Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 594 The Husband-Stealing Plan (Face-Riding) 7k!

"Where's Jimin-unnie?"

When Jin Dongtian knocked on the door and then pushed it open, he found the room empty and deserted, with makeup remover pads and eyebrow pencils scattered on the dressing table. Confused, he turned to the others and asked them this question.

Where did that person sneak off to again?
Ning Yizhuo was walking towards her room in the living room when she heard Jin Dongtian's voice. She turned her head and glanced into Liu Zhimin's room from where Jin Dongtian was.

"Morasso".

Ning Yizhu shook her head slightly, indicating that she did not know.

Upon hearing this, Jin Dongtian was speechless. Looking at the empty room, he began to speculate.

She stood there for a while, but Quan Xuanhe's face involuntarily appeared in her mind.

Now we might know where she went.

Seriously? You sneak out on a date during such a busy time?
This was her first thought after guessing.

Their year-end schedule was packed with activity. Although it was already the new year, there were still several award ceremonies in January, with rehearsals and filming to do. With so many tasks piled up, they had no free time at all.

Of course, if we consider midnight as a time, then it certainly exists.

Just as Jin Dongtian was thinking about this, his phone rang with a series of "ding-dong" sounds.

She glanced down twice, then looked at Liu Zhimin, who had disappeared into the room, and narrowed her eyes slightly.

"I don't know, Jimin unnie isn't in the dorm, I don't know where she went."

"Maybe she went home? I don't know, dorm leader, why don't you call her and ask?"

After sending the message to her roommate, she ignored it and went back to her room on her own.

They want you to go on a date with Kwon Hyun-hyuk.

What kind of date?

Kwon Hyun-hyuk and Yoo Ji-min strolled through the quiet alleys of Seoul in winter.

He arrived in a hurry, wearing only a crisp but thin suit. The chill made him pull his coat tighter.

Concern appeared in Liu Zhimin's eyes, and she found a fitting reason to express her worry.

"Oppa, it's so cold outside. You're wearing so little, you'll definitely freeze." Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of coquetry.

Before he finished speaking, the hand that had been lightly resting on his arm slid down and quickly and naturally grasped his palm.

The cold touch made her gasp, but that was exactly what she wanted.

"Why is it so cold?"

Without waiting for Quan Xuanhe's response or refusal, she deftly slipped her fingers between his, instantly turning their fingers into an interlocked embrace.

Her hands are small, and they are known as "mangosteen hands" because her fingers are a bit short and look chubby.

Her palms possessed a soft warmth unique to young girls, yet their stubborn strength conveyed an undeniable intimacy.

Would this be better?

Liu Zhimin looked up at him, the light from the streetlamp casting sparkles like diamonds in her clear eyes, and a hint of smugness played on her lips.

She even gently shook their clasped hands, making their intimate gesture even more eye-catching.

Quan Xuanhe looked down and met her bright, expectant eyes.

Seeing Liu Zhimin's slight smugness and gentle smile, Quan Xuanhe reluctantly refrained from saying anything to her.

The warm, soft touch and the gentle pressure in my palm did dispel some of the chill, though not much, but it warmed my heart.

He didn't break free, but only moved his fingers slightly, rubbing his thumb against the back of Liu Zhimin's hand twice.

Seeing that he did not refuse, Liu Zhimin's smile deepened, and she seemed to become bolder.

She moved even closer, and their arms inevitably brushed together. She even subtly guided his arm towards her.

She tilted her head, her warm breath almost brushing against his ear as she spoke, her voice lower and more intimate, carrying a hint of whispered intimacy:
"Should we find a place to sit?"

As Liu Zhimin spoke, seemingly unintentionally, she lightly brushed her black-stockinged leg against his suit trousers through the thin, silky fabric—a brief but highly provocative gesture.

Those eyes, however, remained clear as they gazed at him, possessing a contradictory charm that blended innocence and allure.

It seems to mean that the little movement just now was just an unintentional sway, rather than a carefully planned little trick.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk felt a faint warmth and silky touch on his side through the fabric.

Unfortunately, Quan Xuanhe has already vented most of his anger these past two days and is still in a state of deep meditation, clearly unmoved.

He glanced down at her; her coat was open, revealing the beautiful curves outlined by a high-necked undershirt, and below were slender legs encased in thin black stockings—on the streets of Seoul late at night in early winter, this outfit could only be described in four words.

Beautiful but freezing.

"are not you cold?"

"It's cold, but it's okay."

