Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 623 Long Time No See, Can We Eat?! Luxury Contract Renewal?
After Kim Jisoo left the VIP lounge a little ahead of him, Kwon Heonhyuk, accompanied by his assistant and security guards, headed towards the back exit.

After a brief but intense burst of spotlight, the cool evening breeze is invigorating.

A familiar black van had already quietly parked next to the exit.

The driver had already opened the car door and was waiting. However, an unexpected shout came from across the street:
"Hyuk Oppa—look here!"

"Ahhh, Oppa's out!"

"Oppa's crispy cartilage!"

When Kwon Hyun-hyuk walked out the back door, he saw a large number of fans holding mobile phones or cameras on both sides of the van and paused slightly.

Clearly, even though the event was over, some of the most fervent fans and well-informed fan site administrators were still waiting on the street corner to leave.

Even if they only appear briefly for a few seconds or minutes, they are already top celebrities that others dream of and frantically pursue.

When Kwon Hyun-hyuk walked out the back door, the smile on his face became much gentler and more sincere.

These are fans who are not afraid of the long journey to support us on the front lines. Although there may be some just there for the fun of it, they are a very small minority.

He slightly adjusted his direction and instead of heading straight for the car door, he walked along the sidewalk towards the fans who were being held back by security personnel behind the cordon, still struggling to hold up their cameras and phones.

As he approached, the crowd erupted in even more excited screams and responses.

He took a few steps closer, his voice not loud, but clearly carried to the other side.

"Thank you all for waiting so long, you've worked hard."

A young girl shouted, "Oppa looks absolutely handsome today!"

"Kamsammida." Kwon Hyun-hyuk nodded and smiled, his gaze sweeping over the excited faces.

Seeing someone with paper and pen, Kwon Hyun-hyuk didn't hold back and readily took them and started signing.

"I'm happy to see everyone. It's late, be careful on your way home." He said with concern.

What's wrong with pleasing fans? Celebrities should please their fans. What's the difference between not pleasing fans and being an ingrate?

A young girl, squeezed in the front row, held a beautifully wrapped gift bag with trembling hands, as if she wanted to hand it over.

Just as the security guards were about to step forward to stop him, Kwon Hyun-hyuk gently raised his hand and asked, "Is this for me?"

The little girl was too excited to speak, she could only nod vigorously.

Her friend next to her explained, "Oppa, she said there's a handmade support fan and a letter inside! She really admires your acting!"

Quan Xuanhe's smile deepened. He didn't take the heavy bag directly, but instead spoke to the nervous girl.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I will take good care of it. Please don't spend so much money preparing such expensive things next time. The thought is what counts. Be careful on your way home."

The brief and heartwarming interaction lasted for a few minutes. Kwon Heonhyuk responded to several calls from fans, signed many autographs, and received many letters before finally putting his hands together and taking a few steps back.

"Alright, it's really getting late, everyone should head home. Please be careful on the road and don't worry your families!"

After saying that, he didn't linger. He turned around nimbly within the protective circle formed by security personnel, bent down, and sat down in the already opened door of the nanny van.

The car door clicked softly, instantly shutting out the still enthusiastic sounds from outside.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk leaned back deeply into the soft seat and let out a long sigh.

The assistant turned around from the front row and whispered, "Brother, it's Representative Liu's banquet at the Shilla Hotel, on the top floor."

Celebrities only pay extra attention to their public image when they first debut or become famous. As time goes by, the love expressed by fans becomes less and less important.

The dazzling neon lights spread out beneath my feet, and the night view of Seoul unfolded like a flowing dark gold tapestry before the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows on the top floor of the Shilla Hotel.

Compared to the bright and glamorous atmosphere inside the Dior store, the ambiance of this private banquet is more understated and sophisticated.

The heavy velvet curtains were half-drawn, allowing only just the right amount of light to reflect the sparkling brilliance of the crystal chandelier, silently scattering throughout the banquet hall.

