Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 624 Dry Wood Meets a Raging Fire!
Didn't they leave before me?

Why are you still in the parking lot?
This unusual pause was like a pebble thrown into calm water, creating ripples in Kwon Hyun-hyuk's heart.

Combined with her obvious tipsiness at the dinner party and the complex look in her eyes before she left.

The answer seems to be coming soon.

Just as he looked over with a hint of amusement and doubt, as if sensing his gaze, the rear window of the van silently and slowly rolled down.

The moment the car window slid down completely, a beautiful face with a hazy blush appeared clearly before his eyes.

Kim Jisoo's long, black hair hung loosely over her shoulders and neck. With most of her stage makeup removed, she had a pure and unadorned look under the pale parking lot lights.

This undisguised eye contact, in the now quiet parking lot, was like a silent thunderclap.

The weariness on his face was almost instantly replaced by a warm, interested smile.

Without hesitation, and without even glancing at the possibly complicated look in Park Jung-jung's eyes, he changed his route and stepped out of Kim Ji-soo's car window in just a few steps.

He bent down slightly so that he could look at Kim Jisoo at eye level inside the car.

As he got closer, he could smell the sweet fragrance mixed with the scent of alcohol on her body more clearly, and see the real flow of her eyes beneath her long eyelashes.

"I thought you were gone."

"Ani, is there anything else you want to say to me?"

Kim Jisoo looked at Kwon Heonhyuk, who was leaning against the car window and staring at her, and avoided his gaze.

"Yes, but you left first, and I didn't have a chance to say anything."

Upon hearing this, Kim Jisoo nodded slightly, seemingly not shy at all, and instead looked up to meet his gaze. "So?"

"No, is this how you talk?"

Quan Xuanhe looked around; after all, the parking lot wasn't exactly a safe place.

“It’s chilly outside, and you’ll feel stuffy in the car in this state. How about this,” he casually patted Kim Jisoo’s van.

"My car is quite spacious and warm, why don't you come in and sit for a while?"

"Oh, you..."

She wanted to maintain a certain aloofness, but the words that came out of her mouth carried a hint of confusion.

"What kind of suggestion is this?"

What do you want to do?
The car door clicked softly, shutting out the cold light of the parking lot.

In the cramped carriage, warmth and an indescribable tranquility instantly filled the air.

Kim Jisoo curled up on the other side of the spacious back seat, her fingertips unconsciously picking at the fine folds of her skirt.

The scent of leather and car fragrance mixed with a faint smell of alcohol emanated from her.

Kwon Seonhyuk also sat down, one seat away from him. The engine started up again with a low hum, and the car smoothly drove away from the underground parking garage.

"Want some water?" Quan Xuanhe took a bottle of water from the car's mini-fridge and handed it to him, breaking the stagnant atmosphere.

“Hmm.” Kim Jisoo took the bottle, unscrewed it, and sipped it slowly, her eyes fixed on the neon lights flashing past the window. She tried to regain her composure, but the slight intoxication made her thoughts a little slow.

"The contract," Quan Xuanhe's voice broke the silence, delivered in a straightforward manner, "Representative Liu just mentioned it to me."

Kim Jisoo turned her head to look at him, the dim light inside the car outlining his silhouette. This topic of conversation seemed both businesslike and subtly relevant to their current situation—they were former colleagues and complicated old acquaintances.

"Oh," she responded, her voice light and airy. "He also invited me to renew my contract."

"What do you think?" Quan Xuanhe's gaze fell on her face, as if trying to catch some emotion.

"I'm still considering it," Kim Jisoo said honestly.

Dior is certainly important to her, but renewing her contract is never just a matter of willingness; it's also a matter of conditions and consideration with the team.

However, Jisoo has always been closely tied to Dior, and it's highly likely that she will renew her contract; there shouldn't be any problems.

"What about you?"

"Same," Kwon Hyun-hyuk replied crisply.

"But he knows how to pick his time now when he's looking."

While they may seem the same, they are not. Kwon Hyun-hyuk actually holds a lot of the initiative, given his current high commercial value.

Kim Jisoo pursed her lips, not responding to the question, but instead seemed to have been aroused by it.