Liu Zhimin's focus wasn't on Quan Xuanhe's concern about whether she was cold, but rather on the stockings she had carefully worn for him; he was attracted to her!

Japanese and Korean girls have been exposed to the cold since childhood, and their legs are now immune to all seasons and wind and frost. In short, it's just a matter of habit.

But nothing beats warmth when you're freezing.

"You know it's cold, yet you're wearing so little?" His tone carried a hint of reproach, but more so of helplessness. He knew perfectly well that Liu Zhimin had dressed up so beautifully, even if it meant freezing for his sake. How could he say anything harsh?
Liu Zhimin caught the hint of concern in his tone, and a sweet feeling welled up in her heart, making her smile even more gentle and sweet.

She clung to his arm even tighter, burying it completely against her chest, leaning almost half her body against him, indulging in the warmth of his masculine scent, like a little animal that had finally found a warm nest, feeling very attached to it.

She turned her head, rested her chin on his shoulder, and looked up at him:

"It's okay, I won't be cold with oppa here." Her voice was light and airy, filled with complete trust and contentment.

They've stopped trying to hide it altogether.

The alley was quiet, with only the sound of their intersecting footsteps and their barely audible breathing.

Liu Zhimin took advantage of the situation, shaking their tightly clasped hands, her mood reaching its peak.

The dim streetlights cast long, thin shadows of the two people leaning against each other into the depths of the alley.

Liu Zhimin was immersed in the intimacy of the two holding hands tightly, gently shaking their clasped hands, a satisfied smile on her lips.

I was just about to suggest going to a secluded and warm place nearby to sit and enjoy this hard-won time alone, while also sneakily seeing if I could take advantage of the situation and do something more.

Just as she tilted her head back, her eyes shimmering, and the words were about to leave her lips—

A sharp, piercing ringtone abruptly shattered the tranquility and ambiguity of the alley.

It was Liu Zhimin's cell phone vibrating and ringing in her pocket.

This made Liu Zhimin pause slightly, then she pulled her hand away from Quan Xuanhe's grasp and took out her phone from her bag.

The name displayed on the screen made her heart skip a beat.

Why is the room manager calling?
Liu Zhimin hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Quan Xuanhe.

Quan Xuanhe nodded slightly.

"Hey, room leader!"

"Hmm, where are you now?" This was the question from the room leader, his tone slightly somber.

The very first question posed by Liu Zhimin chilled her heart; the company probably found out that she had secretly run away.

"I... went home." Liu Zhimin's voice was forced to be calm, carrying a sense of hope that she could get away with it.

Quan Xuanhe, who was watching from the side, looked at Liu Zhimin and listened to her make a phone call.

"Going home?" The room leader paused slightly, his tone somewhat surprised.

"Well, I'm home."

Liu Zhimin hurriedly repeated it, her tone urgent and affirmative.

"The company needs you to come back now. If there's nothing else, come back now."

After hearing what she said, the room leader remained noncommittal, but calmly added another instruction.

"what?"

Liu Zhimin was stunned. Her heart, which was already half-cooled, was now completely cold. Why did it have to be this time of year?
Don't you know she's very busy?
"What, do you have something to do right now?"

The room leader sensed her reluctance and asked her a question in return.

"Is it urgent? Can we wait a moment?"

Her voice was clearly weak, and what she said was obviously taboo.

The section chief's calm yet authoritative voice came through the receiver, clearer and more distinct than before, as if the brief pause earlier was merely to verify information: "Your home isn't very far away. I'll give you half an hour to get directly to the company."

The head of the department's tone was unreadable, but this "calmness" and the sudden "temporary schedule" requirement itself contained enormous pressure.

Liu Zhimin felt her fingertips were icy cold, and her cheeks were slightly flushed from the cold wind mixed with her embarrassment.

She's still on a date.
“Really now? But Chief, I…” She was still trying to make a last-ditch effort.

“That’s right, now. Zhimin, work is the priority.” The head of the department raised his voice slightly, with a clear urging tone and professional pressure, the subtext of which was self-evident: Don’t make me urge you a second time.

"Ah... Arasso, I'll be right there." Liu Zhimin immediately became extremely deflated and reluctantly agreed.

Even her carefully applied makeup couldn't hide her disappointment.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and said in a muffled voice, "I'm sorry, oppa... the dormitory manager said something needs me to go back immediately."

The carefully prepared and eagerly anticipated date was abruptly interrupted by a cold phone call.

