The Uncrowned King of the Peninsula

Chapter 135: Lee Ji-eun, who knows how to make friends (two in one)

Bae Yong-jun looked at Lee Ji-eun at the door. She was looking at him with a smile on her face, as if they really met here by chance.

"Well, is there anything else?" he asked. "Do we need to call Director Yu back?"

"Hmm?" Li Zhien tilted her head slightly and blinked her clear eyes. "Editor Pei, we just met, right?"

"Then do you have anything else to say? If it's an apology, then no need." Pei Yongjun waved his hand.

"You know everything?" IU asked.

"Yeah." Pei Yongjun nodded.

"I'm sorry," Li Zhien walked slowly to Bae Yongjun, her white pearlescent dress swaying slightly, revealing her fair shoulders and her slender collarbone around her delicate neck. "It was just a little thought, I'm sorry to have made you laugh."

Her long, dark and smooth hair was tied into a bun with a shiny platinum headdress on it, which swayed gently with her movements, making her look graceful and elegant. The contrast with her pure and innocent face made her look even more uniquely charming.

The scent of perfume and cosmetics is very obvious, but very soft. Along with the delicate makeup on her face, it reminds us all the time that Lee Ji-eun is an artist.

"I'm sorry," she said, looking at Pei Yongjun with her big eyes, her eyes flickering. "Editor Pei, I've already asked Shirley to tell me about what happened with Zhu Xianying. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble."

She bowed deeply, then stood up straight, her lips pursed, her expression full of sincerity. "I apologize to you, please forgive me."

"I've already accepted the advertising fee, so I can't help but forgive him." Pei Yongjun smiled, "If I don't forgive him, I feel like the president will scold me."

"I'm worried you'd be angry, so," she said, her sincere expression changing, and she winked slyly, "I'm going to give you a little gift first."

"People do not blame."

"At any rate, I hope you can forgive me."

She laughed too, "Thank you."

The two laughed for a while and the atmosphere became harmonious.

"So, you knew about this a long time ago?" IU asked, "You thought I was being very secretive."

"Guessed some."

"You didn't guess that I would come here at this time, did you?" She looked at Pei Yongjun's calm expression.

"Not at first. I saw someone waiting for you outside and thought you hadn't come yet. But Director Yu specifically called me up, so I..."

Pei Yongjun's tone suddenly paused, and he glanced at the smiling Li Zhien, "That bald editor, wasn't it you who arranged it?"

"Hey, Editor-in-Chief, I sincerely want to apologize to you." Li Zhien said with a bit of a grumble, "Besides, how can I order you around?"

"I just happened to see it. Qinghao oppa likes to help others, you know."

"I think Director Yu seems to listen to you quite well." Pei Yongjun looked into her eyes.

"Mo? If Qinghao oppa heard it, he would be angry." Li Zhien quickly raised her finger nervously and shushed it at the corner of her mouth, "I dare not."

Pei Yongjun smiled.

"So, it was Kyung-ho oppa who told you these things?" Lee Ji-eun asked.

"No, I guessed it." Pei Yongjun shook his head.

"He must have told you, and he probably asked you not to tell me." Li Zhien immediately guessed what was said between Yu Qinghao and Bae Yongjun, "As if I am so petty."

"How do you know?" Pei Yongjun asked.

"Men are like this. They share secrets, but they will team up to deceive women."

"Where is that woman?" Pei Yongjun raised his eyebrows.

"Women, of course, will team up and deceive men." Li Zhien shook her fingers left and right with a smug smile, "So it's wise for you to forgive me. I will say more good things about you to Shirley."

She chuckled.

Pei Yongjun also laughed a few times, then gradually stopped laughing and looked into her eyes. "Ji Eunxi, there's no need for this between us."

"You are Shirley's good friend. I won't blame you, nor will I take this matter to heart."

"You were trying to help Hara, weren't you? As for what happened between Joo Hyun-young and me, it has nothing to do with you."

"Even if you weren't here, she would have found me sooner or later."

"Since I've said that this is the end, I won't mention this matter again." Bae Yong-jun saw the hidden temptation behind Lee Ji-eun's relaxed laughter.

She was testing whether Pei Yongjun had really forgiven her and let go of the matter.

"Did you see that?" Lee Ji-eun also stopped smiling.

"Well, don't test me anymore. There's no need to dwell on this matter. I'm not such a stingy person." Pei Yongjun stretched out his hand. "Really, let's stop here. There's no need to be so cautious."

