Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 693 Foreseen, Alliance Rivalry?
Love Lee

This was a huge hit song in 2023.

Released on August 21, 2023, it topped the Bug and NAVER VIBE real-time rankings for three consecutive days.

Meanwhile, "Love Lee" also ranked high on other music charts such as Melon, Genie, and Flo.

It also became the fourth song in 2023 to achieve a Perfect All-Kill, meaning it simultaneously topped the real-time charts, daily charts, weekly charts, and monthly charts.

In addition, "Love Lee" achieved the number one spot on Melon's daily chart for 60 days.

In 2002 and 2003, a year dominated by girl group songs, he stood out as the only singer to top the charts.

It performed exceptionally well on the Circle digital charts, holding the top spot for six consecutive weeks.

In the 2023 Gallup Korea Song Chart, "Love Lee" ranked 7th with 2.55% of the votes.

The song's musical achievements are quite remarkable.

After calmly releasing his hand, Quan Xuanhe gestured for Li Zanhe to sit down in the empty seat next to the conference table.

"It's so great that Zanhyuk-ssi could come." Kwon Heonhyuk sat down again, looking at Lee Zanhyuk with sincere eyes.

“I actually listen to Akdong Musician’s songs very often.”

“I’ve always felt that there’s a unique sense of narrative and life in these works, like ‘200%’ and ‘How Can I Love the Heartbreak,’ which are very touching. The delicate observation and warm expression are something that can’t be found in many lavish productions.”

Lee Chan-hyuk was somewhat surprised that Kwon Seon-hyuk would comment on their work so specifically.

"Kamsamita is just trying to write down what I feel."

“That’s the most precious thing,” Quan Xuanhe said with a smile.

"To be honest, when I made this solo album, besides wanting to try different musical styles, I also hoped that one or two songs could have a long life like your works, rather than just a fleeting moment of popularity."

His words drew nods of agreement from the YG producers present.

With Kwon Hyun-hyuk's star power and dedication, making a purely commercial pop album would have been too easy, but it would obviously have been meaningless for him to do so, and it would have just been a passing fad.

Something has to be left behind.

“So,” Quan Xuanhe changed the subject, looking at Li Zanhe.

"I have a presumptuous idea."

The meeting room fell silent, and everyone looked at him.

"Zanhe-xi, do you have some time?"

"If possible, I would like to invite you, or purchase one of your existing songs."

Quan Xuanhe said quite seriously.

"I just hope it can be like Akdong's music, something that people can listen to repeatedly."

"Of course, copyright and production costs are not a problem at all; we can discuss it according to the highest standards."

Lee Chan-hyuk was clearly taken aback by Kwon Heon-hyuk's direct invitation to sing, and paused for a moment.

Those around were also somewhat surprised, not expecting this scene to occur so suddenly.

Although Akdong Musician has achieved remarkable results in music distribution, he has not actually made any significant achievements in the past two years, especially during his military service.

There are many better options than him, so inviting him to sing is not very common.

He seemed to be thinking quickly.

After a moment, Lee Chan-hyuk looked up and said, "I am really grateful for Xuan-hyuk's recognition and invitation."

He spoke slowly, with the deliberation characteristic of a musician.

"I do have some melodies and ideas that I'm currently working on, some for Enthusiasts, and some fragments that I'm experimenting with myself. But to say that they're completely suitable for Hyunhyuk-ssi..."

He paused for a moment, as if recalling the music library he had, before continuing, "If we're going to collaborate, I need some time to organize and think things through."

It wasn't exactly a polite refusal, but the invitation was rather sudden. It felt a bit unexpected that Quan Xuanhe, who is now considered a top actor, would suddenly invite him to sing a song.

You can't just agree on a whim; you have to think things through before making a decision.

He didn't immediately make a promise, nor did he present any specific pieces of music. This caution and seriousness only increased Kwon Hyun-hyuk's goodwill towards him.

"Of course it will take time." Kwon Hyun-hyuk nodded in understanding.

“Zanhe can take his time to come up with the idea.”

He was implying something, and the catchy chorus melody of "Love Lee" echoed in his mind again.

"I have plenty of time to prepare my album, and quality is always my top priority."

Upon hearing this, Lee Chan-hyuk did not seem offended and nodded in agreement, sensing his serious attitude.