Quan Xuanhe looked at the girl who had wilted instantly, like a flower that had been hit by frost.

Quan Xuanhe raised his hand and gently patted Liu Zhimin's somewhat cold arm, his gesture reassuring, his voice steady: "Don't rush, will he let you go back now?"

"Ugh, so annoying. What's the big deal that I have to go back now?"

Liu Zhimin muttered to herself, her face full of reluctance.

She was eagerly preparing to make her move, planning to accelerate the process tonight, but a phone call from the company ruined everything.

This is so discouraging.

"I'll take you to the company."

Looking at his face so close to hers, the light cast a faint shadow on his deep-set eyes, and the comforting feeling warmed her heart, easing her disappointment somewhat.

She nodded, her voice soft: "Okay... thank you, oppa."

Seeing this, Quan Xuanhe adjusted the collar of her coat for her, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her slightly cool earlobe. "How are you going to walk by yourself dressed like this in this weather?"

The words "dressed like this" brought two barely perceptible blushes to Liu Zhimin's cheeks, a mixture of shyness and secret delight.

The two walked quickly to the van parked not far away. As they opened the car door, the warmth inside instantly enveloped them.

The car started smoothly and drove away from this quiet street that left me with unspoken thoughts.

Liu Zhimin leaned back in her seat, turning her head to watch the dazzling Seoul night view rushing past the window. The warm air inside the car gradually dispelled the chill on her body, but the annoyance and grievance that rose in her heart because her date had been interrupted could not be dispelled no matter what she did.

She turned her head and looked at Quan Xuanhe, who was sitting next to her and also looking out the window.

His sharply defined profile appeared exceptionally serene in the flickering light, and the script from Luo Changmin was casually placed on his lap.

Liu Zhimin clearly noticed that this was the script that Quan Xuanhe had taken from his seat right after she got on the bus.

"What is this? Oppa's new drama?"

"em is for movies."

Liu Zhimin immediately leaned closer, her voice filled with undisguised curiosity: "A movie? What movie? Is Oppa going to do a new movie?"

Her gaze fell on the two words on the script cover.

(Broken Tomb)

What's the name? Is it related to the dead? Is it a horror movie? Anyone who sees this name at first glance would probably think of that.

"I just received it at the promotion event, and I haven't looked at it in detail yet."

"That's it"

Liu Zhimin nodded thoughtfully, then asked curiously, "Can I take a look? I've never actually seen what the script looks like."

Quan Xuanhe naturally thought there was nothing wrong with it and handed it to her casually.

His biggest takeaway from Netflix today wasn't anything else, but rather this project—a truly unexpected delight.

They're probably stuck in an investment predicament; otherwise, they wouldn't have wasted two years without getting started.

investment
Quan Xuanhe's heart stirred. Today, he had a large amount of liquid funds at his disposal. More importantly, he had gained "experience." With experience, he could now act freely on some of the things that had previously been restricted.

It's a well-known fact that not just anyone with money can invest in movies. It also requires qualifications, connections, and, in short, relationships and connections.

Otherwise, once they go in, they'll be completely manipulated, and even if the box office is booming, they'll still end up with a 'paper loss' and won't get a single penny.

He could think of transforming into a capital enterprise, but no one else could?

Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that South Korea's economy is too small, its existing capital is too stable, and there are not many opportunities for new capital.

Kakao, a well-known emerging internet capital firm, is already one of the most aggressive players, yet it hasn't ventured into the film industry, instead focusing its investments on Korean dramas.

Is he even more amazing than Kakao? He started by investing in movies and making a fortune.

South Korea currently has four major film companies: CJ, Lotte, Showbox, and NEW. Each of them is backed by large amounts of capital and controls almost the entire process of producing, distributing, and screening a film.

There's still a lot of murky water involved here, so we need to consider this carefully.

Although he has a head start in the future, is it possible that the 'future' is entirely created by these large capitals, with no blank slates?

Liu Zhimin opened the book and quickly flipped through it, looking left and right. She read the plot summary and the dialogue between the characters, but she was still confused.

"Director Jang Jae-hyun? Who is that?"

Feeling the sudden warmth and faint touch beside him, Quan Xuanhe turned his head without making a sound.

Liu Zhimin's face was very close to his. Her meticulously painted face looked like a delicate porcelain piece in the dim light inside the car, and his figure was clearly reflected in her clear eyes.

With a hint of inquiry and more of a desire for attention, her lips were slightly parted, the gloss of the lip gloss alluring.

