Peninsula: Starting with Hijacking Yoona

95, Awakening

When the plane landed in Seoul, it was almost 9 p.m.

The runway lights outside the window formed a line, dazzlingly bright in the night. Li Jingcheng leaned back in his seat and slowly opened his eyes only after the plane had taxied and come to a complete stop.

Luo Yonghao packed his luggage beside him, saying, "Let's use the private entrance; it's faster and easier. We don't lack for publicity right now."

Li Jingcheng glanced at him. "Are there many fans waiting outside?"

"Quite a few. There's a lot of people waiting outside; they've been here since the afternoon."

"Then let's go through the regular lane. They've been waiting for so long, it'll be quick to see them, and it won't affect other passengers."

Luo Yonghao rubbed his temples. "All you know is how to pamper your fans."

Lee Kyung-sung had already stood up. It was cold in Seoul, so he put on his coat. "Let's go."

Luo Yonghao couldn't dissuade him, so he followed.

As soon as we came out of the arrival gate, screams erupted.

"Oppa!"

"Over here, over here!"

Fans held up support signs and crowded outside the railing.

Li Jingcheng slowed his pace a little and waved to them.

"You've worked hard. It's so late, go home and get some rest."

"Oppa, you've worked hard too!"

"We saw the event in Japan! It was amazing!"

Li Jingcheng smiled, waved all the way, and strode quickly with his long legs.

Luo Yonghao quickened his pace to keep up with him.

Wang Zilu had already driven ahead and was waiting at the airport entrance.

Once inside the car and the door closed, the screams outside were shut out through the glass.

Li Jingcheng leaned back in his seat before taking out his phone.

The screen lit up.

News about Kim Jisoo popped up first.

Jisoo: [Oppa! Have you arrived yet? I saw the news in Japan! You have so many fans there! It's packed!]

Lee Kyung-sung: [Being too busy isn't good either; I've already spent so much time bringing you gifts.]

Jisoo: [Hehe, it's okay, Oppa. There will be plenty of opportunities to get gifts later.]

Kim Jisoo: [By the way, Oppa, the company has agreed to let me film GoG! President Yang told me personally!]

Kim Jisoo: [Then... he told me something else. It seems the company wants to transfer me from the actor training department to the idol training group.]

Jisoo: [Oppa... what do you think of me as an idol?]

Lee Kyung-sung stared at the message, his finger pausing on the screen. Was YG making Jisoo a member of the idol group so early?

He didn't really want her to become an idol, or rather, an idol debuting under YG Entertainment, but he didn't say it—it wasn't time to go that far. He was thinking of another path: if he opened his own studio, he could sign Kim Jisoo directly. That way, they could see each other often, and she could be his cash cow.

But he didn't say any of that, he just replied,

I think Jisoo's image would be perfect for either acting or being an idol. And—whether you want to be an idol or an actress, I support you.

Jisoo: [Hehe, really?]

Li Jingcheng: [Really. No matter which path you choose, I'll be there. I'll always support you.]

There was a moment of silence on Jisoo's end, then she replied: "Oppa... why are you being so sweet today..."

Li Jingcheng smiled and typed: "It's not that I can talk today. It's that I've always been able to."

Kim Jisoo: 【！！！】

Then she sent a string of emojis, which looked both happy and shy.

After a while, she said, "Oppa, you should rest first. I'm going to eat now! Practice was so tiring today..."

It was followed by a "hungry" kitten emoji.

Li Jingcheng: [Okay. Go ahead. Don't go hungry.]

Jisoo replied with an "okay" emoji.

Then Li Jingcheng never replied again.

Kim Jisoo looked at the screen and smiled. She put down her phone, got out of bed, and walked towards the cafeteria. The warmth of their earlier conversation still lingered on her lips—she thought about what her oppa had said: "No matter which path you choose, I'll be there." Those words...

She'll probably remember it for a long time.

But after taking a few steps, Kim Jisoo thought of Bae Joo-hyun again, and her smile faded slightly. She didn't know who Bae Joo-hyun was, nor what her relationship with her oppa was.

But her intuition told her that she needed to solidify her relationship with Oppa as soon as possible. She suppressed this thought, turned off her phone, and left the room.

News about Bae Joo-hyun is in the middle.

She only posted two messages:

【arrive?】

Okay. Be careful on the road.

