can see each other every day again~
Followed by a string of love heart emojis.

Just when Li Jingcheng glanced at his mobile phone.

"Puff-"

Jiang Jae-hoon fell down heavily.

"Pabhu."

Li Jingcheng's gaze moved from the mobile phone on the coffee table to his back.

Jiang Jae-hoon suddenly felt that the gaze had real weight, which made the back of his neck stiff.

"continue?"

She turned off the DJ and the living room suddenly became quiet.

"Ah."

……

One o'clock.

Kang Jae-hoon curled up in bed and talked on the phone with Krystal Jung for a long time.

"So we're going to add a duet?"

Zheng Xiujing's excited nasal voice came from the other end of the phone:

"Yeah! Oppa, don't worry, the song has a slow tempo, so dancing won't be difficult."

"Then...will it shorten your rest time?"

From the other end of the phone came the rustling sound of Zheng Xiujing turning over:
"actually……"

She paused, her voice suddenly lowered: "I'm a little tired recently."

Jiang Jae-hoon could imagine her curled up in the quilt at this moment——

F(x) is preparing for the year-end music festival on the three major TV stations, rehearsing until the early hours every day. They're also preparing for their personal pictorials, new commercials, and the sudden addition of rehearsals for their duet dance for "Gravity."

"How about I tell the production team—"

"do not want!"

Krystal Jung interrupted him hastily: "I want to perform."

Her voice suddenly became lighter:

"and……"

"And what?"

"I'm not tired anymore after meeting Oppa and recharging myself~"

"Charging? What are you charging?"

Jiang Jae-hoon had a question mark on his forehead.

"Pabu, you'll know when we meet~"

at this time--

"You haven't slept yet?"

Li Jingcheng's voice suddenly came from outside the door, frightening Jiang Zaixun so much that he hurriedly covered the microphone:
"What, what's wrong?"

"Quarrel."

There was silence for two seconds.

Jiang Zaixun lowered his voice:
"Sleep now."

The footsteps gradually faded away.

The sound of the master bedroom door closing was neither loud nor soft, but it made Jiang Zaixun's heart skip a beat.

"Oppa?"

Zheng Xiujing's voice leaked out from between her fingers:
"what happened?"

"nothing."

Jiang Jae-hoon put the phone back to his ear and lowered his voice.

"Oh……"

The call suddenly became dull.

The two chatted for a few more minutes and then said good night.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Jae-hoon stared at the ceiling in a daze.

(Did she hear anything?)

(I guess... you didn't hear clearly?)
-
As the morning light shone through the gaps in the curtains, Jiang Jae-hoon was dreaming that he was hanging on a steel pipe and couldn't get down.

The vibration of his cell phone saved him from the nightmare.

"Hey?"

"Not awake yet?"

Krystal's voice came through the airwaves, much clearer than in the early morning.

Kang Jae-hoon squinted at the clock - 06:48.

"So early?"

"I can't sleep, I want to hear your voice~"

He sat up and quietly opened the bedroom door. After confirming that Lee Sung Kyung had gone out for her morning run, he put the phone back to his ear.
"Did you sleep well last night?"

"not good!"

"what happened?"

"I dreamed that you lied to me."

"When did I-"

Suddenly, there was the sound of a key turning in the entrance hall.

Jiang Zaixun's fingers suddenly tightened:

"I'm going to use the bathroom."

When I hung up the phone in a hurry, I happened to see Lee Sung-kyung pushing the door open.

After returning from her morning run, there were still beads of sweat on her forehead. A sports headband gathered all her loose hair, revealing her smooth forehead.

"morning."

Kang Jae-hoon greeted dryly, his throat tight with nervousness.

Lee Sung-kyung glanced at the phone he was clutching, said "hmm" expressionlessly, and bent down to change his shoes. Kang Jae-hoon walked quickly to the bathroom, and only when he closed the door did he realize that his palms were sweaty.

With cold water splashing on his face, he stared at himself in the mirror.

There were faint dark circles under his eyes, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised because of the phone call just now.

This sense of division made him feel dazed.

The cold water slid down my cheeks.

Jiang Jae-hoon stared at the phone on the sink for a few seconds, but ultimately didn't call back.

(Let’s contact each other during the break in filming.)
Seven forty.

