Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 655 Promise to Let Go.

The buzzing of his phone pierced Quan Xuanhe's chaotic thoughts.

The name "Miyeon" flashed on the screen, like a pebble thrown into a still lake, instantly suppressing the heavy speculation brought about by the alliance between Kim Jisoo and Chou Tzu-yu.

It really comes to whatever you want.

He took a deep breath, swiped his fingertip across the answer button, brought the receiver close to his ear, and spoke softly.

"Miyeon?"

I heard familiar breathing on the other end of the phone, followed by a few seconds of pause, and a soft, nasal voice as if the person had just woken up.

"Yeah...it's me."

Zhao Meiyan's voice sounded somewhat muffled, lacking her usual energy and vitality, but it didn't sound as distressed as it did on Party Night, when she was on the verge of a breakdown.

Clearly, she hasn't been in a good mood these past few days.

Are you... on set?

"Yes, we just finished filming a scene and are resting." Kwon Hyun-hyuk got up and walked to a quieter corner, shutting out the noise of the film set behind him.

He paused and added.

"What about you? Are you awake? Did you eat breakfast properly?" The words were filled with undisguised concern, but also with a cautious probing.

The scene of her leaving with red eyes was still vivid in his mind, and the suppressed bitterness and paleness made Quan Xuanhe feel unbearable.

“...Ani, you finally got a day off and are resting in bed.”

Zhao Meiyan's voice softened, and she seemed to tilt her head slightly, making a soft rustling sound as her clothes rubbed together.

"That's good. I knew you'd be very busy lately." Kwon Hyun-hyuk's voice softened unconsciously, the tension brought on by Kim Ji-soo and Chou Tzu-yu subtly easing.

There was a few seconds of silence on the phone.

Zhao Meiyan seemed to be organizing her thoughts, or perhaps gathering her courage.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk waited patiently, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the edge of his phone.

“Um…” Zhao Meiyan spoke again, her voice slightly tense.

"Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Zhao Meiyan needs to explain, and the fact that she took the initiative to make the call already signals that she was initiating communication.

Whoever takes the initiative first is the one who backs down; sometimes that's just how it is.

The silence on the other end of the phone seemed to carry weight, and the air itself seemed to freeze.

Quan Xuanhe could clearly hear Zhao Meiyan's breathing, slightly rapid, filled with suppressed tension and anticipation.

She needed answers, and this phone call itself was a signal that she had mustered the courage to seek communication after experiencing a breakdown.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk took a deep breath, and the noise in the corner of the set seemed to be instantly blocked out. His world consisted only of the muffled, nasal breathing coming from the receiver.

"Meiyan,"

A soft, almost inaudible gasp came from the other end of the phone.

“I know what’s bothering you right now.” He paused for a moment, then decided to get straight to the point. “The night of the party… Tzuyu and I were on the rooftop.”

He could feel Zhao Meiyan hold her breath for a moment. He immediately continued explaining, speaking slowly but clearly:
“We chatted for a while, just the two of us,” he admitted.

"But it's definitely not what you're thinking. There was no rekindling of old feelings, and I didn't do anything to wrong you."

Quan Xuanhe recalled the scene on the rooftop and organized his words.

"We were indeed very close." He didn't hide the physical contact.

“But Meiyan, there’s nothing between us now, and nothing really crossed the line at that moment.”

"That statement is true."

His tone became more forceful and assertive.

"We didn't kiss, we didn't hug, we just..."

She simply rested her head on his shoulder for a while.

Quan Xuanhe's voice was even lower, carrying an indescribable sincerity:

“Miyeon, I know you’re worried. Anyone would be saddened and confused after seeing that scene.”

“I don’t blame you for having those thoughts, for putting you under that pressure and feeling wronged.”

After a long while, Zhao Meiyan's voice rang out again, still slightly nasal, but seemingly calmer.

She was silent for a few seconds, her fingers unconsciously curling around the sheets beneath her, before finally saying softly, "...I understand."

To be honest, Zhao Meiyan had prepared herself mentally beforehand, but what Kim Yoo-jung said to her was a huge shock.

She also adjusted her mindset, thinking that many girls might surround Quan Xuanhe and compete for him, and prepared herself to be forgiving and tolerant.

But why is it always Chou Tzu-yu?
Isn't this infuriating?

Zhao Meiyan was nestled in the soft bed, but her mind was unusually clear.

