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

Chapter 97 The Return Journey at Sunset

After running for almost two blocks and making sure no one was following her, Kim Tae-yeon finally stopped.

She plopped down on a bench in front of a small shop, pulled her mask down to her chin, and gasped for breath; her stamina was almost depleted.

"Oh, right." Kim Tae-yeon frowned slightly as she looked at Li Luran and said, "Did we forget something?"

Li Luran was also taken aback. The two exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Xia Yan!"

Ten minutes later, Kim Ha-yeon angrily pointed at the two of them: "You two actually forgot about my cutest little sister! I'm so angry!"

Taeyeon clasped her hands together and said with an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, Ha-yeon, it was unnie's fault."

"Hmph! He's a womanizer!"

"And you, Oppa!" Kim Ha-yeon glared at Lee Lu-ran, "How are you going to make it up to me?"

"Xia Yan, tell me, how do you want me to make it up to you?"

Kim Ha-yeon blinked and smiled mischievously, "Oppa, when I have my vacation, you'll take me to Lotte World!"

Upon hearing this, Kim Tae-yeon pouted in dissatisfaction and looked up at Li Luran.

"Never mind that girl, I'm hungry!"

Li Luran chuckled awkwardly and waved his hand, "Let's go, it's on me! Pick whatever you want to eat."

Kim Tae-yeon led the two to an old-fashioned soup restaurant.

This shop doesn't even have a sign at the entrance; there's only a handwritten wooden sign for soup and rice hanging on the door. Pushing open the door, you'll find it's small inside with only four tables.

The owner was an elderly woman who immediately smiled and her eyes narrowed when she saw Kim Tae-yeon.

"Oh my, Taeyeon's back?"

Kim Tae-yeon grinned and held up a finger near her mouth, and the old lady immediately understood.

She then quickly noticed Li Luran behind her, and her gaze became meaningful.

"Boy friend?"

"No, no," Kim Tae-yeon blushed and waved her hands repeatedly in denial.

"Male friends," Li Luran added seriously.

Grandma said "Oh," drawing out the sound for a long time, which made Kim Tae-yeon's cheeks turn even redder.

At this moment, Kim Ha-yeon jumped out from behind Lee Lu-ran.

"Grandma, didn't you see me?"

"Wow, Xia Yan has grown so tall! Let's find a seat first."

After saying that, she turned around and went to the kitchen to get some side dishes.

Soon, three steaming bowls of pork soup rice were served, accompanied by freshly fried kimchi pancakes and several side dishes.

Kim Tae-yeon scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth, happily squinting her eyes and dangling her toes under the table.

"Mmm—this is the taste, it hasn't changed at all."

Li Luran lowered his head and took a sip. The taste was sweet and rich, and his stomach gradually warmed up.

Do you come to this store often?

"Yes." Kim Tae-yeon nodded. "When I was a trainee, every time I went back to Jeonju, the first meal had to be here."

"Back then, I was really confused and didn't know if I could debut, but every time I ate my grandma's soup rice, that anxiety would lessen a lot. And let me tell you, grandma would always secretly add an egg for me."

As she spoke, her voice softened, as if she were lost in memories.

Li Luran didn't say anything, but simply put the egg from her bowl into hers.

Kim Tae-yeon looked down at the two eggs in the bowl, and suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

What are you doing?

Li Luran lowered his head and drank his soup, his tone indifferent, "It's nothing, eat more, you've burned a lot of energy dancing just now."

Kim Ha-yeon rested her chin on her hands as she looked at the two of them. Suddenly, the soup and rice in front of her didn't taste so good anymore. Maybe she had already had her fill of their PDA.

"Hey you two—I'm still here! If you want to show off your love, wait until I'm not around, okay?"

Kim Tae-yeon lowered her head and ate her soup and rice, her face almost buried in the bowl, with a thin layer of mist still clinging to her eyelashes.

Half an hour later, the three of them finished eating, and Kim Tae-yeon drove the two of them home.

When they got home, Mrs. Jin had just packed a lot of side dishes and was waiting for them to return.

"Mom, we have to go back now." Kim Tae-yeon hugged her mother reluctantly.

Jin's mother gently rubbed her head: "You silly girl, why are you still like Xia Yan, never growing up?"

"Oh, by the way, I packed some side dishes. Take them back and share them with Lu Ran."

Before leaving, Kim's mother pulled Kim Tae-yeon aside and said, "Tae-yeon, don't work too hard. Your health is the most important thing."

"Oh, Mom, I know, you always say that, I'm so tired of hearing it."

