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

Lee Ji-eun kept her word and took Lee Lu-ran to a high-end barbecue restaurant near Hongdae.

At this moment, an enticing aroma was wafting from the private room.

Lee Ji-eun was in a great mood today. She used tongs to grill the beef, then casually cut it into small pieces and placed them on the plate in front of Lee Lu-ran.

"Eat more, we're having all-you-can-eat Korean beef today!" Ji-eun's face was always smiling.

Li Luran didn't stand on ceremony; after a whole morning of fussing around, he was indeed hungry.

The two ate barbecue while chatting about company gossip.

Lee Ji-eun didn't bring up the music video shoot because she knew Lee Lu-ran needed some time to think things through.

An hour later, after eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Lee Ji-eun swiped her card with great flair.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Li Luran escorted Li Zhi'en to her doorstep.

"Okay, I've arrived."

Lee Ji-eun took off her mask, waved to him, and said, "See you at the company tomorrow. You promised you wouldn't hide from me anymore."

"Won't."

Li Luran shook his head, then took a paper bag out of his backpack and handed it over.

"What is this?" Lee Ji-eun was stunned for a moment.

"I washed and ironed the tracksuit I borrowed last time."

Li Luran stuffed the paper bag into her hand, "Since it's a gift for your brother, it's not appropriate for me to keep it. Please tell him thank you for me."

Lee Ji-eun took the paper bag and looked at the neatly folded tracksuit inside. She couldn't help but think of Lee Lu-ran's comical appearance that night, and... that half-naked chest muscle.

She couldn't help but curl her lips upwards: "Fine, at least you have a conscience."

Just as the two were preparing to say their final goodbye, the elevator doors suddenly swung open without warning.

A boy in a high school uniform sneaked out and was caught red-handed by Lee Ji-eun, who was facing the elevator.

"Oh! Lee Jong-hoon?"

Her eyes widened as she pointed at him. "In broad daylight, instead of going to school, what are you doing here? And what happened to your face? Did you get into a fight?"

The suspicious-looking boy was Lee Ji-eun's younger brother, Lee Jong-hoon.

Today at school, he got into a fight with a boy from the next class over the basketball court, and in a moment of impulse, he started a physical altercation.

As a result, he not only got a beating, but was also caught red-handed by the teacher.

The school told him to call his parents, and with nowhere else to turn, he had no choice but to skip his afternoon classes and come to his sister for help.

Lee Jong-hoon was feeling wronged and was about to cry to his sister when he witnessed this scene.

A tall, handsome young man stood in front of my sister, and the two were chatting and laughing. She was even holding a paper bag in her hand! Without a doubt, it was a gift from this guy!

"Noona!"

Lee Jong-hoon rushed between the two, pointed at Lee Lu-ran, and asked warily, "Who is this man?"

Lee Jong-hoon sized up Lee Lu-ran. Although the man was dressed simply, his face was incredibly striking; he was the kind of guy that girls would love.

Then, thinking about his sister's identity, Lee Jong-hoon instantly imagined a melodramatic plot.

"Wow! Lee Ji-eun, you actually secretly had a boyfriend behind your family's back?"

Lee Jong-hoon pointed at Lee Lu-ran's nose, then turned and shouted at Lee Ji-eun, "And you even found a gigolo? Noona, are you crazy?! You're an idol, you can't have a boyfriend!"

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Lee Ji-eun slapped him on the back in anger, "This is a junior colleague at my company! What kind of gigolo boyfriend are you? Are you out of your mind?!"

"I don't believe you for a second!"

Li Zhongxun sneered, completely unconvinced.

He turned his head and glared at Li Luran: "Hey, I'm warning you. Don't think you can swindle my money just because you have a nice face!"

Li Luran didn't argue with him and patiently explained:

"It's a misunderstanding. I was just giving your sister a ride back today and returning some things."

"Return the things?" Lee Jong-hoon also noticed the paper bag in Lee Ji-eun's hand, snatched it, and opened it to take a look.

Well, it would have been better if he hadn't looked. Once he did, he completely exploded!

Wasn't this his birthday present? Even though it didn't fit, it was still his. And now he's giving it to some pretty boy to wear?

"Okay! Lee Ji-eun!"

"You even gave him my birthday present to wear! And you still dare to say you're just ordinary colleagues? What ordinary colleague would wear their partner's younger brother's clothes?"

"You liar! I'm going to call my parents and tell them you're having an affair!"

Lee Ji-eun was dumbfounded; she wished she could grab a kitchen knife and chop this stupid little brother into pieces.

"Lee Jong-hoon, shut up! Here's what happened, it was because of the rain that day..." Lee Ji-eun hurriedly tried to cover his mouth.

"I won't listen! I won't listen to anything!" Lee Jong-hoon struggled desperately.

Li Luran originally wanted to explain a few more words, but this kid had clearly gone crazy, and his patience was almost exhausted.

He simply ignored it and let her do whatever she wanted, then said to Lee Ji-eun:

"It seems you have some internal conflicts to deal with at home. I'll head back now, see you at the company tomorrow."

After saying that, he turned around and entered the elevator, leaving the brother and sister still arguing.

The next morning, Lee Ji-eun arrived at the company on time. She first went to the planning department and, sure enough, Lee Lu-ran was already sitting in his seat, seemingly chatting with his colleagues.

"Hmph, at least you kept your word!"

Lee Ji-eun happily hummed a little tune as she returned to her dressing room.

After putting down her bag, Lee Ji-eun walked to the vanity mirror, carefully tidied her bangs, patted her cheeks, and looked at herself in the mirror, looking perfect.

"Yes, Lee Ji-eun, you're the best!"

After giving herself a pep talk in front of the mirror, she didn't want to stay a second longer and rushed downstairs to find Li Luran.

The planning department staff were already used to Lee Ji-eun's arrival; everyone tacitly knew who she was there to see.

Old Park was passing by with a thermos in his hand when he glanced at Lee Lu-ran, who was still looking down at his documents, and yelled, "Maknae! Stop looking at your documents, Ji-eun is here to see you!"

Li Luran immediately looked up and met the smiling girl at the door.

Li Luran put down the documents, got up and walked out. The two walked side by side toward the vending machine at the end of the corridor.

"Um..." Lee Ji-eun tugged at the cuff of his sweater, "I'm so sorry about my brother's bad temper yesterday. He's going through puberty, and his mind isn't quite right yet, so please don't take it to heart."

"It's nothing." Li Luran casually inserted a coin and handed her a can of juice. "I'm not going to argue with a little kid."

After a brief chat, the two gradually got down to business.

After returning home last night, he lay in bed thinking for a long time.

Running away will never solve the problem; he cannot be trapped in the cage of the past forever.

Perhaps, Lee Ji-eun's invitation was truly an opportunity arranged by fate for him to break free from his fears.

He needs to come out of this, and he absolutely must come out of this!

"What you said before..." Li Luran paused, looking into Li Zhi'en's eyes.

Lee Ji-eun nervously clasped her hands together, feeling her palms sweating.

"I agreed to take the role."