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

Chapter 61: Public Funded Romance
The next day.

When Kang Jae-hoon arrived at the set, he found the atmosphere even more depressing than yesterday.

Asked the staff.

The second episode's ratings – 10.5%.

It's decreasing instead of increasing.

what does this mean?
The first broadcast was the peak, and then it declined all the way.

This is the situation that all crews fear the most, especially when SBS has invested a lot of resources and screenwriter Kim Eun-sook is personally in charge.

To make matters worse, negative online comments have flooded in.

"Kim Tan and Cha Eun Sang look like a young master and a nanny standing together."

"I suggest changing Kim Ji-won to be the female lead. At least her looks are worthy of a chaebol son."

"Has Kim Eun-sook run out of ideas?"

"..."

Park Shin Hye sat in the dressing room, looking down at her phone.

Her expression was calm, but the makeup artist still noticed something was wrong - her shoulders were tenser than usual, and even her breathing was light.

"Xin Hye-xi, do you want to touch up your lip makeup?"

The makeup artist asked cautiously.

"Well, please."

She smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

the other side.

Lee Min Ho stood at the end of the corridor.

The agent was whispering something to him.

He just nodded occasionally, but his eyes were always unfocused.

Jiang Jae-hoon happened to see this scene.

After hesitating for a moment, he walked over and greeted Lee Min Ho:
"Brother, good morning."

Lee Min Ho came back to his senses and forced a smile:

"Ah, Jaehoon, good morning."

His voice was a little deeper than usual, and it was obvious that his mood was also affected by the ratings.

——This is the norm for crews with poor ratings.

The director team held an emergency meeting, the screenwriter team revised the script overnight, and the actors forced themselves to shoot, but everyone was on edge.

“Will this drama flop?”

Jiang Zaixun walked to his rest area and opened the newly revised script.

His role did increase, but with it came pressure.

If the audience doesn't buy into the main CP, no matter how good the subplot between him and Krystal is, it won't be able to save the entire drama from its decline.

"Hey."

Krystal Jung stood next to him at some point, holding two glasses of iced American coffee and handed him one.

"Thanks."

Jiang Zaixun took the coffee and found that her expression was not relaxed either.

“Have you read the online reviews?”

"I saw it, and the scolding was pretty harsh."

Zheng Xiujing pursed her lips:
“But our segment ratings are peaking.”

Jiang Zaixun was stunned for a moment, then he understood what she meant - even if the audience cursed, at least they were buying into their roles.

Zheng Xiujing looked up at him with a rare serious look:

"So...we have to act better."

"Well, definitely."

The noise on the set suddenly faded away.

Zheng Xiujing asked casually:

"But I'm just an idol transitioning from a celebrity. I haven't learned to control micro-expressions systematically, and my acting isn't that great... So, what can I do specifically to be more natural?"

Jiang Zaixun subconsciously entered teaching mode:

"You can try Stanislavsky's observation method: observe, analyze, transform, and experience..."

"So how many couples are you going to let me observe?"

Krystal suddenly interrupted him.

Jiang Jae-hoon was stunned.

Only then did he remember that the person in front of him was not only Li Baona, but also Crystal from the Function Group.

“Instead of observing others…”

Krystal turned her head to look at Park Shin Hye who was filming in the distance:
“It’s better to experience it directly.”

Jiang Zaixun's reflex arc finally completed a cross-hemisphere journey:

"what?"

"I mean...we should get along in private like we do in RM!"

She suddenly bent down and approached Jiang Zaixun:

“For example, right now—how would Yin Chanrong react?”

The noise on the set suddenly seemed to be muted.

Jiang Zaixun froze in place.

Scene 37 of the script suddenly played automatically in my mind: [Yin Chan-young chuckled helplessly and reached out to ruffle Lee Bo-na's bangs.]

His fingers moved, but turned sharply just as they were about to touch Krystal's hair.

In the end, he just touched the back of his neck awkwardly:
"I'll laugh, I guess."

Zheng Xiujing's eyelashes trembled in front of him, and she suddenly straightened up:

"It seems that Mr. Jiang's theoretical acting skills still need practice~"

"..."

Jiang Jae-hoon lowered his head and took a big sip of iced American coffee. The sound of the ice cubes colliding was particularly crisp.

"I'm going to touch up my makeup, see you later."

"Um……"

Looking at her leaving back, Jiang Zaixun breathed a sigh of relief.

The noise from the set flooded into my eardrums again.

Li Jingcheng's question that day suddenly echoed in my ears——

"Can you distinguish between genuine feelings and business sentiment?"

He answered with a firm voice at that time.

But at this moment it is like a shaken carbonated drink, gurgling with uncertain bubbles.

Jiang Zaixun took out his cell phone and opened the chat window with Li Shengjing.

The last message was about flight information in the early morning.

The cursor flashed in the input box for a long time, and finally typed:
Is it cold in Shanghai?

Three minutes after the send button was pressed, the dialog box remained silent.

Jiang Zaixun stared at his phone screen in a daze until the staff came over with a notice and reminded him:
"Zai Xunxi, shooting in ten minutes!"

