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

Chapter 98 The Unspoken Words of the Ninth Rose
"Do you need a suppository?"

Lee Sung-kyung knocked on the frosted glass door of the bathroom, her voice lazy.

Jiang Zaixun's hand trembled and his phone almost fell into the toilet:

"……Need not!"

There was the sound of slippers tapping outside the door.

"I've been squatting for half an hour. Are your intestines okay?"

The sound of flushing suddenly rang out.

Jiang Zaixun pressed the air freshener nozzle, and the mint scent instantly covered all traces.

When I opened the door, Li Jingjing was leaning against the entrance with his arms folded. His eyes swept over the phone he was clutching.
"You're still playing with your phone when you're constipated?"

“…Watch the news.”

Jiang Zaixun put his cell phone in his trouser pocket.

Li Jingcheng raised an eyebrow, didn't ask any more questions, turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Jiang Zaixun followed and found a hangover soup simmering on the stove. The aroma filled the air, and it was the flavor he liked—less kelp and more bean sprouts.

“Thank you, Bible.”

"It's just overcooked."

Jiang Zaixun brought the hangover soup to the dining table with a smile and was about to sit down when the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.

[Krystal Jung]: Good morning, Oppa!

Jiang Zaixun subconsciously glanced at Li Jingjing, turned around and replied:

So early?

[Krystal Jung]: I have a commercial shoot today TT
[Krystal Jung]: So sleepy...

Jiang Zaixun quickly replied: [I also want to shoot a commercial today]

[Krystal Jung]: Where was it filmed?

[Kang Jae-hoon]: A photo studio in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu.

[Krystal Jung]: !!!

[Krystal Jung]: I'm taking pictorials at the cafe on the next street!
[Krystal Jung]: Let’s have lunch together?

Jiang Zaixun's mouth curled up unconsciously, and his fingers tapped on the screen:
[Okay, I'll finish here around 12:30—]

"Snapped."

A plate of kimchi was placed in front of him with neither too much force nor too little.

Li Jingjing pulled out a chair and sat down, his tone calm:
"What are you looking at so happily?"

"…Advertising shoot schedule confirmed."

Jiang Zaixun placed his phone screen face down on the table and lowered his head to take two sips of soup.

The temperature and taste are just right.

Not salty nor bland, not hot nor cold.

Lee Sung Kyung didn't respond, but just picked up the remote control and turned on the TV.

The morning news is reporting the entertainment section——

"The final episode of 'The Heirs' achieved a 28.6% viewership rating, setting a new record for this year's Wednesday-Thursday drama..."

The scene cuts to a clip of last night's celebration party.

A shot of Kang Jae-hoon and Krystal Jung entering the venue wearing couple down jackets flashed by.

The air was silent for two seconds.

"What commercial are you shooting today?"

Li Jingcheng suddenly asked.

"Nonghyup apple juice."

Li Jingcheng said "hmm", still staring at the TV.

The news has jumped to the next one - reports that Bae Yong-joon is suspected of being in a relationship with Gu So-hee, the daughter of the vice chairman of LS Industrial Electronics Group.

"What about you? Do you have any plans for today?"

Kang Jae-hoon tried to change the subject.

"Bazaar's New Year Pictorial."

Jiang Jae-hoon nodded: "Then can tonight's pole dancing training still go on as scheduled?"

"It depends."

Lee Sung Kyung said without even looking up: "If the filming ends early."

"it is good."

ten minutes later.

"I am leaving."

Jiang Zaixun was standing at the entrance putting on his shoes, and he caught a glimpse of Li Jingcheng soaking the pot of hangover soup in the sink.

"Ah."

She responded without even looking up, and the water splashed against the wall of the pot, making a splashing sound.

Jiang Zaixun hesitated for a moment:
"See you tonight."

"Ah."

The moment the door closed, he breathed a sigh of relief, took out his cell phone and checked the time - 8:20, there were still forty minutes before the shooting.

The Cheongdam-dong studio is more lively than I imagined.

As soon as Jiang Jae-hoon walked into the lobby, he was recognized by the staff.

"Xunxi, this side——"

The clothes for today are already laid out in the dressing room.

A casual suit and an apron with the Nonghyup logo printed on it.

"Let's try on the makeup first."

The makeup artist motioned him to sit down, picked up the foundation brush and compared his skin tone:
"Your skin looks great. Did you get a good rest last night?"

"Okay, okay."

