Peninsula: Starting with the nation's first love, the white moonlight

Ten minutes later, Park Ji-hoon ran back, panting.

He glanced around; the area under the tree was empty, not even a ghost, let alone Li Luran.

He stood in the cold wind, looking around for a long time, and finally had no choice but to take out his phone and make a call.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is temporarily unavailable..."

Park Ji-hoon stood alone in the wind, phone in hand, looking bewildered.

"Damn it... that bastard actually abandoned me and ran away?"

Meanwhile, in an alley in Seoul's Daehoo Street.

Li Luran led Li Zhien into an inconspicuous little noodle shop. Although the noodle shop looked a bit shabby, the taste was very unique, especially the soup noodles, which had a rich and flavorful broth. Therefore, Li Luran often frequented the shop.

"Oh, it's Lu Ran. Same as usual today?"

The boss greeted Li Luran with a smile, then his gaze shifted and he noticed a small black dumpling hidden behind Li Luran.

The boss was slightly taken aback, then gave a warm, aunt-like smile:

"You're something else, kid. You got a girlfriend so quickly?"

Upon hearing the word "girlfriend," both Li Luran and Li Zhi'en froze.

"Uncle, don't talk nonsense, we're just ordinary friends," Li Luran explained somewhat awkwardly, his eyes darting away unnaturally.

The boss still had a motherly smile on her face, and her eyes kept darting back and forth between the two of them:

"I understand, I understand."

"Let's just be ordinary friends then, hahaha!"

Lee Ji-eun felt a little embarrassed by the boss's gaze. She lowered her head and quietly tugged at Lee Lu-ran's clothes, signaling him to hurry inside.

So, Li Luran led her into the innermost private room, which was actually just a curtain separating the two rooms.

The two sat down facing each other. Lee Ji-eun remained silent, sitting upright, staring at him expectantly.

Looking at her innocent-looking face, Li Luran felt a headache coming on.

This girl is incredibly reckless; she doesn't consider the consequences at all.

He sighed and couldn't help but scold, "Lee Ji-eun, can't you use your brain at all when you do things?"

"Don't you know your place? Your new album is about to be released. If you cause trouble at this crucial moment, do you know what the consequences will be?"

Li Luran scolded Li Zhi'en. Normally, she would have immediately retorted, but today she had already thought of a plan.

Although this guy appears cold and has a sharp tongue, he's the type who responds better to gentle persuasion than force.

then.

Lee Ji-eun remained silent.

She lowered her head, placed her hands on her knees, and shrank back pitifully, looking weak and helpless.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes gradually filling with tears, and stared at him longingly.

"I... I just wanted to see you."

Lee Ji-eun's voice was soft, with a hint of grievance, "After you yelled at me, you disappeared. I couldn't wait for you at the company, and you didn't reply to my messages."

"I don't even have anyone to talk to at the company... I was afraid you would really be angry and never talk to me again, so I risked coming to find you."

As she spoke, she sniffed, her eyes red-rimmed.

"I'm sorry, I won't do it again."

Seeing her pitiful look, Li Luran's anger immediately dissipated.

He knew perfectly well that the girl was mostly acting, but he just couldn't bring himself to get angry.

"Alright. Stop playing the victim."

Li Luran sighed helplessly, pushed the tissue box next to her towards her, and softened her tone, "I'm not angry. I just... need some peace and quiet for a while."

Seeing that this trick worked, Lee Ji-eun secretly gave herself a thumbs up.

She immediately pressed her advantage, leaning forward slightly and gazing at him with tender eyes.

"Lu Ran."

She lowered her voice even further and tentatively asked, "You've been avoiding me for the past three days because of what happened with me forcing you to film the music video, right?"

Li Luran remained silent and did not speak.

"Actually, I know that when you got angry that day, it wasn't directed at me."

Seeing his evasive gaze, Lee Ji-eun's tone softened further, "Are you... very reluctant to stand in front of the camera?"

"Actually, I understand. When I first debuted, I was also afraid of the camera and always felt that I wasn't good enough."

"I don't know what you've been through in the past. But if you really don't want to, I will never force you. I just feel that the song was inspired by you, and it wouldn't be complete if the male lead wasn't you."