There were nearly ten guests seated around the table, including several core executives of Dior Korea, Yoo Hong-jin herself, Kwon Hyun-hyuk and Kim Ji-soo, and their managers.

The arrival of Kwon Heon-hyuk and Kim Ji-soo instantly attracted everyone's attention.

The formal attire from the previous event has faded somewhat, and everyone has changed into casual clothes, but tonight is, after all, a business meeting, so the attire isn't too casual.

"Xuanhe-ssi, Jisoo-ssi, welcome, welcome!"

Liu Hongzhen immediately stood up and greeted him with a smile.

"The location here is perfect, offering the most beautiful night view of Seoul."

"I also hope that we can temporarily escape the noise outside and have a good chat."

The air was filled with the aroma of fine cuisine and the rich flavors of top-quality red wine.

The waiters gently poured drinks and changed plates for everyone, and the conversation naturally revolved around the success of today's event.

Liu Hongzhen was undoubtedly the host tonight. He raised his glass, his gaze sincerely shifting between Kwon Hyun-hyuk and Kim Ji-soo.

"Today, I must especially thank you both. The effect far exceeded expectations, especially the energy of the two of you together – you are truly rising stars of South Korea!"

He took a sip of his drink, his smile revealing undisguised admiration and closeness.

"Representative Liu, you flatter me," Kim Jisoo replied politely, with a gentle smile.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk also wore a polite smile and nodded in agreement with Kim Ji-soo's words: "Ji-soo-ssi is right, Dio deserves more credit."

"Hey, you two are too modest," Liu Hongzhen said with a smile, waving her hand and becoming even more enthusiastic.

"Xuanhexi is really on an amazing roll lately! I watched 'Blues,' and he acted so convincingly. No wonder he's so popular with the audience."

"It would be unreasonable not to win an award, wouldn't it!" He paused, then continued.

"When I received the official announcement from Porsche earlier today, to be honest, even I was shocked. Amazing, absolutely amazing!"

His words carried a sense of pride and closeness, as if Quan Xuanhe's achievements were proof of Liu Hongzhen's discerning eye.

In fact, there was definitely a bit of that in it. Back then, Kwon Heonhyuk had just finished filming "One Day" and was just starting out when he was already generating a lot of buzz because of the talent show.

The olive branch extended back then has now grown into a towering tree.

"You're making me blush," Quan Xuanhe smiled and raised his glass in response.

He could sense the attempt to win Liu Hongzhen over in her words, whether it was out of respect for a top spokesperson or a keen sense of the delicate period in their contract.

Kim Ji-soo, who was standing to the side, looked at Kwon Heon-hyuk.

His news is so eye-catching, who could deliberately avoid it?

This is indeed the first time in the Korean entertainment industry that a Porsche brand ambassador has been appointed; it's truly unprecedented.

Whether there will be successors is a matter for the future; for now, Quan Xuanhe is the only one left.

No matter how much the fans pull the charts, how much they promote it, or how many comparisons they make, none of them can match the momentum of Kwon Hyun-hyuk directly breaking through the boundaries.

After all, it took him almost a year to secure this endorsement, which was indeed quite a lot of effort.

Kim Jisoo only knew that Lisa, who was by her side, was making progress with the so-called 'third son' of LV.
They use money to bestow the so-called title of "young master," just like they used to call Wang Sicong their "national husband."

Liu Hongzhen seemed oblivious, and the topic naturally and subtly shifted back to Kim Jisoo.

"Jisoo-ssi, it's the same. Every time I see the brand data reports, I'm amazed. Dior and you are a perfect match. You'll have a new work to do soon, right?"

Kim Jisoo nodded: "The group members are all preparing seriously."

Other senior executives joined the conversation at appropriate times, exchanging business pleasantries, discussing industry trends, and praising each other's respective careers, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Liu Hongzhen skillfully controlled the entire scene, ensuring that the two main characters felt adequately valued and that the atmosphere was harmonious.