With my eyes closed, the scenes from the party were exceptionally clear in the darkness.

Suddenly, a scene that had been temporarily ignored but now appeared exceptionally clear entered my chaotic thoughts.

It was because of that secret incident that happened at the party that she had been thinking about it.
It was after the initial chaos of the party had subsided somewhat that she went alone to a relatively quiet corner of the terrace, trying to calm herself down and process the embarrassment she felt from Liu Zhimin's words.

I heard elegant and composed footsteps behind me.

Zhao Meiyan subconsciously turned around and saw Han Hyo-joo's face with her signature gentle smile.

This senior figure held a glass of red wine with a calm and composed demeanor.

She is like a purifying and stabilizing force amidst this chaos.

"Miyeon-xi?" Han Hyo-joo's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the background noise, carrying a just-right familiarity.

Her smile was gentle.

"You're just standing here in a daze? It was quite a commotion just now, wasn't it?"

Han Hyo-joo walked to her side, leaned gently against the balcony railing, his gaze sweeping over the distant, bustling night view before subtly returning to Zhao Meiyan's face.

Her posture was relaxed and elegant, but her eyes held a silent scrutiny.

"It's nothing, senior. I was just feeling a bit stuffy, so I came out for some fresh air."

Zhao Meiyan was puzzled as to why Han Xiaozhou had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation with her.

She didn't know Han Hyo-joo either; the only connection between them was probably Kwon Heon-hyuk.

She had also heard that Quan Xuanhe and she had a close relationship, and there were even rumors that the two of them had some kind of special relationship.

Zhao Meiyan once asked Quan Xuanhe about this, but he denied it, saying that the current gossip media have no bottom line when it comes to hyping things up for attention.

"Hmm..." Han Hyo-joo took a sip of the wine in his glass, his gaze lingering thoughtfully on Zhao Meiyan's face.

Han Hyo-joo walked to her side, leaned gently against the balcony railing, his gaze sweeping over the distant, bustling night view before subtly returning to Zhao Meiyan's face.

"Young, beautiful, and ambitious, Mi-yeon, you and Hyunhyuk are a really good match."

Han Hyo-joo took a sip of his drink, his sincere tone causing Jo Mi-yeon's tense nerves to relax slightly.

"but."

Han Hyo-joo changed the subject, her voice still gentle.

Zhao Meiyan was so surprised by her gentle words that she didn't expect her to say something that made her feel awkward.

“In this kind of environment, being too fixated on seeing things too clearly, and positioning yourself as…too unique, makes you very vulnerable to getting hurt.” Her words gently revealed Zhao Meiyan’s inner thoughts at that moment.

Zhao Meiyan's body stiffened slightly, a hint of panic and disbelief flashing in her eyes.

"Being Xuanhe's girlfriend must be tough, right?"

"Even knowing he has a girlfriend, there must be quite a few girls pursuing him, right?"

"You must have this feeling, right?"

Han Hyo-joo's gentle words left Jo Mi-yeon momentarily speechless and bewildered.

这 是
"To be honest, it would be really hard to feel at ease if we weren't married."

Han Hyo-joo said with a smile, as if she were saying something insignificant.

“Ani, even if you get married, you can’t be completely at ease.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Meiyan immediately fell silent.

Han Hyo-joo, however, acted as if she hadn't seen it and continued speaking in that gentle manner: "I know you two are in a relationship. Hyunhyuk told me."

“But, Miyeon-xi, in this position, sometimes being a girlfriend can’t solve all the problems. Instead, it can become a… um… heavy burden, or even a target.”

She paused, looking at Zhao Meiyan's face, which was gradually turning pale and helpless, and added, "Young and beautiful girls, girls who come with ulterior motives, will not stop approaching you just because of this identity."

"Kwon Hyun-hyuk... he is an ambitious and charismatic person, and he will never lack attractive people around him."

“Look, as an older woman with more experience, I’m here to give you a little advice.”

"If you want to stay by his side for a long time and live a less difficult life, you need to have a little bit of the ability to 'play dumb'."

One should never speak too frankly with someone you don't know well, but at this moment, Han Hyo-joo felt he needed to give her a wake-up call.

To make a man completely settle down, em
Unless the man is impotent.

Since it's impossible to achieve that, compromise is necessary in situations where the man is stronger than the woman.

Zhao Meiyan unconsciously gripped the rim of the wine glass, her knuckles turning slightly white.