"it is good."

That means the matter is pretty much settled.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk has a plan for this album; he's not just a hands-off manager who just waits for the final recording and release before it's all over.

That would be worse than not going solo at all. If you're going to do it, do it well. You have to put your heart into it, right?

Of course, he knew that going solo was a dead end, but it still came down to that saying.

Art is paramount.

Therefore, he plans to produce a proper, full-fledged album, not a mini-album with only five or six songs.

At least ten songs need to be produced in total.

He certainly hopes that every song is a masterpiece, but he only has a sixth sense to trigger information and cannot fully understand the future, so requiring every song to be superb is a difficult goal.

A situation like today, where a sixth sense is suddenly triggered, is one such example.

In the future, he will try his best to get to know more musicians while preparing his album, try to trigger his sixth sense again, and find musicians from the clues in his sixth sense.

Therefore, under such uncertain circumstances, Kwon Hyun-hyuk wanted to find a production company that was as reliable as possible, at least to have a backup plan.

but.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk remembered that the song "Love Lee" was a duet.
If that's the case, then he's missing a girl to work with him.

Who could it be?

Cho Mi-yeon? Or are there other options?

The following afternoon, the air backstage of Music Bank was filled with the sweet smell of hairspray, the scent of cosmetics, and a faint smell of sweat.

People came and went in the corridor, and the dance team dragged their suitcases and walked by quickly. Scattered music and noise leaked out from the opening and closing of the waiting room door.

Liu Zhimin took a deep breath, suppressing the lingering awkwardness in her heart, and raised her hand to knock on the door of the waiting room with the nameplate "(G)I-DLE" hanging on it.

The door opened, revealing the assistant's gentle, smiling face.

"Zhimin-xi? Please come in quickly."

As Liu Zhimin walked in, her eyes immediately fell on Zhao Meiyan, who was sitting in front of the makeup mirror, letting Cody fix her hair.

She was wearing her stage outfit, her makeup was exquisite, and the lines of her profile appeared soft under the bright lights.

Hearing the noise, Zhao Meiyan turned around, a smile immediately spreading across her face, and stood up.

"Zhimin, you're here!" Her voice was as bright as ever as she walked over and naturally extended her hand.

The slight embarrassment in Liu Zhimin's heart was somewhat dispelled by this overly direct greeting. She quickly extended her hand as well, forcing a polite smile on her face.

"Annyeonghaseyo, Miyeon unnie, congratulations on your return."

The moment their fingertips touched, she felt the other person's hand was warm and dry, and although the grip was not tight, it carried a sense of intimacy.

"Kamsangmidah." Zhao Meiyan smiled and gently patted Liu Zhimin's arm, looking genuinely happy.

"Isn't this outfit great for today's performance? The stage effects for our new song are amazing too, you definitely have to check it out later."

Her tone was light, her eyes bright, and her smile radiant, showing no trace of resentment, as if the confrontation on set had never happened.

Liu Zhimin was somewhat taken aback by her frank attitude, and the polite words she had prepared stuck in her throat, so she could only nod in agreement.

"Inside."

She glanced around the waiting room. Minnie was practicing her facial expressions in front of the mirror, while Yuqi was scrolling through her phone. When she saw her, she gave her a big smile.

Everyone else was busy with their own things, and the atmosphere was relaxed; her arrival didn't seem particularly strange.

"We'll film the Challenge later; we'll have a rehearsal in a bit."

Zhao Meiyan pulled Liu Zhimin to sit down on an empty chair next to her, and Cody immediately came over to continue doing her hair.

"The chorus part isn't difficult; you'll definitely be able to do it in no time. Our comeback chorus dance is quite memorable; it's called 'Nxde'."

As she spoke, she made a signature gesture, a hint of smugness in her eyes.

"OK, I've already watched it on YouTube, and I can remember the dance moves."

Liu Zhimin responded, her gaze falling on Zhao Meiyan's radiant face.

She was indeed as Quan Xuanhe had said, seemingly without any guile, even possessing a childlike desire to share. This pure enthusiasm made Liu Zhimin's guardedness and suspicion seem a bit petty.

Soon, staff came to inform us of the rehearsal.