"You're collaborating with Ji-min unnie, 'Blues' looks promising?"

"Yeah," Kwon Hyun-hyuk replied simply, "It's pretty good for filming."

He didn't delve into the plot or the scenes with his co-stars, and the topic was only touched upon briefly.

Otherwise, what would you say? You say you sleep after every movie you film. Oh my god, what's the point of that?

The train glided smoothly through the flowing neon lights of Seoul.

Kim Jisoo gazed at the dazzling street scene outside the window, her fingertips unconsciously drawing a faint mark on the cold glass before she suddenly turned her head to the side.

Her voice, tinged with a hint of diluted alcohol, drifted lightly into the carriage.

"...It was a promise."

Quan Xuanhe turned his head upon hearing the sound.

Kim Jisoo didn't look at him, her gaze falling back to the rapidly receding light signs outside the window. Her tone sounded casual, but it concealed a faint trace of weariness, dried by time.

"Didn't you say there was a chance... for a second performance?"

She paused for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully, and then her voice trailed off softly.

"How long has it been since we heard anything? It seems like actor Kwon's chance was just talk?"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk did not respond immediately.

He originally had this idea, but there was nothing he could do. He didn't expect his time in 2022 to be so full that he was powerless to do it and had to put it aside for the time being.

Plans can't keep up with changes, and he even quit "The Doctor 3".

In the dim light, he looked at her profile, half illuminated by the colorful lights outside the car window, and the faint smile at the corner of his mouth seemed to deepen slightly.

“Who said there’s no chance?” he retorted, his tone still carrying that familiar feeling that Kim Jisoo knew.

He leaned almost imperceptibly toward her, his gaze fixed on her face.

“The opportunity has always been there, but Jisoo hasn’t contacted me. I thought you didn’t want to work with me anymore.”

Kim Jisoo finally turned to look at him, her slightly tipsy eyes shining brightly in the dim light.

"cut."

"Tch." Kim Jisoo felt a pang of bitterness in her heart as the projects she had quit flashed through her mind like a slideshow.

An offer for a campus drama had already been delivered to her desk, along with a web series, and many other projects were also being offered to her.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the leather seat.

She was at the center of attention in the industry, like a gambler waiting for a card that hadn't yet been cashed.

As the alcohol took effect, she couldn't help but fantasize about what would happen if she took on the project.
But reality is still cruel.

With such high demand for a second collaboration, Kim Ji-soo turned down many projects after listening to Kwon Heon-hyuk's advice.

Indeed, few of those projects were outstanding; at best, they were only broadcast on average and never reached the level of becoming a hit.

But we just kept waiting in that awkward situation.

The example of senior artist Lim Yoon-a is right there in front of us.

"I originally had a schedule this year, but for various reasons, I'll be working non-stop this year."

"Isn't it just so happens that you're making a comeback this year?"

"After the comeback, there will be a tour, so I don't really have much time to spare."

Kwon Heonhyuk's analysis seemed reasonable and well-founded, but it didn't satisfy Kim Jisoo.

That's what they say.

"But isn't this just too perfunctory?"

A brief silence fell over the carriage.

Kwon Heonhyuk's gaze did not leave Kim Jisoo's face. Her cheeks, still flushed with a captivating blush despite her slight intoxication.

He could clearly hear the dissatisfaction in her words, not just her dissatisfaction with the long-unfulfilled promise of a "second trip," but perhaps more deeply, her concern about his "lack of contact" during this period.

His eyes became serious.

Jisoo's words, "That's too perfunctory," which carried a clear probing tone and a hint of grievance, were like a pebble thrown into a seemingly calm lake.

Kim Ji-soo misunderstood Kwon Heon-hyuk's gaze.

Did he think that I agreed because he saw that I was on a winning streak and that's why I brought up the "second collaboration"?
A feeling of being misunderstood and wronged welled up inside me instantly.

"Oh!" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was urgent. "It's not what you think!"

Quan Xuanhe was slightly taken aback.

"I didn't want anything from you." Kim Jisoo's cheeks were even redder from her emotions and the alcohol.

"Whether it's the script or anything else... please don't misunderstand."

