Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 660 The Heartwarming Aspect

The incandescent lights in the practice room were soft and bright, with a lingering sense of restlessness in the air.

As soon as her assistant confirmed with the staff that the materials were okay, Lim Nayeon scurried to a corner and grabbed her canvas bag.

"That's it for today, I'm off work, and I'm so hungry..."

She rubbed her stomach, turned her face towards Kwon Heon-hyuk and Chou Tzu-yu, and her big eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"It's getting late, let's go grab a bite to eat. I know a new restaurant that's pretty good for raw marinated meats."

Quan Xuanhe was taking the mineral water bottle from his assistant and unscrewing it when he heard this, he paused.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping between Lim Nayeon's radiant face and Chou Tzuyu, who was quietly tidying her stray hairs beside her.

He tilted his head back, took a sip of water, his Adam's apple bobbing, and tightened the bottle cap with unhurried movements.

"Is the restaurant you recommended reliable? You don't look like you have any appetite while eating." Kwon Heonhyuk teased her in a lighthearted tone, but when he saw Lim Nayeon immediately glare at him in dissatisfaction and was about to retort, he smiled and waved his hand.

His gaze swept over the two of them, finally settling on Chou Tzu-yu's slightly raised face as she looked over.

"I know a store."

"It's a newly popular restaurant in Cheongdam-dong. The chef studied at Le Cordon Bleu in France. It's a Korean-French fusion restaurant with a great atmosphere."

"Want to try this place? I'll have someone hold a table for me." As he spoke, he casually took out his phone, unlocked the screen, and prepared to dial.

The movements were fluid and natural, showing an understanding of the time and place, as well as the type of environment that would suit the female artist and allow her to feel at ease and enjoy herself.

Lim Nayeon was indeed drawn to the "trendy restaurant" and "French cuisine," and her eyes lit up even more when she heard that it was "very private."

"qinjia?"

"What about Tzuyu? How does she feel?"

Nayeon turned to ask Tzuyu for her opinion.

"I also can."

Chou Tzu-yu nodded slightly, her smile relaxed and gentle, showing great cooperation.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk dialed the number of an assistant or a private contact, whispered a few quick instructions, mentioned the time, the number of people, and probably even their names to ensure everything went smoothly.

After hanging up the phone, he nodded to the two of them, a relieved smile on his face: "All done, now's the perfect time to go."

The van glided discreetly through the dazzling nightscape of Seoul.

Lin Na-yeon was very talkative and spoke enthusiastically about the topic.

She's shy around strangers, but she gets very friendly once she gets to know them.

Chou Tzu-yu sat next to Kwon Heon-hyuk, listening to Lim Na-yeon chatter on and off, occasionally replying with a smile.

Look, they look just like a family of three.

As Kwon Heonhyuk described, the restaurant is tucked away in a quiet, upscale alley in Cheongdam-dong. The understated wooden entrance cleverly utilizes abundant greenery and artistic screens to create semi-private spaces within the interior.

The reserved location is in a relatively quiet corner, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a meticulously arranged courtyard scene. Soft light shines through the frosted glass, creating a hazy and elegant atmosphere.

On the table sat an exquisite bronze candlestick and a small vase of fresh flowers, the air filled with the faint scent of essential oils and the subtle aroma of food.

The three of them didn't try to hide their presence, not afraid of being discovered by other diners they knew. It wasn't like they were eating alone; it's quite normal for men and women to eat together in private.

As long as you're not alone, you won't attract attention or suspicion.

"The signature dishes here are Korean beef fillet and seasonal truffle dishes. I've heard that the chef's creative sauces are exceptional."

The waiter promptly presented the beautifully designed menu.

Nayeon looked through the exquisitely crafted pictures of the dishes on the menu, her eyes shining like stars. She was particularly tempted by the Korean beef fillet and truffle dishes, and occasionally whispered to Tzuyu about the difficulty of making a choice.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk had never actually been there; he had only heard about it from people around him.

While waiting for the food to be served, the warm yellow lighting created a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Under the restaurant's warm yellow lights, delicate appetizers were gradually placed on the table. The conversation gradually shifted from the ambiance and food to recent events.

