Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 683 Jealousy
Liu Zhimin walked somewhat hesitantly to Zhao Meiyan and Song Yuqi, stopping a step away from them.

She lowered her eyes slightly, the shadow of her hat falling on the lower half of her small face, but the eyes peeking out from above her mask were still clearly looking at Zhao Meiyan, clearly conveying her identity.

"Annyeonghaseyo, Miyeon-senpai, Yuqi-senpai."

Liu Zhimin's voice came through the mask, her tone maintaining the respect a junior should have for a senior, and she even sounded more reserved than when they met at the company.

Indeed, Liu Zhimin was secretly plotting to rise to power.

But when Zhao Meiyan was actually in front of him, and it was Quan Xuanhe who asked him to greet her, he felt guilty because he had no one to back him up.

But at least Liu Zhimin didn't show it on the surface; she remained polite and courteous.

In the few seconds it took Zhao Meiyan to walk over, her eyes quickly settled from initial surprise and inquiry.

She stood up, looked at Liu Zhimin who was greeting her, and smiled.

“Annyeonghaseyo, Jimin-xi.”

Her gaze lingered on Liu Zhimin for a moment, then swept over the exquisite paper bag in Liu Zhimin's hand, which was clearly not prepared for the staff, before landing on her outfit, and finally meeting Liu Zhimin's eyes again.

To be honest, she knew this kind of occasion would be a bit awkward, and she herself would feel a little uncomfortable in normal circumstances as well.

But then she remembered that Liu Zhimin had seemed to be making sarcastic remarks about her at the party last time, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and she immediately calmed down.

"I didn't expect to see you here. Are you here to watch Xuanhe's filming?"

Her question was so natural, as if she were simply confirming an obvious fact.

Song Yuqi reacted even faster.

The moment she recognized Liu Zhimin, a distinct look of surprise flashed across her eyes, and she subconsciously opened her mouth slightly, but quickly realized the situation.

She quickly adjusted her expression, stood up, and said in a tone that was just the right amount of familiarity and surprise: "Oh my, Zhimin! It's you. I thought I had mistaken you for someone else."

Her gaze darted back and forth between Liu Zhimin and Zhao Meiyan, and it was clear that she could sense the subtle change in the atmosphere between them.

We need to hold this in, or something terrible will happen.

Song Yuqi picked up her half-finished coffee cup on the table, took a small sip, but couldn't help glancing at Quan Xuanhe.

He was standing still, his gaze fixed on this side.

Song Yuqi gave him a look.

You're not going to do anything about this?

Upon receiving the signal, Quan Xuanhe simply shook his head slightly.

He was observing how the two would react in this situation.

We can't rely on him to mediate everything, or he'll be exhausted.

"Yes..." Liu Zhimin responded briefly, which was considered an answer to Zhao Meiyan's question.

Zhao Meiyan's gaze and impeccable politeness made her feel even more overwhelmed than if she were directly questioned.

She remained calm and added, "I heard the filming was very tough... I happen to have a short schedule lately, so I came to visit the set."

This statement is somewhat ambiguous; it's an explanation of the legitimacy of one's appearance.

"I see." Zhao Meiyan nodded gently, looking her up and down, her eyes seemingly thoughtful.

The air seemed to stagnate for a few seconds.

The background noise of the film set—the director's instructions, the rustling of moving equipment, and the chatter of the crew—all clearly reached their ears, only serving to highlight the silence in the area between the three of them.

Song Yuqi sensed the atmosphere was a bit awkward and tried to ease it: "Oh, Zhimin, did you bring coffee too? We just bought some snacks as well."

She pointed to the several large bags on the table, trying to change the subject.

"I brought breakfast for Xuanhe oppa." Liu Zhimin nodded slightly, knowing that the two of them had seen her handing breakfast to Quan Xuanhe earlier, and gave a brief answer.

Zhao Meiyan's expression remained impassive, but the fingers gripping the coffee cup tightened silently.

She didn't continue the conversation about coffee or breakfast, but looked at Liu Zhimin again, her voice still gentle: "Okay. Then you go ahead and get busy, Zhimin. We'll wait for him here."

This statement was gentle and polite, but it also revealed a lack of familiarity. In reality, there wasn't much to talk about, and everyone felt awkward.

Liu Zhimin understood the implication.

She bowed slightly: "Yes, seniors, please get some rest."

After saying that, she turned around almost immediately and walked quickly back the way she came, towards the place where Quan Xuanhe was standing.

Zhao Meiyan watched her walk away, then turned her gaze back to the coffee cup in her hand.

The liquid in the glass rippled slightly from her unconscious movement.

She stared at it silently for a few seconds, then very naturally placed the cup back on the table, her fingertip lightly tapping the cool surface.