Zhao Meiyan stood up, straightened her clothes, and said to Liu Zhimin, "Zhimin, do you want to go take a look together?"

Liu Zhimin nodded and followed her out of the waiting room. The passageway leading to the side of the stage was dimly lit, and the air was filled with the metallic and dusty smell unique to stage equipment. Zhao Meiyan walked ahead, her high heels making a crisp sound on the floor.

The rehearsal went very smoothly. (G)I-DLE's stage presence was as impressive as ever, and the choreography for their new song was bold and impactful.

This comeback concept by Jeon So-yeon still revolves around the current social trend of female independence, and the quality of the songs is quite good, successfully riding on the popularity of her last comeback.

The feedback has been quite positive; Gidley's popularity has completely stabilized, and they have firmly established themselves as a top-tier girl group.

Liu Zhimin stood quietly by the side of the curtain, watching until the rehearsal ended, after which the members returned backstage for a short rest and touch-ups. Zhao Meiyan took a sip of water and then called to Liu Zhimin.

"Zhimin, let's hurry up and film! We'll be busy once the official recording starts."

She chose a relatively quiet corner of the corridor next to the waiting room, with a simple white wall as the background.

Many people were taking pictures of the challenge in the corridor, and when they saw Liu Zhimin coming over, quite a few people turned their attention to her.

Zhao Meiyan handed her phone to her assistant and stood next to Liu Zhimin, naturally adjusting their positions and distance.

"Come on, just follow my movements and relax."

Zhao Meiyan turned her head and smiled at Liu Zhimin, then signaled to her assistant to start recording.

The music started, featuring the highly recognizable chorus of "Nxde".

Zhao Meiyan instantly got into the zone, and Liu Zhimin focused her attention, keeping up with her rhythm and intensity.

She has a solid foundation in dance and can imitate movements very quickly.

The filming process was quick, lasting only a few dozen seconds.

The assistant checked the video and then handed over the phone: "See if it's okay."

The two leaned closer to look, and Zhao Meiyan nodded slightly, "Let's do it again, it's blocking Jimin a bit."

Upon hearing this, the assistant nodded, and Liu Zhimin also nodded in agreement, feeling a touch of warmth from her thoughtfulness and care.

So they did it again.

Zhao Meiyan immediately relaxed and leaned closer to her phone screen to watch the replay.

"Hmm, not bad, Jimin jumped very well."

Pointing to Liu Zhimin's movements on the screen, she praised sincerely, "This angle produces a very good effect."

Liu Zhimin also went over to take a look.

In the video, the two dance side by side; the two beautiful women standing together are simply a feast for the eyes.

After the challenge video shoot was finished, the assistant took his phone and went to the side to handle the follow-up release matters.

Only Zhao Meiyan and Liu Zhimin remained at the corner of the corridor. Zhao Meiyan raised her hand to tidy the strands of hair that had been messed up by the movement, and looked at Liu Zhimin, asking in a natural tone.

"Zhimin, are you busy with your schedule lately?"

Liu Zhimin shook her head: "Ani, unnie, actually there's not much."

She felt a tightness in her chest, unsure of what the other person was going to say next.

"That's good." Zhao Meiyan nodded, seemingly relieved, and her smile became brighter.

"Thank you for coming all this way today, and for cooperating so well." She paused, her gaze falling on Liu Zhimin's face with a subtle, observant look.

"We were in a bit of a rush on set last time, so we didn't have a proper chat."

Liu Zhimin's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained a calm expression: "Yes, unnie, you're too kind."

Are they coming?
Zhao Meiyan took a small step forward, getting closer to Liu Zhimin, and spoke softly with a hint of negotiation.

"Zhimin, how about we find some time to have a meal together? Just the two of us."

Liu Zhimin was slightly taken aback. She subconsciously wanted to refuse, but Quan Xuanhe's face and his words flashed through her mind.

Meiyan is actually very kind and tolerant.

Zhao Meiyan seemed to sense her hesitation, so she didn't urge her, but waited quietly with anticipation in her eyes, yet also a little cautious.

The hustle and bustle of the corridor seemed to be separated by a layer. Looking into Zhao Meiyan's clear eyes, Liu Zhimin found none of the scrutiny or calculation she had expected, but rather a genuine desire to connect.

Or rather, it is an effort to break the deadlock.