When he recounted anecdotes about communicating with the Paris headquarters and mentioned the high praise the senior management gave to the two Korean brand ambassadors, his gaze lingered on Kwon Heonhyuk's face for a moment longer.

Kim Jisoo maintained her friendly smile and occasionally whispered a few words to a female executive next to her.

Finally, the dinner came to a close in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

"I had a very enjoyable day." Liu Hongzhen raised her glass in closing remarks.

"It was a pleasure to have dinner with Xuanhe and Jisoo today."

The waiters began clearing away the plates and serving refreshing hot tea and delicate desserts. Conversation at the table became more casual and relaxed.

Kwon Heonhyuk raised his cup and sipped his hot tea, his gaze habitually sweeping across the room before finally settling on Kim Jisoo beside him.

She was slightly turned to the side, patiently listening to a female executive next to Liu Hongzhen speak, her face still maintaining a gentle and focused smile.

However, Kwon Hyun-hyuk's eyes, which had been able to accurately capture subtle emotions, keenly noticed something unusual.

Jisoo, who was sitting upright, now showed a slightly soft curve in the dim light, and her shoulders slumped slightly.

The tension seemed to ease somewhat towards the end of the dinner.

Her eyes remained bright, and she looked at the person she was talking to with great focus.

But when his gaze occasionally falls on the crystal glass on the table or the neon starry sky outside the window, his eyes seem to slow down a beat than usual, carrying a slightly unfocused, dreamy quality, as if soaked in water.

The fingers resting on the edge of the table were unconsciously and gently stroking the slender stem of the wine glass.

Her movements were subtle, with a touch of nonchalant slowness. Quan Xuanhe remembered her usual little gestures: either quietly placing things down or habitually tapping the tablecloth lightly.

Upon closer inspection, her fair earlobes were indeed tinged with a barely perceptible blush.

Quan Xuanhe lightly tapped the rim of the teacup with his fingertip.

Yes, slightly tipsy.

Kim Jisoo has never been a good drinker, and she even said on a show that she would feel sleepy after just one sip of alcohol.

That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it's highly likely that he has a low alcohol tolerance.

Tonight, with all the clinking of glasses, even if you only drink a little, you'll still have had a few drinks.

Liu Hongzhen was whispering something to her assistant and had no time to pay attention to what was happening here.

Quan Xuanhe picked up his teapot and leaned over naturally to add more hot tea to her already empty teacup.

The clear tea was poured into the cup, the sound soft, yet enough to catch her attention. Kim Jisoo's gaze shifted from the flickering lights outside the window to the teacup in front of her, then she looked up at him.

"He seems to have drunk more today than before, and he seems to have improved quite a bit."

Quan Xuanhe's voice was not loud, just loud enough for the two of them to hear clearly.

Instead of asking directly, "Are you drunk?", he used another reasonable reason that showed concern for her condition.

Kim Jisoo's gaze lingered on his face for about two seconds.

For those two seconds, Jisoo's lips curved into a slight smile. "Can you drink a little more than before?"

"The biggest improvement is in my alcohol tolerance."

?

Kim Jisoo's smile froze slightly as she felt a strange malice towards Kwon Heonhyuk's words.

What do you mean.

Are you implying that my other aspects are stagnant?

Jisoo's heart, which had just begun to warm up, was suddenly left speechless. "Hey, what do you mean?"

"It didn't mean anything by it, it was just a sincere compliment."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk remained expressionless as he looked at Kim Ji-soo, who was slightly tipsy and had a flushed face.

It seems to make people feel a bit excited.

Are you free later?

"A while"

What are we going to do later?

Quan Xuanhe's face was inches away, with that familiar yet... infuriating smile.

"Oh!" She wanted to reprimand her again in a low voice, but then she noticed that Liu Hongzhen and the female executive had just finished their conversation and were subtly glancing in their direction.

Kim Jisoo immediately swallowed back the rant she was about to unleash, along with the last bit of wine in her glass, but glared fiercely at Kwon Heonhyuk, her meaning clear: You wait.

