Peninsula: I run a bed and breakfast on Jeju Island

Chapter 94 Not Troublesome

"It's already past ten o'clock." Li Ran lay back down on the bed.

"ah?"

Choi Jin-ri's voice was noticeably more awake.

"Really?"

"Just check the time yourself," he said, pursing his lips.

She glanced at the time, still a little dazed. "I actually slept for so long?"

"Oh my, you haven't hung up the phone yet?"

"I already promised someone, didn't I?"

Li Ran yawned and casually pulled Brin, who was trying to stomp on his face, aside.

"Someone mumbled something yesterday, begging me not to hang up. I can't go back on my word, can I?"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone. "Did I—say that?"

"Of course you did!" He smiled, "You even said it twice!"

Choi Jin-ri fell silent.

Even over the phone, Li Ran could imagine that she was probably hugging a pillow and spacing out right now.

After a long while, she muttered softly, "How embarrassing—"

"Hahaha," Li Ran couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Actually, it's not that bad, it's not that embarrassing."

She pouted, "Then don't laugh!"

"I wasn't laughing," he said seriously.

"Do you think I'm a three-year-old? You were clearly laughing; I could hear it!"

She spoke much faster.

Li Ran reached out and pushed Bulin away from the pillow.

It was still a little unwilling to give up, and circled back, trying to get closer to his face.

"Okay, I did laugh," he said, shifting the phone to his other ear, "but it was a laugh of relief, not mockery."

"Is there any difference?" Choi Jin-ri wrinkled her nose.

"The difference is huge," Li Ran rolled over and lay on her side. "Laughing is because I find you funny, while feeling gratified is because I find you cute."

"————"

She was quiet for a while.

"Hmm... something feels off," she muttered to herself.

"What? You're not happy to hear me praising you?" Li Ran raised an eyebrow.

"You should have hung up earlier last night," she said, changing the subject.

"I want to hang up too."

Li Ran sighed seriously.

"But yesterday, someone was in a daze, like a child, constantly begging me not to hang up the phone—"

""

"ah!"

Choi Jin-ri interrupted him abruptly.

"Stop talking!"

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more."

He agreed quickly, paused for half a second, and then added, "But your voice was indeed quite—"

"Li Ran!"

This time, she called him by his full name.

Her tone carried a hint of embarrassment and annoyance, but it didn't sound like she was truly angry.

"Hahaha."

Li Ran couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore."

There was no response from Choi Jin-ri.

After a few seconds, she finally spoke in a muffled voice, "Am I a nuisance?"

Her voice was much softer than before.

Li Ran was slightly taken aback.

He had initially thought she would continue arguing with him.

"Why would you suddenly ask that?"

"It's just that—" she paused for a moment, "You clearly have your own things to do and should go to bed early, but I kept hogging the phone."

As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer.

Li Ran listened quietly until she finished speaking, then reached out and scratched Brin's head.

"Choi Jinri."

"Um?"

Do you know a principle?

"What?" She blinked.

"If I found it troublesome, I would have hung up the phone long ago. I'm not being kidnapped; I don't even have the ability to hang up the phone myself."

The other end of the phone went silent.

Two seconds later, Choi Jin-ri muttered to herself, "Just say what you're saying, the last sentence is redundant."

"I was just worried you'd feel guilty," Li Ran said with a smile.

"Now there's even more."

"Why?" he asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Because—" she paused, "I feel like I'm going to owe you a favor again."

"You scared me! I thought it was something else." Li Ran shook her head.

"What? Am I some kind of disgusting person? So you don't want to owe me a favor and want to cut ties with me as soon as possible?"

"How is that possible!" she raised her voice.

"I'm mainly worried about troubling you."

He reached out and pressed down on Brin's head, which had leaned closer again.

"I just have one thing to say."

"What?"

"You weren't a bother last night," his voice slowed, his tone becoming increasingly serious, "and you're not a bother today either, and you probably won't be a bother in the future either."

"You are welcome to come to me anytime you need me."

Choi Jin-ri was clearly taken aback.

She hugged the cushion tighter into her arms.

"These are two sentences, right?" she muttered to herself.

"ah!"

She pouted and squeezed out a few words, "I understand."

Li Ran then nodded.

"You're saying this—" She paused slightly, "which makes me a little unsure how to respond."

"Then don't reply." Li Ran smiled. "It's not like it's an interview program where you have to answer questions or give feedback."

"Oh, who told you that?"

She retorted verbally, but her tone had lost its previous awkwardness.

A few bird calls came from outside the window, but they were a bit far away, so I couldn't quite make out what kind of birds they were.

The sunlight seemed to have brightened a little more.

"Don't be embarrassed, everyone needs someone to be with them sometimes," he said.

"If I need you to be with me tomorrow, I'll definitely call you directly, and I won't think there's anything wrong with it."

"Can you?" She pursed her lips.

"What?" Li Ran didn't quite hear.

"Will you call me when you need me?"

"Yes, I will," Li Ran said naturally. "Don't find me annoying then."

"I won't find you annoying," Choi Jin-ri said earnestly.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear and firm.

"————Okay," he nodded, "I'll remember that."

"What are you writing down?"

He tilted his head slightly, "If you ever find me annoying again, I'll bring up the past!"

"You still like to bring up old grievances?"

A hint of amusement finally crept into her voice, "Why are you so petty?"

"This is called being prepared. What does it have to do with being petty?" He curled his lip.

Li Ran paused for two seconds, then casually said, "By the way, you should be quite familiar with Seoul, right?"

"What's wrong?" Choi Jin-ri tilted her head slightly.

Li Ran leaned against the headboard, trying to keep her tone as natural as possible.

"Yeah, I've been a bit bored lately, and I'm thinking of going to Seoul sometime."

"Are there any restaurants or attractions that only locals know about?"

There was a sudden two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Then, Choi Jin-ri's voice slowly rang out, "You want a travel guide?"

"More or less." He nodded.

"I see~"

She paused, then, as if suddenly remembering something, raised her voice slightly at the end.

"Then just come and ask me when the time comes!"

"I'll arrange it for you!"