Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 658 Face, Cha
Shin Yuna pulled Hwang Yeji along as they jogged to Kwon Hyunhyuk, who was standing at the edge of the corridor.

Those bright, sparkling eyes were filled with undisguised joy; the surprise from before had not yet completely faded.

"Xuanhe Oppa! Kamsamidah!"

Shen Youna calmed her breathing slightly, then immediately clasped her hands together and bowed slightly, her voice clear and resonant, filled with heartfelt gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Oppa, for agreeing to film Challenge with us! Amazing! We're so lucky!"

Her actions and tone perfectly showcased her sunny and energetic personality. What she said was a bit exaggerated, but that's how pretty words are.

Quan Xuanhe looked at the energetic girl in front of him, waved his hand casually, the movement natural and relaxed, as if it were just a small favor: "It's nothing, since we're already here, and Na asked me to help, I have to do it."

His joking remark pleased Shin Yuna quite a bit, and her sunny smile turned slightly shy.

His gaze swept over the other ITZY members and their staff who were following closely behind Shin Yuna.

"You guys are pretty quick too."

As the team leader, Huang Lizhi still had to say something polite, "Thank you for your trouble."

"So... shall we begin now?" Shin Yuna didn't mince words and immediately got to the point. She deftly took her phone from the staff member next to her and pulled up their comeback title track, "SNEAKERS".

"Oppa, our dance moves are easy to learn! They're all about a relaxed vibe. Look, I'll teach you."

She stood sideways next to Kwon Seonhyuk, skillfully playing a musical clip, and then demonstrated the most iconic moves of the chorus herself: "Watch closely, Oppa, first is the footwork rhythm, just follow the beat..."

She explained the key points clearly while demonstrating the steps one by one, teaching her step by step.

"Yes! That's it! Oppa's comprehension is amazing!"

Seeing that Kwon Heon-hyuk quickly caught up with her pace, Shin Yoo-na immediately exclaimed in admiration, her smile becoming even brighter, and she even playfully gave him a thumbs up.

It's like coaxing a child.

She would occasionally lean closer, naturally reaching out to adjust the swing of Quan Xuanhe's arms or reminding him to pay attention to the rhythm of his hip twists; her intimate and familiar attitude was very natural.

Hwang Ye-ji, standing to the side, added explanations with a smile. Compared to Shin Yuna's lively and assertive personality, she appeared more composed, but also cooperated very actively.

Quan Xuanhe learned very quickly. He had a foundation, so it wasn't too much pressure for him, and he even found it somewhat interesting.

"Alright! Shall we start filming now? Just this chorus!" Shin Yuna suggested excitedly after confirming that the choreography was correct.

She clearly cherished this opportunity and hoped to achieve good results. The members of ITZY also quickly formed a formation, naturally leaving the center position to Kwon Heonhyuk, with Shin Yuna and Hwang Yeji standing to his left and right respectively.

The staff filming raised their phones or small cameras, and the music of "SNEAKERS" started playing again.

This time, thanks to the previous groundwork, the filming went exceptionally smoothly. Shin Yuna, as the lead actress, was remarkably enthusiastic and engaged, every movement brimming with youthful energy, and her smile was incredibly infectious.

She would even wink at Kwon Heon-hyuk during breaks in dancing, adding to the fun of the interaction.

The music stops, and the last movement freezes in time.

"How was it? Was the filming okay?" Shin Yuna asked the filming staff impatiently.

The staff member gave an OK sign: "Yes, the effect is very good, the teamwork is excellent!"

Shin Yuna quietly approached Kwon Hyun-hyuk, who was adjusting his cuffs, with a mischievous smile full of curiosity typical of young girls.

“Oppa,” Shin Yuna said in a lowered voice, her tone tentative, as she pointed in the direction where Yoo Jimin and Kim Dong-won had just left, her eyes sparkling.

"I just filmed a challenge with Karina and the others, and I felt like Oppa cooperated really well. You guys seem to know each other very well?"

She carefully observed Quan Xuanhe's reaction, uttering the word "very familiar" in a light and questioning tone, trying to capture any subtle changes in his expression to verify her guess.

Young girls are always full of curiosity, after all, Kwon Heon-hyuk is so popular, who wouldn't have a gossipy side?

Kwon Hyun-hyuk met Shin Yuna's probing gaze.

He wasn't surprised at all by Shin Yuna's question. The corners of his mouth habitually curved upwards into a gentle arc. His smile was the kind of seemingly frank but actually watertight attitude he usually displayed when dealing with such inquiries.

He neither denied it nor provided any substantive information.

Quan Xuanhe chuckled lightly, his tone relaxed and casual. "We've known each other for a long time, so of course we're familiar with each other."

His answer deflected Shin Yuna's probing questions, leaving plenty of room for imagination while revealing no substantial details.

Shen Youna blinked, clearly not entirely satisfied with the vague answer.