Quan Xuanhe leaned back in his chair as if nothing had happened, pretending that nothing was wrong.

Kim Jisoo picked up the hot tea that Kwon Heonhyuk had just filled and took a small sip.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk looked at her profile.

She relaxed a bit from the tension under the flashing lights, a few strands of hair falling beside her cheeks, their color hazy in the neon lights flashing outside the window.

The touch of pink tinged onto the tips of her ears added a touch of naivety to her soft and pretty features.

"Everyone, tonight was wonderful!" Liu Hongzhen finally stood up, announcing the official end of this business relaxation session.

"It's an honor for Dior to have you both here, and we hope to have more opportunities for such pleasant collaborations in the future. Shall I have the driver take you down?"

“No need for that, Representative Liu,” Kwon Seonhyuk’s manager, Park Jung-jung, immediately stepped forward with a professional smile on his face.

"Our car is all arranged downstairs."

"Yes, yes, we can go down by ourselves. Thank you for your hospitality tonight, Representative Liu!" Kim Ji-soo's manager immediately chimed in.

The crowd slowly dispersed, saying goodbye to each other.

Kim Ji-soo's manager was already urging her in a low voice. She stood up slightly unsteadily, nodded politely to Yoo Hong-jin and the others to say goodbye, and walked towards the door accompanied by her assistant.

Before leaving, her gaze briefly met Quan Xuanhe's, a look that seemed both warning and slightly drunken languor, before disappearing into the porch.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk shook hands briefly with the executives at the table and prepared to leave with Park Jung-jung.

"Xuanhe-xi, please wait a moment."

Just then, Liu Hongzhen's voice rang out from behind, carrying a warmth that differed from the public atmosphere at the banquet earlier, and instead conveyed a more personal and familiar feeling.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk stopped and turned around. Park Jung-jung also stopped a few steps away, politely keeping her distance.

With a smile on her face, Liu Hongzhen walked naturally to Quan Xuanhe's side, as if she was just going to walk to the door with him.

"Today's scene is truly breathtaking; it's a sight to behold no matter how many times I see it," Liu Hongzhen remarked as she walked, her tone filled with genuine admiration.

“The two of you standing there together are the center of attention, the perfect ambassadors for the brand.” He turned to look at Kwon Heonhyuk, the appreciation in his eyes genuine.

“It’s all thanks to the Dior platform, Representative Liu.” Quan Xuanhe suddenly realized something.

Here comes the point.

Liu Hongzhen smiled and shook her head. The two had already walked to the corridor near the entrance hall, which was quieter than the interior of the restaurant, with only the faint footsteps of the waiters in the distance.

“No matter how important the platform is, it still needs artists who are a perfect match.” Liu Hongzhen lowered her voice, her tone becoming more private and candid.

"When we signed you, there were some dissenting voices in Paris. You're a young man, after all; you need to prove yourself. But what about now?"

He stopped and turned to face Quan Xuanhe, his eyes burning.

“With the huge success of ‘Blues,’ no one would think it’s undeserved to call you a ‘national actor,’ right? And you even have a Porsche!” As she said this, Liu Hongzhen’s tone unconsciously rose a little.

"First in Asia! This is simply... haha, when I heard the news I couldn't help but applaud, this is real strength!"

Liu Hongzhen's words were truly eloquent and persuasive. He knew in his heart that the groundwork had been laid quite extensively.

“So, Xuanhe,” Liu Hongzhen raised her hand and gently patted Quan Xuanhe’s arm, her address becoming more intimate.

"We've had a great working relationship, haven't we? Dior and you, you've complemented each other perfectly."

He paused, observing Quan Xuanhe's reaction, before casually throwing out the key point in a conversational tone.

"Time flies. It feels like we just signed the endorsement contract yesterday, and in the blink of an eye... our contract has already gone through more than half of its journey."

“The brand has witnessed every step of your growth during this period and is delighted.”