"Sorry, Editor-in-Chief Pei." Lee Ji-eun looked at his outstretched hand, raised her hand, and shook hands with him gently, with a sincere expression on her face.

The slightly cool and smooth fingertips slid across Pei Yongjun's palm and separated as soon as they touched.

Her sparkling eyes met Pei Yongjun's, "I'm used to being cautious, please forgive me."

"I understand." Pei Yongjun nodded, "It's nothing."

"There are too many petty people, there's nothing we can do about it," IU said. "They say it's okay, they've forgiven, but in their hearts they remember it more than anyone else."

"I don't dare to mess with a big reporter like you. If you target me, I don't know how much trouble I will get into."

"After a few losses in similar situations, you'll learn your lesson."

She let out a breath, as if feeling quite emotional.

"Why do you speak so maturely?" Pei Yongjun looked at her innocent face that looked like a middle school student. "You are only a little older than Shirley, right?"

"It's been 10 years since my debut, I'm old~" Li Zhien wrinkled her nose in a naive way, "That's why Sulli and I are good friends."

"I hope she doesn't become an old-fashioned woman like me."

"Editor-in-Chief, you will definitely be angry with me."

"Thank you for your forgiveness. Then let's not talk about what happened before again?" Lee Ji-eun asked.

Pei Yongjun nodded.

"So I'll consider you my friend?" She blinked and raised her hand again, this time with a handshake that clearly had a different meaning. "How's that?"

"Of course." Pei Yongjun nodded again and shook hands with her.

This time the handshake was firmer, and Bae Yong-jun felt Lee Ji-eun's slender fingers and the smooth and slightly cool skin on the back of her hand.

The two laughed again, but this time she was obviously much more relaxed, as if she really regarded Pei Yongjun as a friend.

"Thank you." Li Zhien seemed to have let go of a worry, and her expression became brighter. "By the way, I saw today's news. Thank you for what you have done for everyone."

"I also know Lee Seung-ri and have heard some rumors about him, but I never thought he would do something like this."

"Actually, we invited him to tonight's dinner, but he probably can't come."

She said seriously, with a hint of admiration in her sparkling eyes. Thinking about the fact that she was one of the hottest top female singers today, it was inevitable that people would feel very happy. "Editor Pei, thank you for telling everyone the truth."

“You are a fantastic journalist.”

She clasped her hands together and bowed slightly, "I hope everything goes well for you." "Thank you, I appreciate the compliment." Pei Yongjun nodded with a smile.

"You deserve it." Li Zhien smiled and glanced at the small watch on her hand. "Then you can rest here. I still need to go for a walk outside."

She pointed outside, probably meaning to show up at the door.

"Isn't it about to start?" Pei Yongjun asked. There was not much time left before the dinner started.

"Well, yes, but the fans really want to see me, so they are waiting outside. I don't have a very busy schedule, so I have to meet you all anyway." Lee Ji-eun seemed very sincere.

"I heard that you are very nice to your fans, and it turns out to be true." Bae Yongjun looked at her.

"After all, they won't be mean to me, so of course I should be nice to them."

"Of course, with someone as open-minded as you, I'll also ask Sulli to treat you better, don't worry." Li Zhien smiled slyly and bowed slightly. "I'll be leaving first. Do you have anything else tonight?"

"Editor-in-Chief, if you're free, would you like to join us for dinner tonight?"

“There shouldn’t be many people.”

"Let's talk about it tonight." Pei Yongjun did not agree directly.

"Okay, I have to go on stage later, let's talk when I get down." She waved to Pei Yongjun, "Goodbye~"

After saying that, she hurriedly left the box with brisk steps.

Pei Yongjun looked at her receding figure, smiled, turned around and sat back in the box.

There were still more than ten minutes before the dinner officially started, and it was indeed very tense. Lee Ji-eun should be waiting for him here specifically, wanting to catch him as soon as possible and apologize to him, and even asked Woo Kyung-ho to invite him up.

"It's been ten years since my debut..."

He muttered to himself, and Lee Ji-eun's information emerged in his mind.

She debuted at a very young age, and is only 24 years old now, but she is already a veteran who has debuted for 10 years. The way she speaks and acts really acts like someone who has debuted for 10 years, cautious and careful, and never makes any mistakes.

She also has a good reputation in the circle. Apart from the stumbling moments when she first debuted, it seems that no one has offended anyone since then. Generally speaking, in the eyes of people in the circle, she is a very humane and capable star.