"Ah, okay."

He locked his phone and looked up at the set.

Park Shin Hye has adjusted her state and is acting opposite Lee Min Ho; Krystal Jung and Kim Ji Won are sitting in the corner discussing something in a low voice, but they glance at him out of the corner of their eyes; the staff are shuttling back and forth, preparing for the next scene.

Business as usual.

Only the cell phone in Jiang Zaixun's pocket was as silent as a stone.

In the intervals between the three scenes, he mechanically repeated the action of unlocking and locking the screen.

It was not until the staff knocked on the door of the lounge for the fifth time that Kang Jae-hoon was shocked to realize that the fluorescent lights on the set had long replaced the morning light, and the shooting location on the notice had become the [SBS Inkigayo Stage].

The backstage corridor was packed with idol groups waiting to perform.

Lee Bo-na, played by Krystal Jung, walked through the place in high heels and asked everyone she met:

"Excuse me, have you seen my father?"

——The camera switches to the performance stage.

"Oppa."

Kim Heechul, who guest starred as MC, turned his head:

"Oh, it's our Bona."

"Have you seen my father?"

"Answer me a question first and I'll tell you."

"what?"

"Do you like Kyuhyun or me?"

Krystal tilted her head and thought for two seconds, then suddenly smiled:

"Canrong~"

"What Chanyoung?"

Jin Xichu's eyes widened: "Your boyfriend?"

at this time--

"Ding!"

A text message alert sounded on the phone.

She looked down and saw a message from Yin Canrong:
What are you doing with other men?

Krystal looked around in confusion, and a second message popped up immediately:

【here. 】

The camera follows her gaze to the last row of the audience——

Yoon Chan-young, played by Kang Jae-hoon, was holding up his cell phone and waving at her with a smile.

"Canrong~"

Krystal's eyes lit up instantly, and she didn't even bother to say goodbye to Kim Heechul, and immediately ran towards the audience.

The stage lights followed her figure, making her joy sparkle.

Follow the script plot.

She should have slammed on the brakes in front of Kang Jae-hoon and then complained proudly, "Why didn't you tell me in advance that you were coming back?"

but--

"boom!"

She crashed into Jiang Zaixun's arms like a little cannonball.

The force of the impact caused him to stumble back two steps.

The director's fist hung in the air.

The action of originally wanting to shout "click" was abruptly changed to signaling the photographer to move forward with the close-up.

Kang Jae-hoon should have said helplessly, "Slow down, don't fall," and then took her hand and left. But Krystal's chin was resting on his chest, her eyelashes fluttering, her eyes filled with the scattered light reflected from the stage:
"did you miss me?"

(This girl changed the lines without permission?!)
The trembling of Kang Jae-hoon's pupils was perfectly captured in the close-up shot.

His palm subconsciously touched the back of her head, and when his fingertips sank into the soft hair, he suddenly realized what to say:

"I miss you so much."

"Then I'll miss you even more!"

Krystal Jung tightened her arms further and further, and the orange blossom scent of the shampoo suddenly became very noticeable.

Jiang Zaixun felt like a butterfly was fluttering in his chest, but his lines were incredibly smooth:

"Then I'll miss you even more!"

"Then I will miss you super super double!"

"Then I miss you to the Nth power."

"I think your degree is equal to the total number of atoms in the universe!"

"..."

"Crack!"

The director held up a megaphone and scolded with laughter:

"Do you two think this is the children's show 'Mathematical Kingdom'?"

"Hahaha--"

There was a burst of good-natured laughter.

The atmosphere on the set, which was originally tense due to the low ratings, was actually diluted a lot by the impromptu performance of this funny couple.

The lighting technician even deliberately used a spotlight to shroud the two people in a warm yellow halo.

Krystal Jung suddenly let go of her hand as if she was burned, but she still pretended to be calm and stuck out her tongue at the director:
"The script says 'the two hug'..."

He hid behind the monitor before he finished speaking, but couldn't help but sneak a peek at Jiang Zaixun's reaction.

Jiang Zaixun was still frozen in place with his arms outstretched.

Hearing everyone's laughter, he scratched his head as if waking up from a dream.

"Ai Yi Gu——"

Kim Heechul strolled over holding the MC prompter and deliberately bumped her with his elbow:
"Is our Crystal filming or dating on public expense now?"

"certainly not!"

Zheng Xiujing stamped her feet anxiously and hurriedly covered his mouth:

"It's a script requirement!"

"Oh?"

Kim Heechul raised his eyebrows and leaned back:
"Do you want me to call Jessica and ask her which page of the script says to hold her so tight?"

"Ah! Kim Heechul!"

Krystal turned around, picked up the doll on the prop table and threw it over.

Kim Heechul dodged sideways as expected——

"Snapped!"

The plush toy hit Jiang Zaixun's face right on his side as he came to watch the replay.

"Well!"

Jiang Zaixun's eyes went dark and he subconsciously caught the slowly sliding plush doll.

When I looked up, I happened to see Zheng Xiujing's panicked expression——

She covered her mouth with her hands and her eyes widened.