Lim Nayeon cut off a small piece of the side dish with truffle sauce and put it in her mouth. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction, then looked at Kwon Heonhyuk and asked with a hint of curiosity, "How's filming 'Dark Glory' going? It feels like you're practically living on set."

Chou Tzu-yu, who was standing next to him, also put down her fork and looked at him with gentle eyes, clearly concerned as well.

Quan Xuanhe picked up his water glass, took a sip, and spoke in a rather indifferent tone.

"It's alright, the progress hasn't dropped. It's just that working non-stop is a bit tiring."

He paused for a moment and then gave a general timeframe.

"It should be about two more months before the filming phase is over."

"Then we'll be able to see it on TV very soon?" Lim Nayeon said.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk gave a slight twitch of his lips in response.

His gaze lingered on Tzuyu's face for a few seconds. Soft background music played in the restaurant, making the moment seem somewhat delicate.

Finally, as if he had carefully chosen his words, he put down his water glass and cut straight to the question that had been swirling in his mind for a long time.

“Speaking of which, Tzuyu,” he said calmly, but the probing in his tone was not deliberately hidden.

"I've seen you and Jisoo noona getting quite close lately? It's even in the news. They had lunch together and seemed to be getting along quite well."

He picked up his fork and casually fiddled with the exquisitely arranged side dishes on the plate, but his gaze never left Zhou Ziyu's face, intently capturing any subtle reaction from her.

"When did you two become so close?"

The question seemed to freeze for a moment. Chou Tzu-yu appeared to be thinking, or perhaps organizing her thoughts. A few strands of hair slipped down her cheek as she lowered her head, adding to her quietude.

Lim Nayeon, standing next to him, rolled her eyes, glancing at Kwon Heonhyuk's slightly scrutinizing expression and then at Chou Tzuyu's slightly pursed lips. She blinked.

This question...

Chou Tzu-yu met Kwon Hyun-hyuk's gaze, her eyes clear, and gave him a gentle smile, seemingly not seeing anything wrong with it.

"Mmm." Her voice was soft and gentle, just like the impression she always gave off.

"Actually... there's no particular reason."

She tilted her head slightly, speaking as naturally as if she were discussing the weather.

"I just felt... well, Jisoo unnie has a very cheerful personality, and she's very funny. It's comfortable to chat with her, and we feel like we click. So I thought it would be nice to have a meal together alone."

She paused, picked up her water glass, took a sip, her movements unhurried, and then gave him a slightly coquettish smile, her tone mirroring his.

That's all.

Her explanation was concise and to the point.

There was no hint of falsehood in it, yet it cleverly avoided delving into anything.

Lim Nayeon, standing next to her, rolled her eyes, glanced at Chou Tzuyu's composed profile, and then at Kwon Heonhyuk's subtly inquisitive expression. A mischievous smile immediately appeared on her face.

She deliberately dragged out her words, pointing vaguely at Kwon Soo-hyuk with her fork: "Ah~~ Kwon Soo-hyuk xi!"

She blinked, her tone teasing with a hint of mischief: "Why are you so concerned about who Ziyu ate with? Do you have to interrogate her about who she ate with?"

She leaned forward slightly, stepping over the table a little distance, deliberately lowering her voice while making sure the other two could hear her clearly.

"You're not her boyfriend anymore, why are you being so nosy? It's Tzuyu's freedom to make friends with whomever she wants!"

After saying that, she playfully raised her eyebrows at Tzuyu.

Chou Tzu-yu didn't seem too embarrassed by Lim Na-yeon's teasing. She simply smiled faintly, acknowledging the support, and softly replied, "Unnie..."

Kwon Heonhyuk was taken aback by Lim Nayeon's blunt and somewhat "heart-wrenching" joke.

Looking at Nayeon's smug "what can you do to me?" expression, and then at Tzuyu's honest "I've already explained, think what you want" look, his initial desire to ask for clarification was replaced by helplessness.

He twitched the corner of his mouth, shook his head slightly, and said with a hint of helplessness after being teased, "Nah... Arasso. I was just overthinking it."

He raised his glass and gestured symbolically in the direction of Nayeon and Tzuyu.

Seeing his discomfiture, Lim Nayeon's smile widened, and she cheerfully raised her glass. Chou Tzuyu also raised her glass with a gentle smile.

Under the restaurant's soft lighting, the air was filled with the aroma of food and a subtle fragrance of incense.