"do you know?"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk snapped out of his reverie and looked up at Yoo Ji-min, who was holding a script and looking bewildered.

"It seems I don't really know."

That's normal. It's not like everyone's in the same industry. Most people only recognize the actors, not the people behind the scenes, unless it's a top-tier director who's a household name.

"A decent horror movie director."

Quan Xuanhe didn't bother explaining too much to her, and she forgot about it as soon as he finished.

"I see."

Liu Zhimin nodded, pretending to suddenly understand.

Seeing that she was pretending to know what she didn't, Kwon Hyun-hyuk added something she could understand: "Choi Min-sik is one of the lead actors."

Wow, amazing! That's incredible!

Now Liu Zhimin understood, her eyes widened, and she looked on with a puzzled yet impressive expression.

"Hmm," he responded, his gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds, his deep eyes sweeping over her bright eyes and full lips.

He then reached out and naturally tucked a strand of hair that had fallen beside her cheek behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her slightly cool earlobe.

This sudden act of intimacy made Liu Zhimin's heart skip a beat, and her earlobes instantly felt warm. The anticipation in her eyes brightened, and her unhappiness dissipated considerably.

“The script is quite good,” Quan Xuanhe’s voice was deep, with a hint of barely perceptible ambition, “but a good script alone is not enough.”

He didn't elaborate on the investment and strategic planning; those were too complicated, and the atmosphere wasn't suitable at the moment.

"The important thing is what to do next."

As he spoke, he didn't immediately withdraw his fingers, but instead gently stroked the outline of her earlobe.

The warm, delicate touch felt like an electric current, causing Liu Zhimin's body to tense slightly, her cheeks to become even hotter, and her heartbeat to quicken a few beats.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at him with moist eyes, like a cat waiting to be petted.

"How to do it?"

Liu Zhimin seemed to be talking to herself, her eyes gazing at him with watery eyes, as if pleading for him to continue touching her.

The van slowly slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road.

The destination has arrived.

Liu Zhimin's smile froze slightly as the pressure of reality returned instantly.

Looking out the car window, the brightly lit glass curtain wall building of SM Entertainment, Seoul's famous entertainment landmark, is right in front of you, majestic and indifferent.

She could almost imagine that the room manager was probably getting impatient inside.

"Ah, so fast." The previous idyllic mood and excitement were mostly extinguished by the cold water of reality, and a hint of sorrow returned to her bright face.

The long-awaited date and the surprise of uncovering a small secret were both abruptly cut short.

"Oppa," Liu Zhimin called softly, her voice slightly nasal, full of reluctance.

Quan Xuanhe turned his head and reached out his hand, his warm, dry palm gently stroking her slightly cold cheek. His tone was steady: "Don't worry, let's go back and see what's going on."

Liu Zhimin pouted, feeling quite deflated, and lowered her eyes to enjoy the intimacy he gave her.

She quickly straightened the front of her coat, smoothed her hair, took a deep breath, and prepared to get out of the car.

Just before opening the car door, Liu Zhimin suddenly stopped and made a bold decision.

She leaned towards Quan Xuanhe, and under his slightly surprised gaze, she suddenly reached out, her fingertips trembling slightly, and stubbornly cupped his face.

Without any warning or hesitation, she closed her eyes, her soft lips, filled with a desperate courage and an intense, unyielding affection, pressed forcefully against Quan Xuanhe's lips.

It was a sudden kiss, clearly driven by possessiveness.

Time seemed to freeze for a moment.

The hustle and bustle of the city outside the car window, and the imminent authority of the company, all became blurred in Liu Zhimin's mind at this moment.

Her world consisted only of the warm touch on his lips, a blend of his unique scent, and she could even hear her own heart pounding like a drum.

It only lasted two or three seconds, but it felt like a long time had passed.

Liu Zhimin recoiled almost as if she had been electrocuted, her cheeks instantly turning bright red, as if she had applied the most vibrant rouge. Her gaze darted frantically over his face, which might show any reaction.

Compared to the sneaky kiss she gave Kwon Hyun-hyuk while he was asleep last time, Yoo Jimin was much bolder and more direct this time, expressing her girlish feelings in a headstrong and impulsive manner.

"I am leaving."

Liu Zhimin blushed and avoided his gaze. Without waiting for him to speak, she hurriedly got out of the car on her own.

Meanwhile, inside the car.

Quan Xuanhe remained seated, his deep gaze piercing through the car window, as if following the slender figure that disappeared behind the door.