Liu Zhimin walked back to Quan Xuanhe's side almost simultaneously, her steps hurried and fast.

She stood before him, her eyes wide and staring from under her hat brim, her voice low and filled with accusation and unvented frustration.

“Oppa!” she practically spat out the word through clenched teeth, her chest heaving slightly.

Why do you insist that I go over and say hello now?

The more she thought about it, the hotter her face felt, as if Zhao Meiyan's scrutinizing gaze was still glued to her.

"Qinjia... I'm so embarrassed..." She didn't even dare to turn around to check if they were still watching, feeling that if she turned around, she would meet their gaze again.

Quan Xuanhe didn't reply immediately, but just looked at her angry and somewhat embarrassed appearance, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

His gaze shifted from the distance to the embarrassed Liu Zhimin before him.

"What else? Should I tell you to hide? Or pretend you don't know me?"

He lowered his head and took a sip of his iced Americano, the cool liquid sliding down his throat.

"We'll run into each other sooner or later, so this is fine, it's natural and respectful."

"Where is it good..." Liu Zhimin muttered softly, her toes unconsciously grinding against a small pebble on the ground.

She pulled her hat down even further, wanting to shrink herself even smaller, "It was so incredibly embarrassing."

"Haven't you always been eager to try?"

"If you can't even manage a simple face-to-face greeting, how will you manage to do more?"

Quan Xuanhe looked at Liu Zhimin and gave her a hint.

“Besides, Miyeon isn’t that kind of person.” He paused, as if he were saying something more than just a reminder.

"The fact that this is possible is itself a gift from Miyeon's gentleness."

These words were like a pebble thrown into Liu Zhimin's chaotic heart, creating ripples that made her forget her complaints for a moment.

She looked up at him and saw that his smiling eyes seemed to be somewhat lost in thought.

“Ani…”

"Why did oppa say all this...?"

Liu Zhimin lowered her head and looked away, seemingly unconcerned about what she had said. Instead, she muttered another sentence under her breath.

"Go find a place to rest, I need to start filming."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk put down his coffee cup and casually stuffed the paper bag containing the croissant back into her arms.

"Take it aside."

Liu Zhimin instinctively caught the bag, looked at it, and then saw that he had already turned around and strode towards the filming area.

She stood there, holding the still-warm food bag in her arms.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, such as "Why should I be the one embarrassed?" or "Why don't you say more words to comfort me?", but seeing that he had already turned and left, she couldn't help but say more, and those words were stuck in her throat.

Finally, she just pouted in frustration, swallowing her unspoken complaints and inexplicable grievances back down her throat.

She held the bag, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and didn't want to turn her head, in case she accidentally made eye contact with someone.

Liu Zhimin found a corner and went there alone. Then she lowered her head, opened her phone, and typed rapidly, tapping the screen with her fingers.

She pulled down her mask, took a deep breath, as if to dispel the lingering embarrassment and slight bitterness in her chest.

【Minjung, I feel like I'm going to die.】 The message was replied to almost instantly.

【What's up? On set?】

[Miyeon is here. Together with Yuqi.]

Liu Zhimin has no suspicion of Jin Dongtian now, and is willing to talk to her about these things. She also believes from the bottom of her heart that under Quan Xuanhe's control, Jin Dongtian can't cause any trouble.

【!!!!!Miyeon unnie?! Where is she?!】

Liu Zhimin could almost picture Kim Min-jung's eyes widening instantly on the other end of the phone.

Jin Dongtian typed with shock, but in reality, his shock was mixed with schadenfreude.

Oh, so you've finally found yourself in this socially awkward situation.

"And Oppa told me to go say hello."

[Really?! You went?!]

Jin Dongtian was disoriented in the wind; although she was watching the play, she didn't understand it.

Is this a special hobby?

Aren't you afraid it will explode?

Jin Dongtian suddenly felt something was amiss.

[Yes, it's gone right in front of me.]

Liu Zhimin paused, feeling her cheeks burning again, as if Zhao Meiyan's gaze had fallen on her once more.

[How is it going? What is Miyeon Oni's reaction?]

Like a TV drama, Kim Dong-dong found it very entertaining to watch.

What's wrong with making her feel embarrassed?

[As usual, very polite, but I was so panicked I really thought I was going to die.]

What about Oppa? Besides asking you to go...

[He didn't say anything and then went to film.]

After sending this message, Liu Zhimin added a crying face emoji as if to vent her anger.

She felt more frustrated by Kwon Hyun-hyuk's nonchalant attitude than by confronting Cho Mi-yeon directly.

What is the tenderness that Miyeon gives?

Does this mean she's being petty? Or should she be grateful for Zhao Meiyan's magnanimity?

She was clearly trying very hard to maintain a semblance of civility!