"Can you tell me why? If you tell me, I promise I'll never mention it again."

Li Zhi'en did not pressure her, but instead used a strategy of retreat to advance, which struck at Li Luran's weak point.

Li Luran wanted to refuse, but couldn't find any reason to do so.

He knew how much effort she had put into this song. She could have easily cast a popular male artist, but she stubbornly insisted on giving him the opportunity.

Li Luran closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time, as if he were having a final psychological battle with his past self.

Give me some time.

He didn't give any specific promises or explain why, but said in a low voice, "I'll think about it seriously. I'll go to the company as usual tomorrow and won't avoid you anymore."

Upon hearing this, Lee Ji-eun's eyes lit up instantly.

Although he didn't agree outright, for this stubborn man, saying he would consider it was already a huge concession!

"yeah!"

Lee Ji-eun happily made a victory sign in mid-air, her eyes, which had been a little red, instantly curving into two beautiful crescent moons.

"You keep your word! I'll be looking for you on time tomorrow. If I find you're not here, hmph! You know what will happen!"

This girl, she was pretending to be pitiful one second, and the next second she showed her true colors.

However, Li Luran didn't dislike her cleverness; on the contrary, he felt she was very genuine.

Lee Luran felt very relaxed spending time with Lee Ji-eun these past few days.

Although this girl is full of mischievous ideas, she even uses tricks like feigning helplessness to manipulate him.

But all her little schemes were for music and her work, which made her honest and somewhat endearing.

Aren't I also using indifference to mask my inner fear?

"Boss! Is the noodle ready yet?! I'm starving!"

Lee Ji-eun was in a great mood and turned to shout outside.

"Coming right away!"

Just then, a few more students walked into the noodle shop. As soon as they sat down, they heard a burst of hearty laughter coming from the private room.

"Hey? Did you guys hear that? That girl's laughter in the private room sounds so familiar!"

"She looks a bit like...IU?"

"Don't be ridiculous, IU would never eat at a noodle shop like this. But the voice does sound quite similar..."

Hearing the commotion outside, Lee Ji-eun's smile instantly froze.

Oh no, I got a little too cocky!

She was just laughing at how ridiculous Li Luran's expression was when he saw her at the school gate, well, now the boomerang is here!

"Serves you right for being so smug!"

Li Luran pressed the hat down on her head, helped her wrap the scarf, and pulled her out of the noodle shop quietly.

The two ran wildly through the alley, covering two blocks in one go, before stopping to make sure no one was following them.

Lee Ji-eun leaned against the wall, her face flushed with exhaustion.

Her hat was askew, and her scarf was almost on the ground; she looked particularly disheveled.

Li Luran wasn't in much better shape; he was also panting heavily, supporting himself on his knees.

The two exchanged a glance, recalling their disheveled and comical appearance just now.

I don't know who started it.

"Pfft, hahaha!"

The two burst into laughter at the same time, and the gloom of the three-day cold war was swept away.

"Li Luran, let me tell you, if it weren't for..." Before she could finish speaking, Zhi'en's stomach growled in protest, "Gurgle..."

Lee Ji-eun looked down at her belly, and two blushes instantly appeared on her face.

She was so nervous about coming to the school to ambush him that she didn't even eat breakfast that morning. Before her bowl of hot noodles was even served, she was dragged along for two blocks.

The air suddenly became quiet.

Seeing her expression of utter shame and indignation, Li Luran forced himself to endure for two seconds.

Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer, turned his back, and his shoulders began to shake violently.

"Hey! Li Luran! You're not allowed to laugh!"

Enraged, Lee Ji-eun, her face flushed, pounced on him and beat him mercilessly with her small fists.

"Serves you right for laughing! It's all your fault for dragging me along; I didn't even get to eat!"

Li Luran didn't dodge, letting her hit and curse him as she did so, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.

After a few blows, Lee Ji-eun was exhausted. The shame and anger she felt vanished with the beating.

She rubbed her stomach, put her mask back on, and raised her chin:

"Alright. That's enough. We're done."

She grabbed Li Luran's sleeve and pulled him forward.

"Come on. Nuna's in a good mood today, I'll take you out for a nice meal."