Seeing that her probing had failed, Shen Youna quickly changed the subject, her smile instantly brightening, filled with sincere congratulations.

"Oh, right, oppa." She raised her voice slightly, her tone full of genuine admiration.

"I haven't congratulated Oppa in person yet! Best Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards! Wow, Qinjia, you're really amazing. Daebak! We all watched the live broadcast when the news came out. Although the news has congratulated him many times, I still want to say it to him in person. I feel that this is the best way to express my feelings."

She nodded vigorously. The news report about Kwon Heon-hyuk winning the highest honor in the drama category was a very significant recognition in the entire Korean entertainment industry.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk responded to Shin Yoo-na's sincere congratulations with a gentle smile and nodded.

"Kamsangmidah, Youna." His tone was calm and composed, clearly accustomed to this level of praise; such face-to-face congratulations had become commonplace in his recent itinerary.

"Alright, let's not take up any more of your time." He spoke at the right moment, glancing at the two men and their staff, and nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

"You still have a stage to prepare, right? I'll be going now."

"Yes! Thank you, oppa."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk didn't linger. He turned and left along the corridor he had come from, accompanied by his assistant. Almost as soon as he took a step, all the gazes that had been lingering in other corners or at the door of the waiting room focused on him.

The news of Kwon Seonhyuk backstage at KBS Music Bank spread like wildfire, like a pebble thrown into water. The corridor was even more bustling than when he arrived.

Whispers rose quietly, like background noise.

"Look! It really is Kwon Hyun-hyuk!"

Wow...the real person has such a strong presence...

"You went to Aespa to shoot a challenge, right? It hasn't been long."

"It seems like she also filmed with ITZY? Yuna was just jumping around like that..."

"Daifa... What day is it today that we have to see this person..."

Those gazes were filled with surprise, curiosity, and inquiry. The fact that a top-tier actor who had reached the pinnacle of the film and television industry appeared backstage at an idol music show was itself a highly contrasting and topical event.

Quan Xuanhe could clearly feel the lingering gazes of those eyes, as if they were scrutinizing him.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's expression remained unchanged, maintaining his usual calm and distant politeness.

Things are definitely different now. In the past, it was about maintaining a friendly demeanor, but now being too friendly can actually cause problems.

His assistant stood slightly in front of him, scanning the surroundings with a slightly wary look.

He lowered his eyelids slightly and only gave a slight, perfunctory nod in response to the few staff members who recognized him and bowed to greet him.

Kwon Heonhyuk then left KBS and resumed his busy schedule.

Challenge was filmed and uploaded quickly, and both Aespa and ITZY uploaded theirs online very soon. Both are in their comeback period, so they're capitalizing on this hype as quickly as possible.

The collaborative challenge video was quickly uploaded to the internet.

aespa & Kwon Hyun-hyuk version of "Girls" challenge.

The video's popularity skyrocketed, instantly exploding across major platforms. Views surged past the million and tens of millions at an astonishing rate, while likes and comments grew exponentially.

Both are highly popular and have a large fan base, making this a powerful collaboration and a dream team-up.

This gave aespa a much-needed boost during their comeback, though their momentum seemed to be waning, and reignited interest in "Girls" and the group. Meanwhile, Kwon Heonhyuk's stage presence and learning ability amazed casual viewers.

When can I go solo?

"Let's go back to being idols!"

ITZY & Kwon Hyun-hyuk's version of "SNEAKERS" challenge.

It also quickly garnered tens of millions of views and remained firmly at the top of the trending charts.

This further expanded the reach of "SNEAKERS" and boosted the group's popularity, with tangible results.

I don't know why, but ITZY's popularity is getting lower and lower, and the public's attention is getting lower and lower, even though their fan data and other aspects are not bad.

Some attribute it to a lack of good songs, while others attribute it to the company's unwillingness to spend money on marketing.

Anyway, it's getting worse every year.

The discussion volume, viewership, and interaction volume all demonstrate the terrifying power of the "Kwon Hyun-hyuk effect," far exceeding the level of ordinary idol challenges, bringing both groups a boost in popularity and traffic.

When his phone vibrated, Kwon Heonhyuk was reviewing the supplementary terms of his endorsement contract.

The name "Lim Na-yeon" that popped up on the screen made him raise an eyebrow.

Why is she calling herself?

As soon as the call connected, Lin Na-yeon's clear, yet slightly coquettish and complaining voice burst out.

"Wow! I saw it on the news!"

"You had a lot of fun dancing with aespa for 'Girls' and with ITZY for 'SNEAKERS'?"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk grinned. "I just happened to run into him during a break in filming and helped him out. What's wrong? Are you jealous about that?"

"Oh my! What are you jealous about!" she immediately denied, but the next second her tone suddenly changed.

"But I've been back on my solo career for almost a month now! Don't you care at all?"

Before the words were finished, a short, indistinct gasp came from the other end of the phone, as if someone had been unexpectedly pushed in front of the receiver, and the rustling sound of fabric rubbing together was clearly audible.