Han Hyo-joo's words struck her heart like cold raindrops.

"I'm not saying you should give up your principles or dignity." Han Hyo-joo's voice softened, carrying a tone of persuasion.

“Instead, you have to learn to ‘turn a blind eye.’ To certain unclear boundaries, certain unfounded whispers, or even things you know have happened.” She gave Zhao Meiyan a meaningful look.

"Sometimes, it's safer to be a little foolish than clever. Be sensible, have some self-awareness, and know when to hold on tightly and when to... let go and let him handle it."

"You need to understand where your greatest strength lies and learn to use it, instead of letting it hold you back."

Han Hyo-joo gently patted Jo Mi-in's tense shoulder, her gesture carrying a senior's reassurance. "Otherwise, you'll get very tired."

After she finished speaking, she drank the remaining red wine in her glass in one gulp, her face still bearing that perfect, gentle smile.

"Alright, the party goes on for a while, enjoy your night, Miyeon-ssi."

Leaving behind that final, profound remark, Han Hyo-joo turned and left the terrace with the same composure she had displayed upon arrival.

Zhao Meiyan stood frozen in place, the iced red wine in her hand seemingly freezing the blood in her entire body.

Han Hyo-joo's words echoed repeatedly in her mind.

Han Hyo-joo's appearance, her initiative in striking up a conversation, her penetrating gaze, her seemingly gentle yet cold advice...

They had no personal relationship, so why would the other party say such profound things to his "official girlfriend"?

Is he implying that he is simply not qualified or capable of managing this relationship?
These words deepened her unease.

Zhao Meiyan shook her head vigorously.

The scene returns to the present, where Zhao Meiyan rolls over and lies flat on her back, staring at the ceiling, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

"Miyeon?" Quan Xuanhe's voice on the other end of the phone carried a hint of uncertainty, clearly confused by her prolonged silence.

"Are you... alright? Are you still listening?"

His voice was like a probe, gently puncturing Zhao Meiyan's chaotic thoughts.

Zhao Meiyan suddenly snapped out of her daze, struggling to break free from those heavy assumptions and self-doubt.

She sniffed, trying to make her voice sound steady, but couldn't help but add a touch of suppressed grievance and nasal tone.

"...Yes, I'm listening."

Zhao Meiyan gripped her phone tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

Quan Xuanhe's deep voice, tinged with concern and a hint of caution, clearly reached her ears on the other end of the phone.

He explained the rooftop incident and offered words of comfort... He said it all.

But the heavy feeling that lingered in her heart did not completely dissipate.

At the party, Yoo Ji-min's harsh words, Han Hyo-joo's cold "advice," and the realization that Kwon Seon-hyuk was destined to be surrounded by more than just her, all clung to her heart like icy vines.

Zhao Meiyan took a deep breath, her voice not loud, but clear and firm, carrying an unprecedented solemnity.

"Xuanhe, listen to me..."

She paused, as if gathering her courage.

"I accept... some things are complicated and may never be avoidable."

Her words were tactful, yet quite direct.

“But,” she emphasized, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"I need you to promise, no, to swear to me!"

Her voice rose slightly, carrying a barely perceptible tremor and a hint of grievance.

"From now on, no matter what happens, you, Quan Xuanhe, must be 100% honest with me! No hiding anything, no half-heartedness."

“And another one!” she said, her words quickening, tinged with urgency.

"I must be your number one. In your heart, when I need you, and when it comes to any choices regarding us!"

"I'm your girlfriend, Xuanhe."

After Zhao Meiyan finished speaking, her heart was pounding violently, as if she had used up all her strength.

She knew how much insecurity, possessiveness, and fear of the future were contained in her words.

They also fully understood the implications behind their requests at this time.

There was complete silence on the other end of the phone, except for the faint breathing of Quan Xuanhe.

Time seems to have frozen.

A few seconds later, Quan Xuanhe's deep and solemn voice came through, without hesitation, with a reassuring force.

"I promise, Meiyan."

"I will always be honest with you and will never hide anything from you."

He paused for a moment, his voice becoming softer yet more resolute.

"You will always be my number one. And it will always be the same. I will never leave you."

"it is good."

Upon hearing his promise, Zhao Meiyan seemed relieved, yet also lost in thought, unsure whether the decision she had made after much deliberation was the right one.

What will the future hold?

(End of this chapter)