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

In the ward, Li Luran sat on the bed, his body leaning back slightly unconsciously.

Lee Ji-eun stood in front of the bed, leaning over, her nose almost a few centimeters away from Lee Lu-ran.

Her hair brushed against Li Luran's cheek, tickling him. Helpless, Li Luran could only shrink back slightly, whispering a reminder:

"Um... Ji-eun, we're too close."

"what!"

Reminded by Li Luran, Li Zhi'en realized what was happening and quickly took a step back, her face slightly flushed.

"I, I..." Lee Ji-eun was a little flustered, but she still managed to maintain her composure and didn't forget to question Lee Lu-ran.

"Don't even think about getting away with this!!!"

Although Li Luran denied it, her woman's intuition told her that there must be a problem between the two of them.

Li Luran leaned against the bed, her mind a jumbled mess.

If Bae Suzy hadn't appeared, that first love that ended without a trace would probably have faded away long ago.

He had no idea how to face Soo-ji, and he didn't want Lee Ji-eun to know about that absurd past.

Li Luran gave a wry smile, looking at Li Zhi'en with a hint of self-deprecation in his voice.

"Ji-eun, I'm just an ordinary international student. Bae Suzy is a big star, what could she possibly have to do with me?"

He shrugged, "Or do you think she'll fall head over heels for me after just one glance?"

"I'm not some succubus, I don't have that ability. If that were true, you would have fallen for me long ago, right? How could that be?"

Li Luran had no idea that his casual joke had inadvertently touched on Zhi'en's feelings.

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Lee Ji-eun's face turned red again, and in her anger and embarrassment, she actually slapped him across the face.

Fortunately, Li Luran reacted quickly and grabbed her wrist.

"Let me go!" Lee Ji-eun struggled for a moment, feeling ashamed and indignant.

Li Luran quickly let go, forcing a smile: "I was just joking, don't take it seriously."

"What I mean is, I don't have the ability to make a big star fall in love with me at first sight, you know what I mean?"

Lee Ji-eun pouted, looking at him with her cheeks puffed out.

This guy was so slow-witted before, how come he suddenly got it today?

Was he testing me because he sensed my feelings? Or was it really just a joke?

Ugh, this is so annoying!

Lee Ji-eun's mind was in turmoil, but then a sense of crisis resurfaced.

If I can fall in love with him, why can't Suzy?

After all, this guy is really handsome, and Suzy is a well-known sucker for good looks. Plus, he played the hero today, and the rumors online are all over the place. Which girl wouldn't be tempted?

"Then...then take out your phone and let me see it."

Lee Ji-eun bit her lip and, steeling herself, made her request, "I want to see if you've been in contact privately."

She regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth.

This is not only extremely impolite, but also crosses a line.

Not to mention that she and Li Luran are just friends now, she has no right to check up on him.

Even if you are really boyfriend and girlfriend, your phone is a matter of absolute privacy. How can you just ask to look at it?

There was a two-second silence in the room.

Lee Ji-eun's cheeks flushed slightly, and she waved her hand hastily, about to say that it was alright.

Li Luran picked up his phone and handed it to Li Zhi'en.

"The password is four ones. See for yourself."

Li Luran shoved the phone into Li Zhi'en's hand, his eyes completely open.

Lee Ji-eun stared blankly at the phone in her hand, feeling her palms burning.

"Um...no need." She lowered her head, her voice barely audible. "I was just saying it offhand. It's none of my business who you're with and what you do with each other."

"Ji-eun, you are one of my few friends on the peninsula."

Li Luran's tone was sincere and gentle. "I don't want any misunderstandings between us because of outsiders. I cherish this friendship very much."

Upon hearing this, Lee Ji-eun's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

So that's how much he cherishes me. He even got stabbed in the shoulder today to protect me. And now, lying in a hospital bed, I'm still doubting him.

Lee Ji-eun, you really don't know what's good for you. She cursed herself inwardly.

However, since Li Luran has already put it this way, it would seem a bit pretentious for her not to read it.

Lee Ji-eun sniffed, entered the password, turned on her phone, and opened her contacts.

The contact list is very clean, with only a few numbers.

Several people with Chinese names in the notes are probably his relatives and friends in China.

There are only a handful of phone numbers on the peninsula: one is the landlord, another is Old Park from the planning department, another is Park Ji-hoon, and the last one is Lee Ji-eun.

There is no way to contact Bae Suzy, nor any other woman.

She felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders, immediately returned the phone to Li Luran, and lowered her head to admit her mistake.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been unreasonable."

Li Luran took the phone and secretly breathed a sigh of relief; the crisis was finally over.

As for his past with Bae Suzy, perhaps one day he will be honest with her about it.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the ward through the window.

Suddenly, the door to the ward was pushed open, and Park Ji-hoon rushed in, panting.

"Lu Ran! Are you alright?!"

Park Ji-hoon saw the news first thing in the morning. He was so frightened that he skipped class and rushed to the hospital by taxi.

He had just run to the bedside when his voice suddenly stopped.

Park Ji-hoon's eyes widened as he looked at the girl sitting by the hospital bed.

The girl was wearing a white sweatshirt, and her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders.

She was peeling an apple with a small knife in her hand. Hearing the noise, the girl stopped what she was doing, turned her head and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Ugh!!!"

He pointed at the girl, his fingers trembling.

"IU! The real IU!"

Lee Ji-eun put down the fruit knife, took a tissue to wipe her hands, politely stood up, and smiled at Park Ji-hoon:

"Hello, I'm IU."

Facing his idol, Park Ji-hoon was so excited that his face turned red.

He bowed repeatedly, muttering some nonsensical cheering slogans, which made Lee Ji-eun cover her mouth and chuckle.

After calming down, Park Ji-hoon turned to look at Lee Lu-ran on the hospital bed, his eyes practically overflowing with jealousy.

This guy not only rescued a damsel in distress, but now he's even enjoying the personal care of the nation's little sister in the hospital! He's incredibly lucky!

However, just as Park Ji-hoon was feeling a pang of sadness, a scene that shattered his worldview occurred.

Lee Ji-eun sat back down in her chair, cut the peeled apple into small pieces, picked up a toothpick, forked a piece of apple, and held it to Lee Lu-ran's mouth.

Lee Luran opened his mouth and ate it right in front of Park Ji-hoon.

Lee Ji-eun smiled with satisfaction. She picked up another piece and handed it over again.

The intimacy between the two, oblivious to everyone else, left Park Ji-hoon completely stunned.

He swallowed hard. He looked at Li Luran, then at Li Zhi'en.

"Lu Ran..." Park Ji-hoon felt his worldview crumble, and his voice trembled.

"You two... what's going on here?"