Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 545 A Little Humble
"Kwon Hyun-hyuk and Aespa, get ready to go on stage!"

The staff shouted announcements from the front, and Yoo Jimin, who had just finished speaking to Kwon Hyun-hyuk, suddenly felt that the timing was too wrong and abruptly broke the conversation.

"Walk."

Upon hearing this, Quan Xuanhe looked down at Liu Zhimin and patted her on the shoulder.

Liu Zhimin sighed inwardly, but didn't show it much on the surface. She took small steps and responded, "Yes, sir!"

A few people walked past the group of people waiting in line and finally climbed the steps to stand on the stage.

The venue is not large; in fact, it's rather small. In the past, MAMA was held in well-known, large venues, often attracting tens of thousands of people, making it a very large event.

Because the pandemic policies are gradually being relaxed, but not completely relaxed, the venues chosen this year are a bit smaller.

At least there's an audience now, instead of a pre-recorded awards ceremony without one. The energy and vibrancy of an offline event is something everyone longs for, especially right now.

The group stepped onto the empty stage. The others stood on one side of the stage, while Quan Xuanhe stood in the center, waiting for the director's instructions.

Strictly speaking, this was the first time he had stood on such a grand year-end stage, not as an idol, but as an actor.

Liu Zhimin stood at the back of the stage.

As the background music created by the stage design team began, Kwon Seonhyuk stood still while a specially recorded intro video played on the big screen.

It wasn't long; the total time was only about a minute.

The video started playing on the big screen, and Kwon Seonhyuk stood on the stage watching himself on the screen.

In the scene, Quan Xuanhe slowly emerges from the darkness, exuding a noble air and a cold expression, with the camera focusing on his face.

Players who flee the game must not be allowed to survive…

Kwon Heon-hyuk stood there, but the scene receded further and further away, invaded by AI images—AI character images specially created for aespa by SM Entertainment.

Naevis!

A virtual character appeared, the scene zoomed out, and Naevis glanced at Quan Xuanhe from afar before turning and leaving, a void passage appearing in front of him.

She leaped in nimbly and disappeared, followed by a large snake with metallic scales that flew into the passage and vanished as well.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk turned around thoughtfully, looking at the disappearing portal with a cold gaze, "Naevis..."

As he muttered those words, the screen gradually darkened, and the classic sound effects from the Squid game began to play, with a strange and eerie rhythm.

The short film has ended.

Kwon Heon-hyuk, watching from the audience, found it quite novel.

He stood alone in front of a green screen, performing to thin air, and had only a vague impression of the final result.

Although I knew that SM would carefully design this short film, that it was related to the worldview of Aespa, and that it played a very important role.

But this is the first time he has actually seen himself on camera.

He wasn't the only one watching; others were also watching the images on the big screen from below the stage.

When Kwon Hyun-hyuk's face first appeared on the big screen, some of the other viewers couldn't help but gasp in amazement, while others widened their eyes and mouths in surprise.

so hot.

The collective, subconscious reaction of so many people caused a small commotion, which was noticed by the people on stage.

Liu Zhimin keenly turned her head to look at the audience and noticed the commotion. At first, she was curious about what was happening, but then she saw that everyone in the audience was looking up at the stage and their eyes were on the big screen.

She turned around again and saw that Quan Xuanhe's face was still on the big screen. Suddenly everything became clear. She glanced at Quan Xuanhe standing in the center of the stage.

The makeup and styling were handled by SM Entertainment, whose makeup and styling skills are top-notch. In the short film, they transformed Kwon Heonhyuk into a goddess, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him one of SM's most handsome men.

"So handsome."

Some of the female idols in the audience were whispering among themselves.

Looking at Quan Xuanhe's handsome face on the stage, Liu Zhimin had a rather strange feeling. She felt a sense of pride, like she was showing off that this was the man she had been entangled with for several years. She had a discerning eye.

She also felt a little unhappy. The gazes of so many other people made her feel like they were coveting this man, like her beloved possession was being eyed covetously, making her feel insecure.

After the short film ended, Kwon Hyun-hyuk paid no attention to the small commotion and just listened to the director's instructions.

"The stage continues."

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhimin calmed down, slightly raised her head, and started walking forward. Her steps were swift and powerful, and her cold expression still carried an air of authority.