Jiang Jae-hoon closed his eyes and let the brush sweep across his face.

The filming went smoothly.

The director asked him to show the feeling of "urban youth returning to nature."

Jiang Zaixun posed several juice drinking poses in front of the green screen, and then made a natural and unpretentious expression of "discovering delicious food" as required.

"Perfect!"

The director watched the monitor playback:
"Jiang Jae-hoonxi, would you like to try our new product? The props used for the filming are all real juice."

Jiang Jae-hoon took the paper cup and took a sip. The sweet and sour apple taste immediately spread in his mouth.

"Delicious."

He subconsciously took out his cell phone to recommend it to Lee Sung Kyung.

But the moment I opened Kakao, I found that Krystal Jung's chat box had been squeezed above Lee Sung Kyung's chat box.

"..."

Hover your finger over the phone for three seconds.

In the end, I gave up.

"Zai Xunxi, let's take a final set of close-ups!"

The groundskeeper was waving from a distance.

"coming!"

By the time all the filming was finished, it was already 12:35.

Jiang Zaixun hurriedly changed back into his clothes and took out his cell phone——

Three unread messages.

[Krystal Jung]: I’m done here~
[Krystal Jung]: [Positioning]

[Krystal Jung]: [Box No. 203]

When Jiang Jae-hoon looked up, he found that Jin Dae-won was looking at him thoughtfully.

"what happened?"

Jin Dayuan spit out the toothpick: "Do you have an appointment at noon?"

"Ah."

"Which one?"

"..."

Jiang Zaixun hesitated for a moment and decided to tell the truth: "Xiujing."

"Okay, just be back before 2pm."

Jin Dayuan was unexpectedly straightforward: "Don't let the reporters catch us."

……

As Kang Jae-hoon walked out of the studio, the cold December wind blew in his face.

64th Street is only ten minutes away.

He decided to walk there.

When passing by a flower shop.

After hesitating for a moment, he pushed the door open and walked in.

The doorbell rang mixed with a mechanical "Welcome".

"What can I do for you?"

The clerk came over warmly.

"Let me see."

Jiang Zaixun's eyes wandered among the flowers.

Finally it stops at a light pink rose.

In Korea, pink roses tend to be more of a "subtle expression of emotion" and are especially suitable for expressing one's feelings in the early stages of a relationship.

But Jiang Zaixun suddenly remembered that she disliked the color pink, so he pointed to the red rose next to her.

"How many do you want?"

The clerk skillfully pulled out the wrapping paper: "For red roses, 11 represents undivided love..."

"Nine."

Jiang Zaixun interrupted.

The clerk nodded in understanding:
"It's a long, long time, perfect for confession."

She deftly trimmed the flower stems. "Want a card?"

"Need not."

Walking down the street with a bouquet of flowers in his arms, Jiang Zaixun felt a little ashamed after realizing it.

Is it too exaggerated?
Flowers on the first date?

(No, this isn't a date...)
While I was daydreaming, the sign of an Italian restaurant came into view.

When Jiang Zaixun pushed open the door of box 203, Zheng Xiujing was looking down at her phone. She looked up immediately when she heard the sound.

His eyes lit up the moment he saw the bouquet.

"For me?"

"Ah."

Jiang Zaixun handed over the bouquet.

She didn't take it immediately, but stood on tiptoe and put her arms around his neck.

There was a soft "pop" sound.

The soft lips touched his cheek lightly and then left.

"This is a return gift."

Krystal Jung smiled so much that her eyes curved into crescents. She buried her face in the bouquet and took a deep breath.

"Why did you suddenly think of buying flowers?"

"When I passed by the flower shop..."

Jiang Zaixun touched the back of his neck: "I think it suits you."

"Pabhu."

She snorted softly, but hugged the bouquet tighter in her arms:
"How can you say 'suitable' by giving red roses?"

He was about to explain.

But Krystal had already taken out her phone and adjusted the angle so that the rose occupied the center of the picture, revealing only half of her face:

"This is the first time I receive flowers from my boyfriend, so I have to remember it well."

The moment I heard the word "boyfriend".

The corners of Jiang Zaixun's mouth rose unconsciously.

"Did you finish filming?"

"Ok!"

Krystal lowered her head to edit the photo and casually asked, "Have you ever given flowers to anyone before?"

"No."

"Really?"

She raised her head, her eyes shining: "Not even once?"

"Ah."