As soon as Kwon Hyun-hyuk finished saying "Alas!" with a hint of helplessness, Lim Na-yeon chuckled, swirled her wine glass triumphantly, and took a small sip.

The atmosphere seemed to have returned to a relaxed and pleasant state.

Just then, the waiter came forward to clear away the appetizers and brought out the main course—thick-cut Korean beef tenderloin with a rich truffle sauce, the intense aroma instantly taking over. The three of them tacitly paused their slightly sensitive conversation and temporarily shifted their attention to the exquisite dish.

Lim Nayeon cut off a piece of beef, put it in her mouth, squinted her eyes in satisfaction, and mumbled a praise: "Wow... this sauce is absolutely amazing!" She swallowed the food, lightly dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin, and as if suddenly remembering something, she opened her eyes wide and looked at Kwon Heonhyuk, abruptly changing the subject.

"Ah! Speaking of which! The Blue Dragon TV Awards are next weekend, right?" Her voice rose a little with excitement, attracting the attention of a table of guests next to her. She immediately covered her mouth in embarrassment and lowered her voice, but the light in her eyes did not diminish at all.

"You were nominated for Best Actor this time, right? You won the Baeksang Arts Awards, so you'll definitely have no problem with the Blue Dragon Awards... right?"

Chou Tzu-yu also put down her knife and fork, her gentle eyes filled with a sincere smile as she looked at Kwon Hyun-hyuk.

Seeing the two people so happy for him, Kwon Hyun-hyuk's lips curled up slightly. Although the pride in his eyes wasn't fully revealed, he couldn't hide the composure of being recognized by a top award.

"Thank you both in advance."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's voice was calm, with his usual composure. "Being nominated is certainly something to be happy about, but as for the results, no one can say for sure until the awards ceremony."

He took a sip of his drink, his tone neither overly humble nor deliberately boastful, as if stating a simple fact. "I've already won Best Actor, so the chances of me winning Blue Dragon again are slim."

"It should be Jung Jae-hyung; he's the most likely candidate."

"what……"

Lim Nayeon seemed to suddenly understand, and then asked.

"Don't you feel sorry for it?"

"What do I have to regret? I've taken what I was supposed to take. I can't have it all, that would be too greedy."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk said with a smile, but his gaze was fixed on Chou Tzu-yu as he spoke.

If you can't succeed in your career, you should at least try to succeed in your love life, right?
Hearing Kwon Heonhyuk's response, Lim Nayeon pursed her lips, poked at the last bit of blackberry sauce on her plate with her fork, making a small "clink" sound. Her eyes darted around, clearly dissatisfied with his overly mature "indifference," and she decided to change the subject.

"Oh, speaking of which,"

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes flashing like gossip spotlights again. "Today in the practice room, Xueyun's gaze towards you was surprisingly bright." Her tone was teasing.

"After all this time, you still remember her name...tsk tsk, Xuanhe's charm is truly irresistible."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk shook his head helplessly and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "It's something I could only run into during my trainee days, but now that I've debuted, I didn't expect to see you again. It's a bit of a surprise."

"I think it's because she's so beautiful that I can remember her?"

Lim Nayeon persisted, lowering her voice with a grin, "Seolyoon is the face of the group, after all."

"Doesn't she like Tzuyu?"

When Chou Tzu-yu was mentioned, she smiled shyly.

“I’ve met NMIXX before. She greeted people backstage in a natural and polite manner. She’s grown up very quickly.”

"Somewhat like you, but not quite."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk glanced at Chou Tzu-yu and said with a smile.

"Tzuyu is still more beautiful."

She had barely finished speaking when Lim Nayeon interrupted her.

Nayeon carefully scooped out the exquisitely crafted chocolate decorations from the edge of the plate with her small fork, letting out a satisfied sigh as she mumbled, "Aigoo, this place is really good, I'll have to come again next time."

Quan Xuanhe was at a loss.

Is this how protective you are of your own?

This is too impenetrable, too heavily guarded!
Under the warm yellow lights of a high-end restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, the last delicate dessert was also devoured.

Ah...I'm so full!

Lim Nayeon patted her belly contentedly, leaned back lazily in her chair, and wore a relaxed smile after a satisfying meal.