Upon hearing this, Quan Xuanhe shook his head.

"I didn't think too much about it. What could BLACKPINK's Jisoo possibly want from me?"

No matter what, BLACKPINK's popularity is by no means inferior.

Upon hearing this, Kim Jisoo nodded slightly.

"It's okay, trust me, I'll take you flying!"

Quan Xuanhe reached out and patted her arm, speaking in a very authoritative tone.

This sight couldn't help but bring a smile to Jisoo's lips.

The lights outside the car window gradually faded, and the car finally came to a steady stop in front of Quan Xuanhe's apartment building.

"We've arrived," Quan Xuanhe said casually, breaking the silence in the car.

He glanced at Kim Jisoo, who was leaning against the car window beside him, seemingly lost in thought, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.

"You seem to be sitting quite comfortably."

He spoke casually, as if discussing the weather, "How about... coming upstairs for a bit?"

Kim Jisoo lazily turned her head, her eyes still slightly misty with intoxication.

"reason?"

Quan Xuanhe's smile deepened, tinged with obvious mischief, as he lowered his voice and said, "My Mishu..."

He paused deliberately, as if sharing a big secret, "I'll do a backflip!"

The air froze for a second.

Jisoo's slightly tipsy eyes widened instantly, as if half of the remaining alcohol had been dispelled by this absurd talent.

She stared at Kwon Heonhyuk as if she had heard that aliens had invaded Earth, trying to find any flaw in his joke on his face.

"...Mo?"

"A backflip?...Are you serious?"

"Hmm." Quan Xuanhe nodded seriously.

"Believe it or not, you'll see when you go up there."

"Pfft... Hey! Kwon Heonhyuk!" Kim Jisoo completely lost her composure, both angry and amused. The lingering smell of alcohol turned into laughter as she raised her hand and lightly slapped his arm.

"Are you trying to fool me like a three-year-old? Mishu can do backflips? Why don't you mention that it can talk?"

"Believe it or not, the opportunity is right in front of you, or you'll miss it. How about we go upstairs for a hot drink to sober up, and maybe witness Master Mishu's amazing skills?" Kim Jisoo glared at Kwon Heonhyuk, her eyes seeming to say, "I'd be a fool to believe you."

She reached out and deftly unlocked the car door with a "click," then promptly pushed the door open and got out.

The cool night breeze swept over her, making her mind clearer. She stood outside the car and waved to Quan Xuanhe, who was still sitting inside with an innocent smile, feigning disdain.

Kim Jisoo looked at Kwon Heonhyuk's nonchalant "come and see for yourself if you don't believe me" expression, and knew exactly what was going on.

"A backflip?" she scoffed, but her body betrayed her and she didn't move any further.

"Who are you trying to fool? If Mishu knew how to do this, you would have sent it to a variety show long ago. Why would you need to fool people here?"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk smiled as he unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door.

"Don't give me that." She picked up her bag, got out of the car nimbly, and stood in front of Quan Xuanhe.

The night breeze ruffled her hair, and the flushed cheeks from the alcohol glowed softly under the streetlights.

"I'd like to see how Mishu does a backflip."

The reason given was more like asking her to go upstairs and eat ramen.

The two walked one after the other as the elevator ascended smoothly. In the cramped space, only the rhythmic clatter of Kim Jisoo's high heels and Kwon Heonhyuk's seemingly casual gaze upon her carried a knowing look that he understood without saying a word.

Kim Jisoo stared at the fluctuating floor numbers.

She would never admit that the awkwardness of seeing each other after so long, after the alcohol and that direct eye contact in the parking lot, had long since fermented into something else.

The door opened, and soft light poured out from the entryway.

Mishu wagged his tail excitedly and ran over to rub against their legs, his fluffy head circling around their feet.

"Mishu." Kwon Hyun-hyuk bent down and rubbed the dog's head, his expression unchanged and his heart unmoved.

Mishu looked up at the strange woman who had appeared in his home, licked her dog face, and sniffed her a few times, as if awakening a dormant memory.

Isn't that the human woman who fought with Kwon Heon-hyuk in the living room before?

Once he discovered it, Mishu became bolder and pounced on Kim Jisoo.