Nayeon's smug laughter rang out: "Tzuyu is right next to me listening! Come on, explain yourself properly, do you think the song isn't good enough? Not as good as others?"

He didn't pay much attention to it, as he was busy with his schedule. The key point is that no one reminded him, otherwise he would have given some support, after all, it was TWICE's first solo.

When Kwon Hyun-hyuk heard Nayeon's reproachful question, especially when she mentioned that Tzuyu was also listening nearby, his voice quickly returned to its usual composure, even carrying a hint of coaxing laughter.

"Oh, Nayeon-nuna?" He addressed her with a slightly intimate yet respectful form of address, jokingly saying, "What kind of talk is that?"

He spoke frankly, with a hint of realization: "It was my mistake. I've been working non-stop lately, filming one day after another, and new endorsement ads one after another. I'm exhausted from filming. My schedule is constantly pushing me around, and my phone is overflowing with unread messages."

Kwon Heonhyuk's use of "Noona" gave Lim Nayeon goosebumps.

Although she was two years older than him, she acted like a peer. He had grown up abroad and had never paid attention to her, so he was quite surprised when he suddenly heard it.

He paused briefly, then his voice became even more cheerful and confident.
"But you're right, how can such an important event as a solo debut be without my support?"

His voice carried a hint of arrogance as he decisively declared, "You want to take on a Challenge? No problem!"

"I'll arrange it right now!" he said decisively.

“Teach me the moves, and I’ll have my uncle contact your company. We can film it tomorrow… no, the day after? Sometime later. I guarantee it will be flawless.”

Nayeon couldn't find fault with what he said. She scratched her head and looked at Tzuyu beside her.

She looked at me with a smile, as if waiting to see what I would say next.

"Ugh, speechless."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone. Lim Nayeon seemed speechless for a moment, caught off guard by Kwon Heonhyuk's crisp and decisive assurance. Only her slightly resentful whispers could be heard.

Immediately afterwards, a slight pushing and rubbing sound of clothes rustling was heard.

"Oh, you're here to talk!" Lim Nayeon's voice came from a little distance, with a hint of reproach.

After a brief silence, a softer, quieter voice came through the receiver.

"Yo-ho, Oppa? It's me... Tzuyu."

"Yes, Ziyu." Quan Xuanhe's voice softened naturally, revealing a familiar gentleness.

"Was that Nayeon noona throwing a little tantrum just now? She's had such a successful solo career, and she's still generating buzz a month later."

Nayeon's solo performance is quite good, with outstanding digital sales. It can be said to be JYP Entertainment's best-performing song in the past two years.

She got what she was entitled to, leaving no regrets. Everything was beautiful and flawless.

The only problem might be Lim Na-yeon's face itself; the cosmetic surgery hasn't fully healed yet.

His praise seemed to relieve Chou Tzu-yu on the other end of the phone, who responded softly with a slight smile.

"Unnie... is a little bothered that Oppa didn't film Challenge together, she was just kidding."

This explanation carries a hint of defense.

“I know,” Quan Xuanhe replied, his tone carrying an understanding smile.

"I've listened to her songs several times, Pop! Pop! It's really addictive. I was being honest just now, we could film Challenge anytime."

That's when he started rambling on and on; it was purely because she reminded him that he remembered the memories brought back by his sixth sense.

After all, he wouldn't deliberately remember things that aren't very important. With so many memories to remember, he always prioritizes them.

He paused, then his tone became more serious: "The itinerary is rather fragmented, but we can always squeeze in some time. How would you arrange things conveniently on your end?"

Chou Tzu-yu's voice was soft, with a hint of inquiry: "Oppa, would it be convenient for you to come to... our company? The JYP building? We have a suitable place to film in our practice room or within the company."

"Sure," Quan Xuanhe readily agreed.

“Going to JYP is no problem. You’re familiar with your territory, so it’ll be more efficient. Tell Nayeon noona that I’ll have her uncle, Park Jung-jung, contact your company’s director or manager immediately to coordinate a specific time.”

"They'll set a specific time slot and then notify my assistant tomorrow or the day after."

“Oh… thank you, Oppa.” Tzuyu’s voice sounded a little more relaxed, filled with sincere gratitude.

"I'll tell Nayeon unnie, she'll be so happy."

"Hmm," Quan Xuanhe responded, his fingers unconsciously tracing the surface of the table.

"Then it's settled. See you at JYP."

On the other end of the phone, Lim Nayeon mumbled a question, "Have you made plans?"

Then Chou Tzu-yu replied softly, "It's agreed, we'll film at the company."

"Goodbye, Oppa," Chou Tzu-yu said softly.

Then came Nayeon's voice calling out, "Goodbye~"

"OK, bye."

Quan Xuanhe waited for her to hang up first before slowly putting down his phone.

(End of this chapter)