Unconsciously, his fingertips traced his lower lip, where the soft, moist imprint of her lips still seemed to linger, and he could even catch a faint, sweet scent.

Liu Zhimin became bolder with each passing day.

From stealing a kiss while he was asleep, to sneaking into his bed to "share a pillow," to the flirtatious act of holding hands tightly while wearing black stockings on the street, and finally this 'forced kiss'.

Each time, she teeters on the edge of ambiguity, with her unique fearlessness and enthusiasm.

Perhaps because he had already been rejected twice, he decided to give up and go all in, fearlessly going all out for the last time.

He watched the slender figure rushing towards the building entrance disappear behind the glass doors before turning his gaze away.

My gaze swept over the script of "Breaking the Tomb" on my lap, and I recalled the chaotic personnel at the Netflix presentation, my thoughts in turmoil.

He picked up his phone, and the screen lit up. There was an unread message he had received a few minutes earlier from Luo Changmin. He had added Luo Changmin's contact information on the way to the end of the presentation.

【Xuanhe-xi, sorry to bother you! When would be a convenient time to discuss the follow-up matters regarding the script of [title missing]? Looking forward to your reply, thank you very much! —Luo Changmin】

I tapped the cold screen a few times with my fingertips, replied with a few simple words, and then turned off the screen.

It's clear that Luo Changmin was really anxious; otherwise, why would he have sent him a message so soon?

He turned his gaze toward the brightly lit entrance of the SM building outside the window, and after a moment, instructed the driver in front, "Let's go."

With a soft hum of its engine, the van slowly merged into the nighttime traffic.

As soon as the car door opened, the biting cold air outside instantly enveloped her, making her shiver and reminding her of the price of beauty being "frozen".

The car door clicked shut behind Liu Zhimin, shutting out the lingering warmth inside the car and the unsettling aura emanating from him.

Liu Zhimin jumped out of the car almost as if she were fleeing, her slender figure wrapped in a slightly thin coat.

The icy night wind instantly enveloped her thin body, making her shiver involuntarily, but that chill was nothing compared to the burning heat on her face at that moment.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, like a drumbeat pounding against her eardrums, until she stepped through the cold glass doors of the building, at which point the palpitation subsided slightly.

She deliberately kissed him and left, not giving him a chance to speak or refuse.

Those who take initiative hold the power!
Liu Zhimin only truly relaxed after she reached the elevator and was left alone. She stood there motionless, but her constantly changing expressions and the rise and fall of her chest perfectly reflected the fluttering in her heart.

The smooth elevator doors reflected her face, her cheeks flushed like the sunset, and her lip gloss was slightly smudged.

Then Liu Zhimin remembered something, looked down and found her phone, and sent a message in their group chat.

"Has my manager oppa come to the dorm?"

She had to coordinate with her teammates beforehand, just in case she was being kept in the dark or something.

"Ani."

Ning Yizhuo has read and replied.

"I needed to find you, but I couldn't find you in the dorm. Where did you go, unnie?"

Jin Dongtian saw the message at this time and then sent her several messages in the chat room.

Liu Zhimin hovered her finger over the screen, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I'm going home to play with Unnie!"

The presence of Kim Dong-il, a man with ulterior motives, makes her unable to feel at ease about matters concerning Kwon Hyun-hyuk.

"What do you want from me?"

However, a strange feeling immediately arose in my mind.

Did you tip me off in the winter?
"do not know."

Jin Dongtian gave a brief reply, and that was the end of it.

"Ding." The elevator has arrived at the floor.

She straightened her slightly disheveled coat and hair, took a deep breath to compose herself, then put away her phone and slowly walked towards the head of the department office.

Liu Zhimin knocked on the door, and only after hearing the sound did she carefully push it open. The head of the department was sitting behind his desk, looking at her with a serious expression.

Upon seeing her attire, he visibly frowned, which made Liu Zhimin suddenly realize that she was dressed too elaborately, not like someone who should be at home.

Oh no, we made a mistake.
"Zhimin," the room leader's voice was calm, but that calmness contained undeniable pressure, "Going out at night requires reporting; that's the rule. Besides..."

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through to the heart.

"Especially during such a crucial period of advancement and sensitivity, you should be even clearer about your position and the boundaries of your behavior. Where did you go? Who did you meet?"

Liu Zhimin's heart jumped into her throat, and her mind went blank when faced with the company's questioning.

(End of this chapter)