Kim Heechul was so exhausted from trying to hold back his laughter that he injured himself, and before leaving, he didn't forget to finish off the fight:

"You have pretty good aim. Would you consider becoming a baseball player?"

Zheng Xiujing glared at him fiercely, ran over and explained to Jiang Zaixun:
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you."

The words were interrupted by a stuffed animal suddenly pressing on the top of the head.

"Revenge."

Krystal Jung stood there in a daze.

The soft weight of the doll pressed down on the top of her head. Jiang Zaixun's fingers were still lightly resting on it, and his knuckles rubbed against the loose hair on her forehead, causing a slight itch.

His eyes looked particularly bright under the chaotic lights of the studio, as if they were filled with a pool of shaking honey water, so sweet that it made people's hearts tremble.

--thump.

Krystal heard her own heartbeat suddenly get louder, making her eardrums hurt.

"."

The director squinted his eyes and stared at the monitor, then suddenly turned to the cameraman and asked:

"Did you film this?"

"what?"

The cameraman hurriedly checked the machine:
“No, it’s not on.”

The director smacked his lips:

"When we're filming scenes with them together in the future, leave one camera to continue recording after the cut."

The script supervisor quickly wrote down this new rule in his notebook.

The assistant director came over and whispered, "Do we need to reshoot that scene?"

The director waved his hand:
"No, the real chemistry off-camera is more natural than designed."

……

When the staff put away the last reflector, sporadic stars had already appeared on the other side of the Han River.

The two of them kept this impromptu hug scene.

Close-up shots to connect the lines were subsequently re-shot.

In the locker room.

As Kang Jae-hoon untied his costume tie, his phone buzzed in his locker.

The screen lights up.

The lock screen is stacked with 17 unread messages.

At the top is a long voice message from Jin Dayuan.

He clicked on the first one, and his agent's excited voice immediately exploded:

"Jaehoon! SBS wants to open an FM radio station for you! It's going to be twice a week, 90 minutes each, and the tentative name is 'Jaehoon's Moonlight Drive'!"

The second voice message plays immediately afterward:

"The production team said they can invite guests to help support the first episode. Who do you want to ask? Your teacher or Lim Yoona?"

Article :
"By the way, the station also asked if you have any salary requirements—"

Jiang Jae-hoon rubbed his temples, did not reply for the time being, and continued to scroll down.

Lee Kwang-soo sent three daily greetings:
[Jaehoon, did filming go smoothly today? ]

[I heard that your crew's ratings are not very good? ]

[Want to go out for a drink? I know a hidden bar in Cheongdam-dong.]

Further down——

Park Hyung-sik posted three ugly photos from deadly angles.

The fingertips stroke to the end.

News about Lee Sung-kyung lay quietly at the bottom.

【Lee Sung-kyung】: Cold.

The accompanying picture is the night view of the Bund in Shanghai.

The brightly lit Lujiazui is reflected in the hotel windows.

A corner of the gray-blue scarf was faintly visible at the edge of the photo, the same one he had clumsily tied at four in the morning.

The cursor flickered in the dialog box for a long time, and he finally typed:

Drink more hot water

Deleted again.

Is Shanghai Fashion Week going well?

Too official.

Is the scarf warm enough?

As if taking credit.

Just as he was struggling, there was a knock on the locker room door.

"Teacher Jiang."

Zheng Xiujing's voice came through the door:

"Writer Jin's new library scene has too many lines. Can we rehearse it privately tomorrow?"

"Will rehearsing privately..."

Zheng Xiujing interrupted him instantly:

"We're not filming tomorrow anyway, right?"

"Ok."

Now that things have come to this, he certainly has no reason to refuse.

"See you tomorrow then~"

As if she felt the words were too ambiguous, she added, "Remember to bring the script!"

"it is good."

Krystal's footsteps gradually faded away.

The locker room returned to silence.

Jiang Zaixun looked down at his phone, and the message from Li Shengjing was still hanging there.

He heard the clatter of equipment being put away by the staff outside the door, and he was shocked to realize that he had been staring at his phone for ten minutes.

When I hurriedly changed into casual clothes and pushed the door open, I ran into Krystal leaning against the wall in the corridor and sending messages.

The lit screen interface was Kakao, where she was chatting privately with Kim Ji-won about [what to wear tomorrow].

"Haven't you left yet?" Jiang Jae-hoon was stunned.

Krystal quickly locked the screen:
"Waiting for my agent to pick me up."

"Oh, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow~"

On the way to the parking lot, Jiang Zaixun's phone vibrated.

[Lee Sung-kyung]: How was it on the set?
He looked at the neon sign of the SBS building in the distance and suddenly didn't know how to describe the chaos of today.

Impromptu hugs, dolls hitting people in the face, and that ridiculous line about "the total number of atoms in the universe."

Finally, I only replied:
【Ratings will be good】

Almost at the same time, a new message popped up:
I'm asking you

The night wind swept across the surface of the Han River. Jiang Jae-hoon stood under the street light and stared at these five words for a long time, until the screen automatically turned off.

(End of this chapter)