Lee Kyung-sung replied: 【I'm so tired, Joo-hyun. Are you waiting for me at home?】

Bae Joo-hyun: [Guess what, the picture. Jpg]

Isn't this a photo from home?

Li Jingcheng knew that she was waiting for him.

It's been so many days since I've seen Im Yoona. With Girls' Generation's busy schedule and her filming of "Love Rain" lately, we haven't even had a proper meal together.

Im Yoona: [Wow, "The Moon Embracing the Sun" broke the Korean Peninsula viewership record! They even have schedules in Japan now~ You know, Girls' Generation's Japanese schedules only started three years after their debut.]

Lee Kyung-sung: [Hey, just lucky. Yoona, your 'Love Rain' is about to premiere, right? I'm sure the ratings will be really high.]

Im Yoon-a: [How did you know?]

Li Jingcheng: [Because you were the one who acted in it.]

Lin Yoona paused for a moment.

Lee Kyung-sung: [Wishing Yoona, the Blue Dragon Film Award winner, and may "Love Rain" achieve phenomenal ratings!]

Im Yoon-a: [Haha, I'm still a long way from being named Best Actress. You're just flattering me.]

Lee Kyung-sung: [No way. In my heart, Yoona will always be the Blue Dragon Film Queen.]

Im Yoona sent an eye-rolling emoji.

But Li Jingcheng knew she was smiling.

Lee Kyung-sung: [Honestly, it's been so long since I've seen you, Yoona! I've missed you so much! When you set a date for 'Love Rain,' would it be convenient for me to visit the set?]

Yoona didn't reply immediately. Looking at the text message on her phone, a slight smile played on her lips.

She really wanted to see him—the two hadn't officially met up since their last meeting in acting class.

Li Jingcheng's words, "I really miss you," lingered in her mind.

Im Yoona: [No problem. Just let me know when it's time, and I'll arrange the time. I don't want you to come all this way for nothing while I'm filming.]

Lee Kyung-sung: [No. I'm telling you in advance, and observing and learning from Yoona's acting skills will also help you improve.]

Im Yoona: [Tsk, stop it. Your acting skills still need improvement.]

The conversation has ended.

Lee Kyung-sung put his phone down, but Im Yoon-ah did not immediately put hers down.

She flipped through her schedule, thinking that she should find some time to get together with him. Then she remembered something else—Li Jingcheng had invited one of the company's trainees to film a movie, named Bae Joo-hyun.

It wasn't because he hadn't invited her. It was because he hadn't told her about it.

Lin Yoona couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart. It wasn't jealousy, nor anger, but just a little uncomfortable. She thought about it and realized that they weren't officially together yet, so maybe she should give it a try and see how things went. Maybe she was just overthinking it.

Then she shook her head, put her phone aside, and continued filming "Love Rain".

"Yong-ho hyung, could you help me see when it would be convenient for me to visit Yoona on set?" Lee Kyung-sung also felt he had neglected his first idol whom he had ever met.

"Let me see." Luo Yonghao, who was looking at a tablet beside him, immediately opened the schedule and began to check it after hearing the instruction.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of the villa.

The indoor lights are on.

Lee Kyung-sung pushed open the door, and Bae Joo-hyun was sitting in the living room, wearing pink pajamas and holding a phone, as if she was waiting for something.

"You're back?" She heard the voice, turned around, and smiled at him.

"Yeah, I'm exhausted."

Li Jingcheng changed his shoes, walked over, sat down next to her, and reached out to pull her into his arms.

"Go wash your hands." Bae Joo-hyun shifted her position slightly and pushed him away with both hands.

"Okay~"

Li Jingcheng hurriedly washed his hands.

Bae Joo-hyun then laughed out loud, "Are you hungry? Let's eat."

Lee Kyung-sung didn't speak, but just looked at Bae Joo-hyun, feeling that she was a little more silent than before.

"Have you been practicing too hard lately?"

"Everything's fine as before, it's not because of practice." She stood up and walked into the kitchen. Her back was thin, and her shoulders were slightly taut.

Li Jingcheng opened his mouth slightly, seemingly about to say something. If it wasn't about practice, then what was it?

After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately didn't dare to ask.

He eventually got up, went over, and hugged Bae Joo-hyun from behind.

Bae Joo-hyun paused for a moment.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to hug you."

She didn't push him away. She paused for two seconds, then continued heating the food.

