Peninsula: From Water Injection to Stardom

The investigation and exchange lasted for an hour.

Jiang Yan looked at Jin Xuexuan, who was lying next to him and looked slightly tired but had a flushed face, and reached out to stroke her head.

Feeling the stroking on her head, Kim Seolhyun nestled in Kang Yeon's arms like a docile little black cat, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation.

"Are you going back tonight?" Jiang Yan asked after touching him for a while and then withdrawing his hand.

"That depends on you, oppa." Kim Seolhyun opened her eyes, tilted her head back, and spoke with a slightly playful tone.

After she finished speaking, she raised her hand, which had been resting on Jiang Yan's chest, and used her index and middle fingers to mimic walking, slowly walking downwards.

Her actions and words spoke volumes.

Jiang Yan lowered his hand from her shoulder, stroking the smoothness of her back as he said, "Then let's go back tomorrow."

Kim Seolhyun said sweetly, "Yes~ I'll listen to oppa."

"What would you like to eat later?"

"Hmm, I'm craving some Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)."

"Jajangmyeon? Sure, there's a noodle shop nearby, let's eat there."

Jiang Yan didn't react much to Kim Seolhyun's desire to eat jajangmyeon (black bean noodles).

Because jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) is very popular in South Korea this year.

The reason is probably that after the South Korean variety show Running Man launched a special episode on jajangmyeon (black bean noodles), it sparked a wave of food craze among young Koreans.

As a result, both cup noodles with soybean paste and bagged noodles with soybean paste have become best-selling products.

"Shall we get up now? Or rest a little longer?" Jiang Yan asked.

"Oppa, get up first, then carry me up," Kim Seolhyun pleaded sweetly.

"You're such a lazy cat." Jiang Yan pinched her cheek.

Meow~

Upon hearing this, Kim Seolhyun raised one hand, clenched her fist, and pressed it against her cheek, deliberately making a meow like a cat.

Seeing this, Jiang Yan couldn't help but chuckle as he got up, then picked her up and carried her to the bathroom together.

After washing up, the two changed their clothes, put on hats and masks to cover their faces, and went downstairs together to a nearby noodle shop.

But they didn't dine in; instead, they bought the food, packed it up, and took it back to their apartment to eat.

Unlike with Yoo Jeongyeon, you can't sit together in a non-private booth and eat without any inhibitions with Kim Seolhyun.

After all, the two had been rumored to be dating before, so if they were photographed sitting at the same table eating together, anyone would know there was something wrong.

I bought two servings of noodles with soybean paste, a box of fried dumplings, and a serving of fried pork chop.

Back at the apartment, the two sat down at the dining table to eat dinner.

Kim Seolhyun wolfed down her noodles, finishing the bowl in no time.

You can tell she was really hungry, but her eating manners were a bit unrefined.

Jiang Yan didn't eat that quickly, but after Jin Xuexuan finished a box of fried dumplings and half a portion of fried pork chop, he had almost finished eating as well.

After clearing away the dishes, the two sat down on the sofa to rest.

Kim Seolhyun then spoke up, saying, "Oppa's new song is really popular right now. When I was in America, I could hear people performing it on the street."

"It's not enough for the song to be popular; I hope the person themselves will become popular."

Jiang Yan wasn't surprised at all by what she said.

"That's What I Like" has now reached nearly 1.2 million views on YouTube, reached number 52 on the Spotify global singles chart, and even entered the US Top 100.

This data was collected before the daytime bulletin board interviews.

Outside of China and South Korea, he is currently more famous for his songs than for himself.

However, because the song wasn't signed with an American record label, its popularity didn't translate into Billboard.

But that's not a problem. The road has been successfully paved, and once he takes a few more steps forward, these problems will likely be solved.

"Oppa is very popular now. Your title track even made it to number seven on the yearly chart."

"That's not enough. I'm afraid I'm not even a first-tier city right now."

"It's already amazing that he's achieved this level in his solo career, and I believe that oppa will definitely prove himself to be a top-tier star in his next comeback."

Kim Seolhyun has no doubt that Kang Yeon will achieve great results when he makes his next comeback.

Jiang Yan actually thought so too, but he wouldn't admit it before he actually proved it with concrete results.

Opening champagne at halftime is unacceptable.

"Let's not talk about me anymore. What's your group's schedule for the next few months?" Jiang Yan changed the subject and asked.

"After we rest, we'll be heading to Japan for our activities..." Kim Seolhyun told Kang Yeon about AOA's upcoming schedule without any hesitation.

AOA still has some popularity a year after their debut in Japan.

Although major Japanese television stations curbed K-pop promotions during this period due to tensions in Japan-South Korea relations, they did not restrict some offline activities of K-pop groups in Japan.

For example, the underground idol business model, which does not rely on media exposure, such as special gift events, clapping events, and Polaroid photo events, is something that almost any K-pop group that debuted in Japan and has some fans will do.

Although some Korean groups are starting to expand into China, most South Korean entertainment companies still prioritize Japan over China when it comes to their artists' overseas development plans.

As for venturing into the US, that's not something these entertainment companies are considering right now.

As the world's second-largest music market, Jiang Yan also plans to expand his business there.

However, he will not follow the model of other Korean groups that debuted in Japan to enter the market; instead, he has other plans.

"Are you going out for a stroll later, or are you just staying at home?" Jiang Yan asked, looking at Jin Xuexuan who was leaning against his shoulder.

"I don't really feel like moving, so let's not go out," Kim Seolhyun said lazily.

"Okay, I'm going to the study now. Do you want to go back to the bedroom and lie down first?" Jiang Yan said as he let go of his hand.

"Are you going to play games?" Kim Seolhyun knew her boyfriend's hobby very well and guessed it immediately.

"Correct answer."

"Then I'll go to the study too."

"Didn't you say you weren't interested in games?"

"It's okay, I'll just sit next to you and watch you play."

Kim Seolhyun didn't care about any of that; she simply wanted to be with her boyfriend.

Seeing that she said that, Jiang Yan let her have her way, and then the two of them got up and went to the study together.

He sat down at the computer and turned it on, while Kim Seolhyun moved a chair and sat down next to him.

After logging into his Korean League of Legends account, Jiang Yan immediately started a tense and exciting semi-Diamond ranked game with focused attention.

More than half an hour later, looking at the victory results that popped up on the screen, he nodded with satisfaction.

However, when Jiang Yan turned his gaze to Jin Xuexuan beside him, the latter was posing for a selfie with her phone.

Upon noticing him looking over, Kim Seolhyun quickly put down her phone and said with a hint of delight, "Oppa, are you done having fun?!"

Jiang Yan replied, "No, I just finished a game."

Upon hearing this, Kim Seolhyun's face immediately fell, and she pouted weakly, asking, "How much longer?"

Seeing her like this, Jiang Yan could easily tell that she was bored being here.

A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately turned off the computer in front of the other person.

"Huh? Oppa's not playing anymore?"

"Let's play."

"Then why did you turn off the computer?"

"Because—the next game won't be played on the computer."

……