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

Outside the emergency room, Lee Ji-eun sat anxiously on a bench, her coat still stained with Lee Lu-ran's blood, but she didn't care about that at the moment.

The emergency room doors remained closed, and the wait was both long and agonizing. Meanwhile, her mind was in complete turmoil.

She leaned against the wall, closed her eyes in pain, her mind filled with the image of Li Luran's back that had just blocked her way.

To say that she had absolutely no feelings for Li Luran would be utter self-deception.

Perhaps, even without today's unexpected turn of events, she would have already fallen for him.

From initial wariness to later dependence, this man gradually entered her life and her heart.

But even if they confirm their feelings for each other, can they really be together?

Lee Ji-eun opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Regardless of whether the company allows it or not, what about her fans who support her? The scandal has just subsided, and if a relationship were to be revealed at this critical juncture, the consequences would be unimaginable.

What made her even more uneasy was, what were Li Luran's feelings?

He was always so calm and rational. Was his protection and indulgence of her out of responsibility to the artist, or... out of a man's affection for a woman? She couldn't be sure.

She was a little scared, yet she couldn't help feeling a sense of anticipation.

What would it be like to date Li Luran? But what if he rejects me? Would we even lose each other as friends?

"I wish I were twenty-five now," Lee Ji-eun murmured bitterly, burying her face in her hands.

If she were twenty-five, with a stable career and mature enough, she would absolutely rush in without hesitation, loudly tell him her feelings, and have a passionate romance with him.

But the reality is, she is only nineteen years old.

At nineteen, she is the nation's little sister, carrying the company's expectations on her shoulders and bearing the gaze of countless fans. There are just too many heavy factors to consider.

Dating might be a luxury for her right now.

I want to... I want to grow up quickly!

At the same time, in a high-end apartment in Seoul.

Bae Suzy sat alone at the dressing table in the bedroom. The room was dark, with only a dim lamp illuminating the room.

She was holding an old cell phone that she hadn't used in a long time.

She plugged in the charger, pressed the power button, and the faint light from the screen shone on her face.

Xiuzhi skillfully entered the password and opened the SMS inbox.

Each message inside was a precious memory, and she read through them line by line.

Even after so long, she could still feel how much Li Luran favored and indulged her back then.

Back then, she would get back to her dorm in the early hours of the morning after finishing her schedule, but he would always reply to her messages immediately.

At that time, she was under a lot of pressure and had nowhere to confide in, but no matter what she complained to him about, he would listen patiently and soothe her emotions.

That period of time was short, but it was as beautiful as a fairy tale.

However, looking at these text messages, Suzy still didn't feel that her initial decision was wrong.

Cutting off all distractions for her career is Bae Suzy's style, and she doesn't regret her choice.

only……

Why did Li Luran suddenly appear in front of her?

Moreover, she just happened to appear next to her best friend and saved her in such a dramatic way!

What woman wouldn't be moved by a hero rescuing a damsel in distress? Just like he was back then, could Lee Ji-eun also fall for him?

Suzy slowly opened her eyes, her expression becoming complicated.

If he is the male lead in the music video, then he is also the one who shielded Ji-eun from harm at the autograph session today.

So, that shirt with water stains in the apartment in Hannam-dong that night... it really was Lee Lu-ran's!

What exactly is their relationship?

Suzy bit her lip, staring intently at her phone screen.

He could stay in Lee Ji-eun's apartment until late at night, and today he was even willing to risk his life to stand in front of her.

Could it be that they are already lovers?

Impossible! He can't be with Lee Ji-eun! Absolutely not!

The thought that the man who once kissed her might now be tenderly embracing her best friend made Suzy feel a tightness in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Is this feeling jealousy? Or resentment? Or perhaps anger at the invasion of one's territory?

She didn't know, and didn't want to find out, but she knew she absolutely couldn't just stand by and watch things develop like this.

Suzy took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and then dialed her manager's number.

"Hey, Oppa. Find out which hospital the LOEN company employee who was injured today has been taken to. Right now!"

……

At 1 p.m., outside a photography studio in Gangnam District.

A black van was parked quietly by the roadside; this was the location for Girls' Generation's subunit TTS's photoshoot today.

Kim Tae-yeon had just finished a long shoot and was leaning back in her chair, resting with her eyes closed.

"My God, that's way too dangerous!"

The manager, sitting in the front row and scrolling through her phone, suddenly exclaimed, "Taeyeon! At IU's fan signing event today, a sasaeng fan attacked her with a knife! Luckily, a staff member rushed forward and blocked the knife, otherwise it would have been a real disaster!"

"Why are these fans on Peninsula so crazy? We'll have to be more careful when we hold autograph sessions in the future."

Upon hearing IU's name, Kim Tae-yeon immediately opened her eyes.

"Unnie, can I borrow your phone?"

She snatched the phone from the agent's hand.

On the screen was the photo that had gone viral online.

Red roses scattered all over the ground, a thug who has been subdued, and a figure with his left shoulder stained with blood.

"He's injured!!!"

Taeyeon stared at his left shoulder, which he was covering, in the photo, her fingers trembling slightly.

With so much blood lost, the wound must be very deep...

I want to go see him!

Subconsciously, she wanted to see him, to make sure he was alright. Her hand had even reached for the car door handle, wanting to push the door open and rush out.

But the moment her fingers touched the doorknob, she instantly snapped back to reality.

No, I can't go!

Taeyeon's hand fell limply to her side, and she looked bitterly out the car window.

Go? In what capacity?

The two were just passersby; they had no way to contact each other, no promises, and she wasn't even sure if he still remembered the girl named X.

What's more... the person by his side now is Lee Ji-eun.

With Lee Ji-eun there taking care of him, he should be fine. There's no need for her, a senior with whom he has no connection, to worry about him.

Kim Tae-yeon bit her lower lip tightly, forcibly suppressing the slight bitterness in her heart.

"Take your phone away."

Taeyeon tossed her phone back to her manager, turned her head, closed her eyes, and acted as if nothing had happened.