The meal was eaten in silence, but the silence wasn't cold; it was the unspoken understanding between the two of them that prevented awkwardness from arising.

Before he had finished eating, Li Jingcheng's phone rang.

It was Kim Min-joo calling.

"It's confirmed." Kim Min-soo's voice was clear. "Park Hoon-jung saw your reports in Japan and immediately decided that the role of Lee Ja-sung is yours."

Li Jingcheng held his phone, paused for two seconds, and then said, "Understood."

"Why do you seem a little unhappy?"

"Maybe he's a little tired from just getting back from Japan."

Kim Min-joo thought for a moment and agreed, "Then you should get some rest. I won't bother you anymore."

After hanging up the phone, Li Jingcheng thought about the system for a few seconds—what reward would he get for intercepting a role?

But he only thought about it for three seconds before putting it down.

Because Bae Joo-hyun was standing next to him, watching him.

Li Jingcheng reached out and took her hand, their fingers intertwined.

"Is this the production team of 'New World'? The roles have already been cast."

Bae Joo-hyun nodded and smiled, "Congratulations."

Her tone was calm, but he could tell that her voice was a little softer than usual.

"Joohyun".

"Um?"

"Do you have something you want to ask me?"

Bae Joo-hyun was silent for a moment, then said, "No."

"You have."

She bit her lip, looked up at him, and said, "I just feel...we seem to be drifting further and further apart."

Li Jingcheng looked at her, somewhat confused.

"You're getting busier and busier, and you're meeting more and more people," Bae Joo-hyun said in a low voice. "I'm just a trainee, and you're already a big star. I'm a little... unsure of where I should stand."

Li Jingcheng didn't say things like "I won't abandon you." He simply walked over, hugged her tightly, and held her close.

At the same time, while feeling relieved, she was also a little curious.

Why is it happening again? Did something upset you?

Whether you want to stand, lie down, or lean against something, there will always be a place for you here.

Bae Joo-hyun didn't speak, but a faint smile appeared on her face, unseen by him, like water quietly flowing beneath a layer of ice.

As night deepened, Bae Joo-hyun leaned against him, her breathing gradually becoming even, and she fell asleep.

Li Jingcheng was not asleep.

For the first time ever, he didn't become agitated, because he sensed her exhaustion—not physical, but emotional.

He stared at the ceiling with his eyes open. Bae Joo-hyun's hand was still on him, her body temperature coming through the thin pajamas, light and warm.

But his mind was filled with thoughts of today.

Kim Jisoo, Bae Joo-hyun, and Im Yoon-ah—three lines, three paths in different directions, all leading to him alone.

He recalled Kim Jisoo's cautiousness, as if she was afraid of crushing something if she used too much force.

He recalled Bae Joo-hyun saying, "I don't quite know where I should stand," her voice so soft it sounded like she was talking to herself.

And then there's Yoona's side, which means there hasn't been a single scheduled event yet.

He closed his eyes, then opened them again.

I can't sleep.

He possesses memories of his past life and knows what these girls will be like in the future—a past-life filter, an obsession that just moments before they were merely objects of his teasing.

Now that they've all appeared before Li Jingcheng, he can't let go of them even more.

But here's the problem.

He wanted to have a harem, but he didn't want to hurt anyone. But having a harem is itself a form of harm.

These two things are contradictory, and the more he thought about it, the more conflicted he felt.

He suddenly felt a pang of envy for those die-hard fans. Not for their fanaticism, but for their focus—liking only one person, watching only one person, thinking only about one person. That must be much easier than what he was going through, right?

No more hesitating about who to reply to first when switching chat windows on your phone screen.

Don't worry about saying something too cold and making people overthink it.

There's no need to think "What about Kim Jisoo?" when hugging Bae Joo-hyun.

There's no need to subconsciously avoid the topic of "two trainees" when chatting with Yoona.

He turned his head and glanced at Bae Joo-hyun's profile.

Light streamed in through the gap in the curtains, falling on her face. She slept peacefully, her brows slightly relaxed, unlike the occasional furrowing she had shown earlier.

Li Jingcheng looked at her for a long time, then reached out and brushed the stray hairs from her face. She didn't wake up.

He sighed softly, as if afraid of waking something.

Since I can't let go, I can only endure this.

It's not about saying "we'll talk about it later" or "we'll resolve it gradually."

It is about endurance.

Then he withdrew his hand and closed his eyes.