The words of refusal rolled on the tip of her tongue, but she ultimately swallowed them back.

Quan Xuanhe told her not to overthink it and to go openly. Besides, she was genuinely curious about what Zhao Meiyan was trying to do, whether it was just a gesture of goodwill.
Or perhaps there's another motive? Instead of guessing, perhaps we should...

"Inside……"

Liu Zhimin responded softly, her voice not loud, but clear enough.

"it is good."

Zhao Meiyan's eyes lit up instantly, and her smile became much more genuine.
"Well... let's see which day is free? I'll be a little free after my promotional period ends, how about you?"

“I… I have a magazine shoot starting next week, and then…” Liu Zhimin subconsciously began to plan her schedule, and her tone relaxed a bit.

"Unnie, please set the time. I'll try my best to cooperate."

"No need, no need," Zhao Meiyan quickly waved her hand. "Let's find a time when no one is in a rush, have a proper meal and chat. How about this, we all look at our schedules and coordinate a specific time later?"

"Well, that's fine too."

Liu Zhimin nodded, finding the suggestion reasonable.

"Then it's settled." Zhao Mei extended her hand, but this time it wasn't a handshake; instead, she gently patted Liu Zhimin's arm, the movement very natural.

"I'll message you once we've finalized the time and place."

"Okay." Liu Zhimin returned a slight smile.

Just then, the door to the waiting room opened, and Tian Xiaojuan poked her head out: "Unnie, it's time to get ready to go on stage."

"Ah, coming right away!" Zhao Meiyan replied, then said to Liu Zhimin, "Then I'll go and get busy. Zhimin, thank you so much for today."

"Go for it, Unnie!" Yoo Jimin nodded.

Zhao Meiyan turned and walked quickly toward the waiting room, her back view light and graceful.

Liu Zhimin stood there, watching her figure disappear behind the door, and that strange feeling welled up in her heart again.

There was no tension as I had imagined, nor any insincere politeness. Zhao Meiyan's invitation and attitude seemed to be that she simply wanted to have a meal together.

She looked down at her hands, as if she could still feel the warmth Zhao Meiyan had transmitted when she patted her arm.

...

...

...

Not long after, (G)I-DLE's official SNS account was updated.

A short video titled "Nxde Challenge with aespa Karina!" quickly caught people's attention.

In the background, Zhao Meiyan and Liu Zhimin stand side by side. Zhao Meiyan is wearing her stage outfit, with exquisite makeup and a bright smile, while Liu Zhimin is in simple casual clothes with light makeup, looking clean and simple.

The two danced to the catchy chorus of "Nxde".

The video is short, only a few dozen seconds long, but it contains a lot of information.

The comment section instantly exploded:

[Wow! Miyeon and Karina teamed up?!]

[OMG! Karina and Miyeon are dancing to Nxde together?! It's so visually appealing!]

Wow! These two beauties standing together are a visual treat! And they dance so well!

[Did Yoo Jimin seem a little shy? But she danced so well! Miyeon unnie's smile is so sweet!]

[Anyway, beautiful girls are the best! Looking forward to more collaborations!]

The video quickly gained popularity and soon climbed to the top of the trending charts.

Fans were busy admiring the beauty and dance, passersby were amazed by the unexpected combination, and some people sensed something different.

Inside a high-end apartment in Seoul.

Kim Jisoo had just finished her schedule and was relaxing on the sofa, scrolling through her phone.

She habitually opened social media, and when she saw the video from the (G)I-DLE official account with the hashtags #NxdeChallenge and #Karina, her fingers paused.

She opened the video and watched quietly. In the video, Zhao Meiyan smiled brightly and moved gracefully, while Liu Zhimin stood beside her, their movements perfectly coordinated and their body language relaxed.

Kim Jisoo's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Zhao Meiyan and Liu Zhimin...?
Jisoo's gaze drifted, and the challenge video played over and over again.

How did these two people get together?

She knew Liu Zhimin to some extent; in any case, her relationship with Quan Xuanhe was ambiguous.

What does it mean that she's now dating Zhao Meiyan?
Want to fight in the ring?
Kim Jisoo thought for a moment, then without saying a word, she called Kwon Heonhyuk directly.

"Hey, come to my concert!"

(End of this chapter)