As Liu Zhimin approached the center of the stage, Quan Xuanhe also started walking and appeared behind her, then hugged her and locked her neck with his arm.

The unique fragrance of Liu Zhimin once again wafted into Quan Xuanhe's nose. His gaze could catch glimpses of her fair profile, her straight nose, and her broad, soft bosom.

This is so fragrant and soft.

Liu Zhimin has the best figure, with all the right curves and a perfect fit for a great experience.

Not only did he smell Liu Zhimin's scent, but Liu Zhimin also smelled his scent.

The man's scent sent a shiver down Liu Zhimin's spine. She then took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and looked as if her heartstrings had been plucked.

Her delicate fingertips involuntarily gripped Quan Xuanhe's arm tightly, as if trying to feel the strength and power between his arms.

"You... Nugu!"

She vaguely came to her senses and continued going through the motions according to the rehearsed lines. After coldly reciting that line, Liu Zhimin began to exert her strength.

She deftly broke free from Quan Xuanhe's arms, her movements light and pleasing to the eye, and then looked at him face to face.

"Players who are outside the rules."

Quan Xuanhe was quite professional at this moment, reciting his lines in a serious manner and raising one arm as if he had a gun in his hand.

"At this point, you'll hear a countdown in your in-ear monitor. Once the countdown is complete, pull the trigger."

The staff directed the two, who held the stage script in their hands.

"disuse!"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk pulled the trigger, but Yoo Ji-min nimbly dodged, pretending to knock off his mask to reveal his true face.

"Who are you!"

He didn't speak, but his expression was cold. The backup dancers stood in front of him one by one. On the official stage, they would wear the red costumes from the Squid Game and fight Liu Zhimin in his place.

Finally, when Liu Zhimin defeated one Red Guard after another and rushed to his side, Quan Xuanhe coldly left behind only one line, and then the stage screen went black and he disappeared.

With this, the intro officially ends, and the aespa stage officially begins.

Kwon Seonhyuk will also disappear from the stage as the stage lift goes off at the moment the stage screen goes black.

He stepped aside and watched as aespa finished dancing Next Level and Savage.

"Okay, first take is finished. Director, please note the positions and see if there are any adjustments needed."

"The stage is over."

The rehearsal on stage took less than half an hour, during which everyone else was watching them, especially the interaction between Kwon Hyun-hyuk and Yoo Jimin.

This made Huang Xuanchen extremely unhappy, but there was nothing he could do about it.

You also have to put on a smile and bow to your senior when he walks off the stage.

Kwon Seonhyuk smiled and nodded as he passed by them.

Now he remembered Fang Can from that boy group. The so-called rumors about him and Minatozaki Sana seemed to have a vague recollection in Quan Xuanhe's mind; it seemed that some fans had expressed some reservations about the two of them getting along.

Quan Xuanhe didn't care much, thinking it was completely meaningless, and he didn't even take it seriously.

Liu Zhimin followed behind Quan Xuanhe, and greeted the idols who greeted them with polite smiles, nodding and bowing in response.

After passing through the group of idols, Kwon Heonhyuk turned to look at Aespa.

"It's over. Are you going straight back to the waiting room?"

Just as Liu Zhimin was about to say something, she noticed that Quan Xuanhe seemed to have noticed someone else and started greeting them.

"Brother, it's been a long time since we last met."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk thought of Heo Sung-tae, who had also collaborated with ITZY on a stage performance. He played the villain in the game "Squid Game" that they had worked together before, so the two naturally knew each other.

"Long time no see. I saw you rehearsing from the audience. You look so handsome."

Xu Chengtian is also a somewhat contrasting person. He doesn't talk much in private, but when he saw him, he showed a peaceful smile and praised him in his words.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing Cheng Tai on stage."

Quan Xuanhe smiled and waved his hand, then exchanged a few more pleasantries with him before the meeting finally ended.

Liu Zhimin, who had been standing next to him, was already full of resentment. She only dared to show it after he finished talking with Xu Chengtai, pouting and looking a little unhappy.

"oppa?"

"Does my speaking cease to be speaking?"

Liu Zhimin wanted to poke him with her finger, but she restrained herself and only expressed her dissatisfaction in her words.

"No, I remember. Didn't you just say that if you told me who it was, I would tell you?"

