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

"Ji-eun, wait for me!"

Although Lee Ji-eun's legs weren't as long as Lee Lu-ran's, she walked very fast, and it took Lee Lu-ran a lot of effort to catch up with her.

"Ji-eun, slow down, there are a lot of people backstage, be careful not to bump into someone."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lee Ji-eun suddenly stopped and turned around abruptly. Caught off guard, Lee Lu-ran almost bumped into her.

"I saw you exchanging glances with Suzy just now!"

Ji-eun didn't mince words; her "I'm unhappy" was clearly written all over her face.

One minute he's staring at Girls' Generation, the next he's flirting with Bae Suzy. It's infuriating!

Ji-eun now sees every pretty girl group member at the event as a potential rival, and she's starting to regret bringing him along.

"Alright, alright, it's all my fault. Don't run around anymore." Li Luran readily admitted her mistake, then changed the subject, "By the way, I remember you have two songs to sing today, right? Don't you need to go rehearse?"

"Didn't I tell you before that today's event is being broadcast live? The process is different from our usual music show performances."

"Oh, so where do we go now?"

"Waiting room!"

Without turning her head, Ji-eun angrily led the way.

When Li Luran first came to the backstage of Dream Center, it was indeed just as Li Zhi'en had said, densely packed with artists and staff.

This place is much bigger than the backstage area where he performed before. Being unfamiliar with the area, he was really afraid of getting lost, so he could only stick close to Lee Ji-eun.

……

On the other side of the corridor, after their red carpet interviews, the members of Girls' Generation also entered the backstage passage.

Kim Tae-yeon, as the leader, was leading everyone at the front of the group.

Tiffany quickened her pace, following closely behind Kim Tae-yeon.

"Taeyeon, I just saw a handsome young man on the red carpet. I wonder if he's a new idol from some agency."

Kim Tae-yeon knows Tiffany's personality all too well; she's a die-hard fan of good looks.

Every time she sees a handsome male celebrity or a backup dancer, she excitedly runs over to gossip about him.

Kim Tae-yeon turned around and saw Tiffany squinting and grinning, looking excited.

She smiled helplessly, thinking that this girl was sometimes adorably silly.

"Didn't you just meet the Super Junior oppas? You weren't this excited then."

Tiffany pouted, retorting Taeyeon's teasing: "Oppas are handsome, that's true, but I still think the handsome guy I saw earlier was more pleasing to the eye."

"Tiffany, stop being so infatuated. There are many seniors and juniors here today. Don't make a fool of yourself."

Pani pouted, unconvinced: "What's the big deal? Male celebrities stare at beautiful women in private too!"

Kim Tae-yeon turned around and glared at Tiffany: "Today's the whole thing's being broadcast live, so you better watch your image!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Tiffany suddenly screamed, "Taeyeon, watch out!"

Unfortunately, this reminder came too late.

Just as Taeyeon reached the corner, a petite figure rushed out and collided squarely with her.

"what!"

The two of them cried out in surprise at the same time and fell backward.

"Be careful!"

Li Luran had been following closely behind Li Zhi'en, and the moment they collided, his body moved instinctively.

He quickly took a step forward and reached out his right hand to hug Lee Ji-eun, who was leaning back.

At the same time, relying on his body coordination, he stretched forward with his left hand and grabbed Kim Tae-yeon, who was also falling backward. Then, he pulled her back forcefully, dragging her directly in front of Lee Lu-ran.

"what!"

Kim Tae-yeon gasped again, closing her eyes in fear, feeling as if she had been pulled back by a great force.

The corridor fell into a deathly silence.

Li Luran had his right arm around the still-shaken Li Zhi'en, while Kim Tae-yeon, with her eyes closed, leaned against him on his left, the two of them very close together.

Kim Tae-yeon slowly opened her eyes and subconsciously raised her head. When she saw the man who had helped her, she was completely stunned.

Her eyes widened involuntarily, and her breathing gradually became rapid.

Shock, disbelief, and surprise filled her with a complex mix of emotions in just one second.

This was because that familiar face had appeared countless times in her memories and dreams.

She never imagined that the two would reunite in such a dramatic way.

Six months later, the two, who met in a foreign land, finally met face to face again.

Li Luran felt the same way; looking at that face so close to his, his inner defenses were completely shattered.

Even if their makeup is different, even if their aura changes, when their eyes meet again, the sense of familiarity that strikes straight to the soul is undeniable.

It really is her! She is Omega, and she is Kim Tae-yeon!

Lee Ji-eun was the first to react. She quickly broke free from Lee Lu-ran's embrace, and when she saw who she had bumped into, she quickly bent down and bowed to Kim Tae-yeon.

"Taeyeon sunbaenim, I'm so sorry, I was walking too fast and accidentally bumped into you."

After apologizing, Ji-eun glanced sideways and immediately noticed that Lee Lu-ran and Kim Tae-yeon's hands were still tightly clasped together. She immediately panicked:

"Li Luran, why aren't you letting go yet!"

Li Luran was jolted awake by her shout.

He quickly released Kim Tae-yeon's hand, took a half step back, and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, the situation was urgent just now, I apologize for the offense."

The warmth on her wrist suddenly disappeared, but Kim Tae-yeon remained standing there blankly, as if she had lost her soul.

Tiffany rushed over and anxiously took her arm: "Taeyeon, are you alright?"

Kim Tae-yeon then snapped out of her daze and gently shook her head: "I'm fine."

She suppressed her emotions, looked up at Li Luran, her voice still trembling slightly:

"Thanks to you for pulling me up just now, I didn't fall. I should be thanking you."

At this moment, the other members of Girls' Generation who were following behind also came over.

Lin Yoona glanced at the group of people in front of her, whose atmosphere was somewhat awkward, and finally fixed her gaze on Lee Ji-eun.

"Ji-eun, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Yoona sunbaenim. I accidentally bumped into Taeyeon sunbaenim just now," Lee Ji-eun said apologetically.

Kim Tae-yeon quickly waved her hand, "I'm also partly responsible. I wasn't looking ahead when I was talking to my teammates. IU-ssi, you don't need to keep apologizing."

Yoona smiled and said, "Anyway, it's good that no one got hurt."

While the group exchanged pleasantries, Kim Tae-yeon's gaze remained somewhat unfocused; to be precise, she simply didn't dare to look Lee Lu-ran in the eye.

She was in a state of utter confusion, terrified that this was just another dream, and that when she woke up, it would be time to leave again.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lee Ji-eun led Lee Lu-ran back to their waiting room.

Li Luran remained silent throughout.

However, just as he brushed past Kim Tae-yeon...

He lowered his head slightly and whispered a word in her ear.

"X?"

After saying that, he didn't linger and disappeared at the end of the corridor with Lee Ji-eun.

Kim Tae-yeon, her heart pounding wildly, stood there stunned.

Seeing her distraught appearance, Pani shook her shoulder with concern.

"Taeyeon, you look terrible. Are you really okay? Should we go to the infirmary?"