At the same time, Song Yuqi, with a straw in her mouth, glanced furtively at the figure huddled in the corner in the distance, frantically tapping on her phone, and then at the silent Zhao Meiyan beside her.

Zhao Meiyan sat seemingly calmly, unaware that the water droplets condensed on the glass of iced Americano in her hand slid down her fingertips.

His gaze fell on the busy film set ahead, but his focus was somewhat unfocused.

She's usually playful and carefree, incredibly sunny and cheerful. I don't want to be too serious or reserved; it's too tiring.

"Unnie..." Song Yuqi swallowed her drink, her voice slightly tentative, "Um... why is Liu Zhimin... here too?"

She wanted to say something like, "Why does he act like an assistant?" but she swallowed the words back.

Zhao Meiyan's eyelashes trembled slightly. She looked away, down at the ice cubes swaying in her glass, her voice drifting aimlessly.

"Xuanhe said that she doesn't have many schedules lately, so she came to visit the set."

She repeated what Quan Xuanhe had relayed.

“Oh…” Song Yuqi drawled, her eyes darting around, “She… seems quite… diligent, huh? She even brought breakfast? And helped carry the water cup.”

"She is very diligent." Zhao Meiyan put down her cup, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing against the cool plastic cup, which inevitably felt a little sore.

In the distance, the director's voice calling "Cut" could be faintly heard. She watched as Kwon Soomhyuk finished a shot and was talking to Choi Min-sik, his profile looking very focused under the light.

"Cut! That's a good take! Lunch break!" Jang Jae-hyun's voice came through the loudspeaker, sounding noticeably tired.

Quan Xuanhe exhaled a breath of stale air, stretched his neck, and glanced at the two far-away corners of the rest area before his eyes met Zhao Meiyan's again.

He smiled and glanced around.

Zhao Meiyan and Song Yuqi were talking together, with the support items they had brought placed next to them.

Liu Zhimin curled up on the other side, her hat pulled low, hugging her knees, her whole body huddled together, like a small animal trying to make its presence as inconspicuous as possible.

This is clearly a lingering effect of the greeting I just gave.

Quan Xuanhe strode over, heading straight for Zhao Meiyan and Song Yuqi.

"You've worked hard." Zhao Meiyan looked up and smiled gently as he approached, handing him an open bottle of mineral water, her eyes brimming with affection.

"Hmm, this one is fairly smooth."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk took the water and drank a few sips.

"Hey, what's wrong with you, Zhimin?" Song Yuqi asked with concern, glancing meaningfully at a distant corner with a hint of inquiry.

"It's alright," Quan Xuanhe replied, not answering Song Yuqi's question. His gaze naturally turned to Liu Zhimin's direction, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, clearly penetrating the noise of the film set.

"Zhimin."

Liu Zhimin's tapping fingers paused noticeably before she slowly raised her head. Her eyes, hidden under the brim of her hat, quickly swept over Quan Xuanhe, then swiftly passed over the two people behind him before immediately looking down.

"Yes... oppa." The voice was muffled through the mask.

"It's noon," Quan Xuanhe said casually, as if announcing a pre-arranged procedure.

"Let's have lunch together in the RV. It'll be simple and saves us from having to go out."

Zhao Meiyan's smile remained unchanged, but the fingers holding the water bottle tightened slightly before loosening.

She nodded: "Okay."

The empress appears timid in front of outsiders?
That won't do.

"Huh?" Song Yuqi was taken aback.

Are you that bold?
Quan Xuanhe's gaze fell on Liu Zhimin, waiting for her response.

Liu Zhimin fiddled with the edge of the phone case with her fingertips, remained silent for two seconds, and finally nodded: "...Yes."

She stood up, her movements somewhat sluggish, and slowly moved over.

"Let's go."

Seeing Liu Zhimin slowly walking towards him, Quan Xuanhe looked at the three of them from left to right and spoke.

The black nanny van was spacious, with a small table set up in the middle, holding several insulated food containers.

Song Yuqi was the first to sit down on the single sofa by the window.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk naturally walked to one side of the long sofa and sat down.

Without hesitation, Zhao Meiyan calmly sat down next to him and took off her coat, draping it over the armrest.

Liu Zhimin took off her hat and mask, revealing a slightly flushed face that she tried to keep calm. Seeing that Zhao Meiyan had already taken the initiative, she gritted her teeth secretly.

Ah, oh my god…

I was too late. I should have walked a few steps faster and gotten on the bus first.

The seat next to me is clearly mine.

After a brief moment of internal thought, Liu Zhimin decided where she should sit.

Quan Xuanhe waved to her and patted the person next to him.

"Sit here."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Meiyan immediately turned her head to look at Quan Xuanhe.

Ok?
(End of this chapter)