"This place is really good. I'll have to bring others here to try other dishes next time." Zhou Ziyu put down her spoon, gently dabbed her lips with a napkin, and nodded gently in agreement. "Yes, the food is really made with care."

Her gaze inadvertently swept over Quan Xuanhe across from her, then quickly looked away.

Quan Xuanhe gestured to the waiter nearby to sign the bill, his movements swift and efficient. He glanced at the time and said to the two who were still savoring their meal, "Let's go, it's getting late."

The car drove smoothly along the brightly lit streets of Seoul. Perhaps it was the satisfaction from the food, or perhaps the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant carried over into the car, but the conversation between the three gradually quieted down.

Lim Nayeon leaned against the car window, watching the city lights rushing past, while looking down at her phone.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk closed his eyes to rest, while relaxing background music played in the car.

Shortly after, the vehicle arrived and slowly stopped at a convenient parking spot a little distance from the entrance.

"Alright, we're here." Lim Nayeon straightened up, her face showing the relaxed feeling of returning home from get off work, and her tone was light.

"Thank you for dinner tonight, Mr. Quan." She winked playfully.

"Don't mention it." Quan Xuanhe's lips curled up slightly.

Nayeon opened the car door, one foot already on the ground, then, as if remembering something, turned back and made a cute face at Tzuyu inside the car, saying in a low but clear voice, "Tzuyu, I'm going up now, come back slowly~"

"Unnie..." Chou Tzu-yu responded with a slightly helpless smile.

The car door closed, and Lim Na-yeon strode towards the apartment entrance.

This still created time for the two of them to be alone.

The car door closed, shutting out Lim Na-yeon's light and cheerful figure and the slightly cool air outside. Inside the car, only the deep rumble of the engine and the flowing light and shadows remained.

A brief silence, like a thin veil, gently enveloped the two of them, isolating them from the bustling Seoul outside.

Chou Tzu-yu sat sideways, her gaze quietly fixed on the rapidly shifting lights of Seoul's night outside the car window. The colorful lights reflected in her clear eyes, flickering on and off.

The dim lighting inside the car blurred some details, but it made her profile appear even softer and more serene.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet carriage, carrying a hint of concern:
“Xuanhe…”

She paused, seemingly considering her words, "How did things go between you and Mi-yeon unnie...?"

"Don't worry, it's all over now."

"Mmm," she responded softly, just as briefly.

Immediately, before Kwon Hyun-hyuk could fully grasp her next move, Chou Tzu-yu leaned towards him.

Without hesitation, without any shy pause, in the confined space of the train carriage, she opened her arms and gently embraced Quan Xuanhe's waist.

This hug wasn't as tight as the one between lovers, nor was it possessive; it was more like a silent comfort and support, a warm gesture.

Her cheek rested briefly on his shoulder, and her unique, refreshing scent enveloped him instantly.

Then, Chou Tzu-yu looked up. The dim light inside the car outlined her delicate jawline.

She looked directly into his eyes, which were so close to hers. Those calm eyes that had once made Zhao Meiyan feel so pressured were now clear and open.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk could even see his own blurry reflection in her eyes.

Then, a warm, soft touch, with a slightly sweet, fruity scent, gently and briefly landed on his cheek.

Like a feather falling.

Instantly separate.

"That's good." Chou Tzu-yu's voice returned to its usual gentle tone, as if the proactive hug and kiss just now were the most natural actions before saying goodbye.

"Oppa, you've worked hard too."

After saying that, she released her embrace, creating some distance between them. The movement was fluid and natural, without the slightest hesitation or lingering reluctance.

"I'll go up first."

She pointed to the familiar apartment building outside the window, a gentle and soft smile with a hint of distance on her face, clean and efficient.

"Mm." Quan Xuanhe nodded, watching her push open the car door and disappear into the bright light at the entrance of the apartment building.

The car door closed again.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk sat alone in the now quiet back seat, the air still seeming to hold the lingering warmth of that fleeting embrace, and the incredibly soft yet unmistakably clear kiss mark on his cheek.

"..." He sighed almost imperceptibly, leaning back in his chair.

Chou Tzu-yu's attitude was impeccable; she didn't pressure or question you, but instead played the role of being considerate and caring, avoiding creating problems or trouble.

It still warms people's hearts.

(End of this chapter)