At this moment, Quan Xuanhe suddenly brought up the topic that had been abruptly interrupted during the rehearsal, catching Liu Zhimin off guard.

"Oh, what are you saying?"

Liu Zhimin's gaze froze for a moment, then her expression became a little awkward. She shook her head and looked around, as if she was afraid of being seen by others.

"Come on, it's still a bit cold here."

The group walked out of the backstage area and returned to the corridor, which was still somewhat noisy.

"Shall we head back to the practice room first?"

Ning Yizhuo glanced at Liu Zhimin, then at Quan Xuanhe, as if she had cut her off completely.

"Unnie, aren't you leaving?"

At this moment, Jin Dongtian seemed to deliberately say this, glancing at Liu Zhimin, who was standing there and did not seem to be following them.

Are you going on a date with Kwon Heonhyuk, chatting alone?

"I…"

Liu Zhimin was a little embarrassed. Girls always have some pride, and it was hard for her to directly tell the members that she had run off with Quan Xuanhe.

"I'll chat with Zhimin for a while."

Seeing this, Quan Xuanhe smiled as he looked at Jin Dongtian, who was deliberately trying to make things difficult for Liu Zhimin, and took the initiative to help her out.

"Oh... okay, then unnie, we'll head back now."

Seeing this, Jin Dongtian immediately shut up, put his arm around Ning Yizhuo's arm, and walked back with Gisele, leaving only their backs to the two of them.

Now Liu Zhimin behaved herself. Seeing that Quan Xuanhe had taken the initiative to approach him, she happily followed him.

"We weren't finished talking just now. Who's the guy pursuing you?"

What would happen if I told oppa?

Liu Zhimin looked around the corridor again, and only after seeing that no one was close to them did she feel a little relieved and speak.

She secretly hoped that Quan Xuanhe would be jealous because of this, and that he would immediately change his attitude after realizing that someone was pursuing her, chasing after her relentlessly and treating her like a treasure while regarding other men as monsters.

That would be wonderful.

Thinking of this, Liu Zhimin couldn't help but start to look forward to it.

Upon hearing this, Quan Xuanhe looked down at Liu Zhimin and said, "What else can I do? I'll go find that boy and fight him."

"That won't do, oppa, don't joke around like that."

Hearing him say that, Liu Zhimin maintained a slight reserve, but the corners of her mouth turned up, as if she was suppressing a little bit of joy in her heart.

"Then what do you want me to do? You're unwilling to answer even after I've asked you once or twice."

Quan Xuanhe said casually.

"I can return that to oppa completely, okay?"

"I asked once or twice and they still wouldn't tell me. Are they worried I might do something? They're underestimating me."

She was already full of resentment about this topic, and when Quan Xuanhe started talking, she had even more reasons to retort. Her mouth was puffed up, and she stared at him with unfriendly eyes. Her small face twisted in a frown.

"Why be so curious? It has little to do with you, and what good would it do to know?"

"I just want to know."

Liu Zhimin was a bit stubborn. She was very concerned about who could take over as Quan Xuanhe's girlfriend and insisted on finding out who could defeat her.

What's wrong with her?
Now that her popularity is soaring, Liu Zhimin's confidence is gradually growing, and she is becoming more and more self-assured.

She can't compare to Kwon Heon-hyuk, but other female idols...

Come out, who can fight her now?

"Really want to know?"

"Ok!"

Seeing that he seemed to be softening his attitude, Liu Zhimin immediately widened her eyes and looked at him pitifully, as if she were trying to please him.

She's cute, playful, and has an irresistible urge to pinch her chubby, pink face.

"Then please beg me."

Quan Xuanhe looked at her with a smile.

Liu Zhimin deflated immediately, then gritted her teeth, looked around again, and found that the corridor was suddenly empty. She then pulled Quan Xuanhe into the small corner.

"Please, oppa, tell me!"

She clasped her hands together, rubbed her palms together, and looked up at him pitifully again, seemingly doing her best to be cute.

Liu Zhimin felt a bit guilty facing Quan Xuanhe's cute antics, and suddenly felt that she was acting quite strangely at this moment.

For no apparent reason, she begged him to tell her who his girlfriend was.

She really is...

Isn't that a bit too humble?

(End of this chapter)