As soon as the words fell, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind——

(It seems... I've never given a Bible flower.)
(Although most of this was due to the financial constraints of our early years—when even food had to be budgeted, there was no money left for flowers.)
(but……)
"Hey Hey hey--"

Zheng Xiujing frowned and waved her hand in front of him:
"What are you thinking about?"

"No, it's nothing."

Jiang Jae-hoon suddenly came to his senses and tactically picked up the cup and took a sip of water.

Zheng Xiujing didn't think much about it. She carefully placed the rose on the table and looked at him with her chin in her hand:
“What was it like giving flowers for the first time?”

"I'm afraid you won't like it."

Jiang Jae-hoon replied honestly.

"Pabhu."

She stretched out her rose-scented fingertips and poked his brow:

"What girl doesn't like flowers?"

"Really?"

"real."

That being the case...

Just when Jiang Jae-hoon was distracted for the second time, the waiter had already brought all the dishes quickly.

Zheng Xiujing rolled up the pasta with a fork and handed it to Jiang Zaixun's mouth:
"what--"

The noodles were hanging in mid-air, and the creamy sauce was almost dripping onto the tablecloth.

Jiang Zaixun opened his mouth, but at the last second she playfully turned it in another direction and stuffed it into her mouth.

"ah……"

"Humph, who told you to be distracted on a date with me!"

Krystal pushed the steak over and said, "I'll punish you by helping me cut the steak."

Jiang Zaixun resignedly picked up the knife and fork and cut the steak into small, even pieces.

Zheng Xiujing held her chin and watched his movements, and suddenly poked away a piece with a fork:
"what--"

This time she really put the meat to his mouth.

Jiang Jae-hoon obediently opened his mouth and bit the steak.

"Don't chew too fast."

"why?"

"because--"

Krystal tilted her head and thought for a moment:

"This way I can see you a little longer."

Jiang Jae-hoon's chewing speed immediately slowed down by three times.

Krystal was amused by his appearance:

"Pabhu, there's no need to be so slow."

Looking at Kang Jae-hoon, whose eyes were filled with her, Krystal suddenly wished time could go slower.

——Until the shrill ring of the cell phone broke the silence.

She glanced at the screen and her expression immediately fell:

"Ah... my agent is urging me to go back."

Jiang Zaixun stood up to help her with her coat:

"I send you."

"No need, it would be troublesome if someone saw us."

Krystal wrapped the scarf around her neck three times and carefully placed the roses into a paper bag.

When she reached the door of the box, she suddenly turned back.

She reached out and pulled down her scarf, then quickly pecked the corner of his lips.

"I'll call you tonight!"

After saying that, he skipped out of the box.

When the waiter came in to clear the dishes, he saw a tall boy grinning at the air.

"Sir, do you need to pack?"

"Huh? Oh...thank you."

Jiang Jae-hoon finally came to his senses, took out his cell phone and checked the time - 13:40.

(It’s time to go back.)
When we walked out of the restaurant, the sun was shining brightly.

He took a deep breath.

The cold December air poured into my lungs, but it couldn't extinguish the warmth in my chest.

A flower shop on the way.

Jiang Jae-hoon stopped for some unknown reason.

In the window, the combination of white baby's breath and light purple hyacinths reminded him of the color of Lee Sung-kyung's pajamas.

The doorbell rang again, mixed with the mechanical "Welcome".

"Is it still a red rose?"

The clerk came over familiarly.

Jiang Zaixun shook his head and pointed to the bouquet in the window: "That one."

"Gypsophila with hyacinth?"

The clerk skillfully took out the flowers and asked, "Would you like it in a bouquet or a gift box?"

"A bouquet will be fine."

He stood at the counter, watching the clerk expertly trim the flower stems.

The light purple hyacinths look particularly fresh against the backdrop of white baby's breath, like a garden covered with dew in the early morning.

The phone suddenly vibrated.

Jiang Zaixun took it out and took a look——

[Krystal Jung]: Work safely~ The roses are super fragrant!

Followed by a string of love heart emojis.

Jiang Zaixun was about to reply when the clerk handed him the wrapped bouquet.

"Thank you for your patronage."

As I walked out of the flower shop, the sunlight shone on the light purple petals.

He lowered his head and sniffed.

The elegant fragrance of hyacinth mixed with the cold winter air suddenly made his mind appear the back of Lee Sung-kyung standing in the kitchen cooking hangover soup.

(End of this chapter)