"It's all because you, you naughty girl, won't listen to me!"

Mrs. Jin smiled and patted her on the shoulder.

"However, this time is different. I just asked Lu Ran to keep an eye on you for me."

"Oh my god, Mom, how could you do this!" Kim Tae-yeon stomped her foot in embarrassment.

Mrs. Jin rolled her eyes at her good-for-nothing daughter with a helpless look.

"Who am I doing all this for? Isn't it because you're so proud and unwilling to take the initiative?"

"By the way, Taeyeon, have you told Mom yet that you've made up your mind?"

Kim Tae-yeon felt both embarrassed and anxious upon hearing this.

She shook off her mother's hand and, as if fleeing, jumped straight into the driver's seat.

As the Mercedes engine roared to life, the car slowly drove out of the residential area and onto the highway back to Seoul.

After getting in the car, Taeyeon, who was originally exhausted, seemed like a completely different person as soon as she touched the steering wheel.

She excitedly swayed her head to the music in the car and drove very fast.

"Taeyeon, what did your aunt secretly say to you before she left?"

Seeing her excited expression, Li Luran casually asked a question.

Kim Tae-yeon's hand trembled slightly.

"N-nothing."

She kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"He just told me some random, nonsensical things."

"Oh, I see." Li Luran nodded.

"Then you'd better remember that."

"Auntie is really nice. She even gave me so many side dishes before I left, which made me feel a little embarrassed."

"Arasso!"

Kim Tae-yeon gave a casual reply, but her mind was a complete mess.

What does it mean to remember this well?

Do we really expect her to take the initiative?

Sighing inwardly, Kim Tae-yeon decided to let things take their course.

Three hours later.

The Mercedes stopped downstairs at Li Luran's apartment building, and Li Luran got out of the car carrying the boxes of side dishes.

He waved to Taeyeon, "Taeyeon, you must be tired from driving today. Go home and get some rest."

"Remember to send me a message when you get to your dorm."

Kim Tae-yeon gripped the steering wheel, glanced at him several times, and hesitated to speak.

"Um, is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Seeing her conflicted expression, Li Luran moved closer to her.

The man's face suddenly drew closer, and Kim Tae-yeon quickly shook her head.

"N-no, I'm leaving!"

She stepped on the gas and drove away gracefully.

Li Luran stood by the roadside, smiled helplessly, and turned to walk into the apartment building.

On the other side, outside the Girls' Generation dormitory.

Kim Tae-yeon hummed a little tune as she pushed open the dormitory door.

The dormitory was quiet; the members probably hadn't returned yet.

Just as she was about to return to her room, suddenly, a disheveled figure floated out.

"what!"

Caught off guard, Kim Tae-yeon was startled.

"Taigoo, it's me."

Tiffany brushed aside the hair covering her face and looked at Kim Tae-yeon pitifully.

Kim Tae-yeon looked closely and then recognized it as Tiffany.

She gently patted her chest.

"It's Tiffany! Why do you walk so quietly? You scared me to death!"

Are you alone in the dorm?

Tiffany nodded vigorously.

"It's just me."

"You used to take me in during holidays, but this time you suddenly said you had something to do, so I had to stay in the dorm alone."

Actually, they had originally planned to go back to Jeonju together.

However, due to an unexpected situation, Kim Tae-yeon temporarily left Tiffany behind, citing something that needed to be done.

In the end, she didn't bring her best friend back; instead, she brought someone else.

Thinking of this, Kim Tae-yeon felt a pang of guilt.

She put her arm around Tiffany's shoulder and assured her confidently, "Don't worry, Tiffany, I promise I won't leave you alone again!"

"Taeyeon, you're so great!"

Tiffany was deeply moved and hugged Kim Tae-yeon tightly.

"Okay, okay, let go of me, you're wiping my snot all over."

Kim Tae-yeon pretended to be disgusted and pushed Tiffany away with a smile.

"Huh!"

Tiffany suddenly leaned closer to Kim Tae-yeon and sniffed her.

"Taeyeon, why do you smell like that?"

"It smells quite nice."

Kim Tae-yeon was startled. Could it be that she had caught Li Luran's scent?

She quickly raised her arm and smelled her sleeve.

"No! There's no smell at all. Is there something wrong with your nose?" she retorted, trying to appear calm.

Seeing her nervous expression, Tiffany suddenly smiled sweetly.

"Maybe I smelled it wrong."

"However, Taeyeon."

"After going home, I feel that your mood has improved a lot."

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