"In Paris, when Mr. Dior's family office recently assessed the global influence of brand ambassadors, they specifically mentioned your outstanding performance and great potential for growth. They also look forward to continuing to work with you in the future."

Liu Hongzhen's words, on the surface, sounded sophisticated and high-sounding. But the core message was clearly conveyed.

The contract is about to expire and the brand's willingness to renew it.

Quan Xuanhe understood immediately.

The first half of the banquet saw Liu Hongzhen lavishly praising his achievements, followed by Kim Ji-soo being sent away, and then the "heart-to-heart" conversation in the corridor at this moment—all clues point to the contract issue.

His commercial value is so high right now that even if he doesn't renew his contract with Dior, other high-end luxury brands will be overjoyed to invite him to their doorsteps.

His smile remained calm, conveying gratitude for the guidance of his seniors.

"Brother, what are you saying? Dior has always been very supportive of me, and we'll definitely consider this carefully in the future!"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's response was equally clever; anyone can say something indirectly.

To be honest, his role as a global ambassador for Dior Beauty's sub-brand is now considered one of the less prestigious of all his high-end endorsements.

It was just a side endorsement, and they just threw it away like that. What's the point of just talking about it without giving them any real money?

"Of course, this is just a preliminary idea from Paris. There is still some time, enough for us to take our time to see."

Liu Hongzhen was a smart woman and immediately understood Quan Xuanhe's unspoken meaning. She laughed it off and made her words even more tactful.

"After all, good things will last a long time. You can discuss it with Manager Park. If you have any ideas, feel free to communicate."

"Yes, I'll discuss it with my manager. You've really gone to a lot of trouble today, hyung," Kwon Hyun-hyuk said with a smile.

Liu Hongzhen smiled with satisfaction.

"Don't mention it. Take care on your journey and keep in touch."

He patted Kwon Heonhyuk on the shoulder again, watching the young spokesperson turn and leave accompanied by Park Jung-jung.

After finishing their conversation in the corridor and politely saying goodbye, Kwon Hyun-hyuk turned around and met up with Park Jung-jung, who had been waiting a few steps away, and together they headed towards the elevator.

The elevator descended smoothly. Quan Xuanhe leaned against the wall of the car, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples.

"You were talking about contract renewal, weren't you?"

"Correct."

Park Jung-jung was not surprised; he guessed it right away.

He was very knowledgeable about Quan Xuanhe's business dealings and was single-mindedly focused on finding a new employer for Quan Xuanhe.

"How could they possibly sign without offering sufficiently generous terms?"

The elevator arrived at the underground parking lot, where the stuffy air and the faint hum of the engine replaced the elegant noise of the top floor.

Guided by security personnel, they walked toward their familiar black van.

Just a few steps away from the van, Kwon Hyun-hyuk's gaze swept over the rows of parked vehicles and settled sharply on a dark-colored van diagonally in front of him.

The car was parked quietly, the engine seemingly just turned off, and the headlights were dim, making it inconspicuous in the dimly lit parking lot.

But Kwon Heon-hyuk vaguely recognized it as Kim Ji-soo's van.

According to the time, Kim Jisoo should have left at least ten minutes earlier than him, so why is she still here?
Could it be.
Kwon Hyun-hyuk has a somewhat narcissistic mindset.

Just as he paused slightly and looked at the car with a hint of doubt, the rear window on the driver's side of the van silently and slowly rolled down after a few seconds of silence.

A fair face with a touch of pink, yet shrouded in an indescribable expression, was clearly revealed.

The pale red hue, barely perceptible under the warm lighting of the banquet, now appeared somewhat hazy under the stark white lights of the parking lot.

Her long, black hair hung lazily over her shoulders and neck, and her usually bright and clear eyes, now glistening with a hint of water, were fixedly and silently gazing at Quan Xuanhe, who was standing not far away.

Kim Ji-soo's face was completely exposed to Kwon Heon-hyuk's gaze.

What should we say tonight?
(End of this chapter)