Mishu barked happily twice, then suddenly took a few steps back before lunging at Jisoo.

He stuck out his tongue and looked at Kim Jisoo with incredibly sincere eyes.

Under the soft light of the entryway, Mishu's enthusiasm almost made Kim Jisoo stumble.

She instinctively bent down, trying to steady herself, and at the same time wanted to pet the big dog she hadn't seen in so long.

Mishu nuzzled his fluffy head against her legs, his wet nose sniffing curiously at the scent on her skirt, and he made satisfied purring sounds.

"Mishu, be quiet."

Quan Xuanhe chuckled softly.

He reached out to pull Mishu away, but his fingertips inadvertently brushed against the back of Jisoo's hand, which was resting on the door frame.

The cool touch of their skin sent a jolt through Kim Jisoo's heart, as if she'd been stung by static electricity at her fingertips.

Mishu was pulled away by his owner, circled around her feet a few times, and then ran off again.

Only two people remained in the entryway.

A private space, just the two of them alone.
The air seemed to freeze and become scorching hot all at once.

The aroma of alcohol wafted in the enclosed space, mingling with the scent of Quan Xuanhe and her subtle fragrance, creating a highly catalytic and ambiguous atmosphere.

"Put on your slippers first."

Quan Xuanhe pointed to the shoe cabinet next to him, stepped aside to let her go in first, and his gaze fell on her slightly tipsy face and slightly parted lips.

Kim Jisoo didn't look at him, her gaze sweeping haphazardly across the shoe cabinet before bending down to grab a pair of new slippers from the top shelf.

These slippers are so cute!

That's not like him at all.

Kim Jisoo bent down and changed into slippers. The soft fleece on the slippers wrapped around her ankles, and they were surprisingly comfortable.

These beige cashmere slippers, with kitten embroidery on the corners, are completely unlike his usual style.

She bent down to change into her slippers, the movement outlining her beautiful waistline and hips.

Her figure is particularly striking because of her beautifully curved hips.

Quan Xuanhe's gaze followed the curve without any attempt to look away.

Kim Jisoo changed her shoes, straightened up, and walked inside with slightly unsteady steps.

"Where is the water?" she asked softly, trying to break the thick silence with her voice.

"I'll go get it, you sit on the sofa and rest for a while."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk beat her to it and naturally led her to the spacious sofa in the living room.

The living room is quiet.

The deep night air poured in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, and was blurred into hazy curtains of light by the neon lights of the distant city.

Kim Jisoo leaned back in a corner of the soft leather sofa, a wave of fatigue mixed with the effects of the alcohol washing over her. She closed her eyes slightly and rubbed her temples.

It's been a long time since I last came here. Returning here after such a long period of time, some memories are indeed coming back to Kim Jisoo.

Her gaze drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling window.

The transparent floor-to-ceiling windows seemed to reflect in her eyes the absurd and outrageous behavior the two of them had ever done in the past.
Quan Xuanhe returned with two glasses of warm water. Seeing her with her eyes closed, he slowed his pace.

He sat down beside her, at a comfortable distance, and handed her a glass of water: "Have some water, calm down."

Kim Jisoo opened her eyes, thanked him, and took the water glass.

The cool glass brought her slightly more awake. She sipped her drink, her gaze unconsciously falling on Quan Xuanhe. He had taken off his suit jacket, leaving only his white shirt underneath, and had unbuttoned the top two buttons.

A bit of skin was exposed.

Men crave women, and women crave men; this is a perfectly natural principle.

Moreover, they had deeply felt each other's warmth.

"Where's Mishu's backflip?"

Kim Jisoo tried to break the silence by making conversation, but her voice was slightly dry and the last syllable of her words was weak.

Quan Xuanhe chuckled softly, his shoulders trembling slightly. He turned his head and locked his gaze on her intently, with a hint of mockery and something deeper.

"Want to see it? That depends on Mishu's mood."

He leaned slightly towards her, the distance between them suddenly closing until they could almost feel the heat emanating from each other.

Mishu, sitting on the sofa, looked at the two of them, tilted his head, and didn't understand.