This is rare.

He found that Li Zhien had many small expressions on her face, which looked very lively and made people feel friendly. Talking to her was like being bathed in spring breeze.

Even a handshake between two people always has some inexplicable mysterious meaning. When the skin touches, the distance between people seems to be shortened.

IU is very good at making friends.

Bae Yong-jun concluded.

But it’s a good thing that Shirley has such a good friend, right?

Choi Sulli's somewhat innocent smile appeared in his mind.

Speaking of which, Sulli has been in the entertainment industry for many years, but she has not become as good at dealing with people as Lee Ji-eun, and she still retains a lot of innocence and fantasy.

It seems a little silly, but it also makes people feel touched and pity.

After thinking silently for a while, Pei Yongjun opened the dinner program on the table and took a look.

Although this dinner was somewhat routine, it also had some charitable elements. There would probably be some speeches by people related to charity, a few insignificant awards would be presented, and people on the scene would donate some items for auction.

Of course, in the end, the lion's share will still fall on Kakao Entertainment, which will pay the lion's share to establish or participate in some foundation, charity event, or something like that. This can be considered a statement at tonight's dinner, and it's a common practice in the industry.

There will be several performances interspersed in between, among which IU will be the finale guest and will sing two songs. Some other girl groups and singers will also be invited to help out.

None of them are particularly big-name artists. I guess they are afraid that if they become too big, they will steal IU's limelight.

Apink, Cosmic Girls, Lovelyz.

Apink has passed its peak, while Cosmic Girls and Lovelyz are neither too popular nor too unpopular, which is just right.

As I was flipping through the pages, there was another knock on the door.

"Come in." Pei Yongjun didn't even raise his head.

"Huh? Why don't you ask who it is?" Yu Qinghao's voice came from behind.

"Who else would come besides Director Yu? It can't be Ji Eun, right?" Bae Yongjun looked at the guest list in his hand line by line.

"Hahahaha." Yu Qinghao laughed and walked quickly to Bae Yongjun's side. "Are you looking at this?"

Pei Yongjun nodded.

"There wasn't much to see. There were speeches, awards, and then I got suckered in and spent some money on some random stuff. That was it."

"Finally, we'll find some media outlets and say something nice about it," Yu Qinghao said, also familiar with this process. "You should understand, right?"

"Well, in that case, Director Yu's mission tonight is completed." Pei Yongjun looked at him, but found that he was staring at him.

"Huh?" Pei Yongjun was slightly stunned.

"My Editor-in-Chief Pei," Yu Qinghao leaned over and hooked his shoulder, "Please help me and send me the manuscript."

"Is this the reason you asked me to come here?"

"Yeah, I spent money on it. Five hundred million." Yu Qinghao stretched out his palm and compared it with an exaggerated smile on his face. "I can publish hundreds of articles, right?"

"Okay, I'll go back and arrange for someone to send it." Pei Yongjun naturally agreed.

"Okay, then it's settled."

The two shook hands.

"Editor-in-Chief Pei, do you want to stay here or go down with me?" Yu Qinghao asked.

Although Bae Yong-jun didn't say it explicitly, he could see that Lee Ji-eun must have come to see him, and it seemed that the conversation went well, so there was no need for Bae Yong-jun to stay in this box.

"Then let's go down." There was no one else in the box, and Pei Yongjun didn't want to stay here.

The two walked out, "We'll sit in the first row, that's nice of you."

This dinner was also a big event for Yu Qinghao. He looked a little tired, but he was in good spirits.

Pei Yongjun walked downstairs while talking to him. When passing through the corridor, he glanced out the window.

The fans gathered downstairs were cheering and waving support signs with IU's portrait on them. A car had just stopped on the side of the road in the crowd, and a figure in a white pearlescent dress walked out. It was Lee Ji-eun.

Her face can't be seen clearly from here, but judging by the way she's waving her hands around and the reactions of the fans around her, she must be smiling warmly.

Pei Yongjun looked at him for a few seconds, smiled lightly, and followed Yu Qinghao's pace.

The two of them went downstairs and walked towards the first row. Wherever they passed, people greeted Yu Qinghao and also looked at Bae Yongjun next to him.

At this time, thunderous applause rang out. It turned out that Lee Ji-eun walked into the banquet hall and walked towards the first row.

Two tables apart, three people sat down, filling the last three empty seats in the first row.

Then, the dinner began.

(End of this chapter)