The phone rang on time——

Jin Dayuan called and urged him to go downstairs.

Jiang Zaixun grabbed his backpack and went to the entrance to change his shoes:
"I am leaving."

Li Jingcheng said "hmm" without raising his head and continued to flip through the magazine in his hand.

After the sound of the door closing, she slowly looked up and her eyes fell on the water cup that Jiang Jae-hoon had forgotten to take away at the entrance.

(Prabhu.)
(Even the water cup can be forgotten.)
"Hey--"

A familiar voice echoed in the corridor, and Jiang Zaixun subconsciously looked up:

"what?"

"Water cup!"

Lee Sung-kyung stood at the corner of the stairs with his arms stretched straight.

Jiang Zaixun rushed up the stairs in two steps:

“Thank you, Bible.”

Li Jingcheng took back his hand and said as he turned around:
"If you forget again, I'll let you die of thirst."

Jiang Jae-hoon watched her back disappear behind the door, lowered his head and unscrewed the water cup - it was already filled with warm honey water.

"Still not getting in the car?"

Jin Dayuan's urging voice came from downstairs.

"coming!"

Jiang Zaixun took a last look at the closed apartment door, carefully stuffed the water cup into the side pocket of his backpack, and ran down the stairs quickly.

The nanny car drove smoothly on the streets of Gangnam District.

Jin Dayuan dangled a toothpick from the corner of his mouth:

"JYP has officially invited you to be the male lead in the music video through the company. Do you want to go?"

Jiang Zaixun unscrewed the water cup and took a sip. The sweet taste of honey spread on the tip of his tongue:

"What do you think, brother?"

"Snooker's Generation or IU's music videos are fine, but Miss A..."

He drawled his words meaningfully:

"You know."

"understood."

Three days later, Apgujeong.

Tint. In front of the coffee shop.

Wearing a baseball cap, Jiang Zaixun pushed the door and walked into this small shop famous for its retro decoration.

The wind chimes rang crisply.

He stood in front of the counter and looked up at the dishes:
"Three lattes, two Americanos, three hot mochas and—"

Jiang Zaixun pointed to the display cabinet and said, "That strawberry cake should be packed as well."

"OK, just a second."

The clerk was a young girl with a ponytail.

Hearing this, he looked up at him again, and his movements slowed down significantly:
"You, you are from 'The Heirs'..."

Jiang Zaixun subconsciously lowered the brim of his hat and smiled politely:

"Yes, please."

The waiter began to prepare the coffee in a hurry, stealing glances at him from time to time.

Jiang Zaixun pretended not to notice and lowered his head to browse his phone——

[Krystal Jung]: Where's Oppa? I'm already in the practice room~
Followed by a grinning bunny emoji.

The corners of his mouth rose unconsciously, and he was about to reply when a slight "click" sound suddenly came from the counter.

Look up.

The clerk was frantically hiding his phone behind his back: "S-Sorry! I just..."

"It's ok."

Jiang Zaixun smiled gently and said:

"But could you please not post it online? It's a private trip today."

The girl blushed and nodded repeatedly:
"Of course!"

After a while.

"Your order is ready."

The girl came over carrying two large bags full of drinks, hesitated for a moment, and then added in a low voice:

"Well... our boss told us that if any of our celebrity friends come, we must treat them well..."

Jiang Zaixun was stunned for a moment:
"She knew I was coming?"

"No, no!"

The clerk waved his hands hastily, "We mentioned it at a previous meeting. We said if any celebrity friends come to patronize..."

The words were not finished.

The shop door was pushed open again.

A few young girls came in chattering.

Jiang Zaixun quickly stood up and took the bag:
"Thank you. Please tell Suzy that the coffee is delicious."

As he walked out of the store, he heard a suppressed scream behind him:
"It's really him! Oh my God!"

Back in the nanny car, Jin Dayuan took the coffee and distributed it to the staff:
"How's it going? Were you recognized?"

"Ah."

Jiang Zaixun carefully placed the strawberry cake on the seat: "But the staff is very nice."

The phone suddenly vibrates——

This is Bae Suzy's Kakao friend request:

[I didn’t come to the MV, but I drank coffee enthusiastically~]
-
[PS: There will be only two chapters today, and more than three chapters tomorrow.]

(End of this chapter)