Kim Jisoo instinctively shrank back, her back pressing against the sofa back.

"Ah..." she opened her mouth, wanting to scold, but found her voice weak and powerless.

Quan Xuanhe didn't give her a chance to dodge. His gaze lingered on her slightly trembling lips for a few seconds.

Then he raised his hand, his warm fingertips gently stroking her flushed cheeks, and tenderly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

His fingertips brushed against her warm cheek, and the slightly intoxicating sensation was transmitted clearly to Quan Xuanhe's fingertips like an electric current.

She tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her small, delicate earlobe, and the faint blush seemed to spread from her earlobe to his palm.

The air between them seemed to freeze, thick and sticky with sweetness.

Mishu yawned by the sofa and quietly rested his head on the carpet.

Kim Jisoo turned her head slightly to avoid his overly direct gaze, but her eyes fell unfocused on the huge floor-to-ceiling window in the corner of the living room.

Conservative Jisoo still doesn't dare to fully let loose and express herself.

Outside the window, Seoul's night was quiet and still. The neon lights were filtered through the glass, creating a hazy and ambiguous glow that reflected a hint of struggle in her eyes.

Just as Kwon Seonhyuk's fingertips were about to completely leave the skin near her ear—

"...Where is Meiyan?"

Her voice was soft, slightly hoarse from the lingering effects of alcohol, abruptly shattering the ambiance of the living room.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's movements inevitably paused for a moment.

A look of surprise flashed across his eyes, but he quickly recovered.

"I saw in the news that you went to her solo performance?"

Sure enough, jealousy and rivalry are inevitable among women, no matter how long it has been since they last saw each other.

"Miyeon?" Quan Xuanhe's voice was steady, without any attempt to defend himself or evade the question.

"That day was a special guest MC for MCD, it was part of my work schedule."

"...It's the production team trying to create a romantic pairing."

He looked at her calmly and clearly uttered the phrase, his tone revealing no offense or guilt, but simply stating a fact.

"but."

"You know me well; I understand the meaning of benevolence and righteousness."

Mishu seemed to sense the change in atmosphere, or perhaps it just wanted to get attention. It sneezed, stood up, and moved closer to Jisoo's drooping hand, gently nudging her fingertips with its wet nose.

Kim Jisoo seemed to be startled awake, and withdrew her gaze from Kwon Heonhyuk's face.

So you and her are still...

"The situation is different now; em is a bit complicated."

Kwon Heonhyuk was honest and didn't say anything to deceive Kim Jisoo anymore.

"Don't worry about these things for now; the issue of Meiyan is not the key."

If you're going to rush in, you'll be facing a lot of people.

"Don't dwell on how much time has passed. It's already been so long."

"It's not long at all, it's been less than a year."

Look, no woman is without grudges, not even Kim Ji-soo, who has been separated from her for a long time. Kim Ji-soo, who has a peaceful and cheerful personality, is no exception.

Quan Xuanhe didn't move, but his hand, which was resting on the back of the sofa, fell imperceptibly, pressing his warm body weight heavily on her slightly cool hand. His fingertips slid in along her taut knuckles, easily prying them open, and their fingers intertwined.

"You've always remembered that?"

"Then why not express it?"

"I thought there was no future for us."

Kim Jisoo tried to pull her hand away, but he held it even tighter.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's other hand slid down to her waist.

The sudden feeling of weightlessness as her body was suspended in mid-air made her instinctively wrap her arms around his neck, her cheeks forced into the crook of his neck.

Kim Jisoo's last vestige of clarity flickered like a candle flame in the night wind, on the verge of being extinguished.

She turned her face away with difficulty, trying to avoid his overly forceful movements. Her voice was muffled in their pressed chests, with a hint of broken hoarseness.

This is her natural voice.

"It's clearly because you didn't take the initiative."

The tall figure reflected in the floor-to-ceiling window suddenly flickered.

Kim Jisoo's vision began to blur, and the brightly lit city night view through the huge floor-to-ceiling window seemed to sway and spin.

Mishu let out a low growl and wisely buried his head deep in his front paws, shutting out the silent, scalding undercurrent burning in the living room late at night.

(End of this chapter)