I desperately want to win on the peninsula

The sky was a light blue, as clean as if it had been washed, with the bright red sun hanging high in the sky and a few white clouds drifting slowly by.

On the Han River Bridge, in a moving van, a manager turned to Kim So-hyun in the back and asked, "So-hyun-ssi, have you watched SMTM on Ment TV lately?"

"SMTM...? I don't think I've paid much attention to it. Is it a really popular variety show lately?"

"This is a hip-hop competition show during the summer vacation, and it should be quite popular among people in their 20s. The CF I'm filming today is with an idol rapper who is participating in this show..."

When Kim So-hyun heard her manager say that she was an idol rapper, the visual kei style of Bigbang flashed through her mind.

With a head of brightly colored hair, teeth styled like Y2K grills (showing teeth is like firing a high-powered laser cannon), and not a single piece of clothing on her body is neatly arranged, studded with dazzling jewelry...

Thinking of this, Kim So-hyun slumped into her seat, staring blankly into space.

A sense of unease welled up inside me, and a hint of helplessness flashed in my eyes... I felt that work was really hard, and I wondered what would happen if I got injured on the job.

Her mind was racing, and she didn't notice what her manager said next... She didn't hear any of it, such as industry reviews, good personality, or the idol with amazing looks that has been the subject of much discussion lately.

After an unknown amount of time, following a period of wild and whimsical thoughts...

Kim So-hyun quickly regained her spirits. In all her life, she has never been afraid of any difficulties except eating green peppers.

It's just filming a commercial for a day with some really weird idol rapper... I'll just treat it as a test of my character, after all, people always have to keep growing.

Thinking of this, Kim So-hyun took a deep breath to calm herself down.

The van arrived at the location where they were filming a commercial in Sangam-dong, and she immediately perked up as soon as she got out of the car.

Although today may be a bit unlucky, tomorrow will definitely be better!

Just then, the summer breeze ruffled the wisps of hair on Kim So-hyun's forehead, and her still somewhat childlike face broke into a smile.

Led by her agent, she walked confidently into the photography studio, politely greeting everyone she met along the way. When she saw the person in charge of the client, she also took the initiative to greet them politely.

Then, a smile bloomed on her innocent face as she said she really liked the atmosphere of the studio and felt incredibly lucky to be able to work with an idol rapper to shoot the company's products.

The person in charge was naturally very happy, feeling that it was a pleasure to work with Sohyun.

……

"Hello, Takumi Inui, have you seen 'School 2015'?"

"I haven't seen it. Is it related to my schedule today?"

Lin Qianqiao, who was leaning back in the car looking at the street scene, was suddenly asked this question. She immediately turned her head to look at Li Rongzhen in the passenger seat. He nodded and said, "Today your TBJ Nearby CF partner is Kim So-hyun, the female lead of this drama. That's why I asked you so that it wouldn't be awkward if you didn't recognize her."

"Shouldn't this have been said in advance?" Lin Qianqiao raised an eyebrow, not understanding.

"The main reason is that the client changed the actress at the last minute. This drama is quite popular, and she is a former child star with considerable national recognition, so they replaced the previously scheduled actress..." Lee Young-jin was speechless when he received the news.

This client really does seem to be playing favorites. It was the same before; the summer commercial originally scheduled for Lin Qianqiao was changed to the autumn/winter commercial... Now, seeing the popularity and attention he's gained after participating in the show, especially among young people, they've given him two seasons. That shows they have a good eye for talent.

"Understood." Lin Qianqiao nodded slightly.

To be fair, local brands really know how to use their brains when it comes to competition. TBJ Nearby originally planned its autumn/winter season to be B2B, but unexpectedly, it ended up being their own company. They're really coming up with some clever ideas.

However, I don't know Kim So-hyun at all, but I do know a little about Kim Seol-hyun, because Lim Gan-chiao's first job after her debut was singing the OST for the drama "Orange Sugar" with Yoo Ki-hyun, and the female lead of that drama was Kim Seol-hyun.

Coincidentally, he had never interacted with either of the two sisters.

Thinking of this, Lin Qianqiao had no choice but to take out her phone and start using Naver. That's the good thing about the internet age; it's so convenient to cram at the last minute.

However, when I saw that "School 2015" was scheduled to air in June, which was the same time he was still running around doing non-functional schedules and signing events on his debut stage, plus preparing for SMTM's beat, I didn't even notice the drama.

I looked through the comments on this show, and it seems that fans really love it. The ratings climbed from low to high, but the ending was disappointing.

He also said the OST for this song is very good, and the overall review is quite good. He also thinks he can check it out when he has time.

However, when he flipped to the genre of campus romance drama, he immediately lost interest. At his age, watching this kind of drama would be a nightmare, no question about it.

Moreover, when Lin Qianqiao saw that one of the main actors was a member of BtoB, she was slightly speechless. So, the role was changed after half a day?

Replacing the second male lead with the female lead—is this saving money or spending money?

This is a very difficult question to answer... After all, BtoB is a boy group with several members, while Kim So-hyun is a solo artist. We'll have to ask the client who offers the higher price.

As the vehicle drove smoothly, we soon arrived at a photography base near Sangamdong, where today's shoot would take place.

After getting off the car, Lin Qianqiao followed Li Rongzhen to the studio. As soon as they entered, they saw staff members not far away who seemed to be setting up a platform. There were also sounds of metal scraping and lighting technicians adjusting equipment. The air was filled with a faint aroma of coffee. It was clear that Peninsula really couldn't do without caffeine, otherwise they wouldn't be able to muster the energy to work.

"Go say hello first."

"Inside."

Following the procedure, the two quickly arrived at the location of the client's PD, Kim Ki-bum. At this moment, the PD was directing traffic, arranging for the surrounding staff to busy themselves with their respective tasks.

His gaze suddenly fell upon Lin Qianqiao, who was walking towards them. When his eyes landed on her face, his eyes lit up, and he immediately smiled and greeted her, "You must be Kyo?"

"Yes, Kim Ki-bum PD-nim, I am Lim Gan-chiao, a member of MONSTAX, stage name Kyo." When facing the client, Lim Gan-chiao bowed slightly politely.

"Hahaha." Kim Ki-bum looked Lin Qianqiao up and down. Her impeccable looks were still pleasing to the eye. A hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Then he said with a smile, "To be honest, when I saw you, I knew today's work would be very simple."

"You flatter me, Kim Ki-bum PD-nim..."

Lin Qianqiao didn't care much about the old clichés and quickly changed the subject.

"Is Kim So-hyun your co-star for today's shoot?"

"Yes, she's already here, and she's in the dressing room right now."

Kim Ki-bum glanced at his quartz watch, then looked up at Lin Qianqiao and said with a smile, "Perfect timing, why don't you try on the outfits too? We'll call you when we need to take pictures."

"Okay, then I won't bother PD-nim any longer. I'll go say hello first. Kim So-hyun-ssi is still my senior."

"Haha, go ahead."

Kim Ki-beom chuckled upon hearing this, knowing full well that Lim Gon-chiao debuted a few years later than Kim So-hyun, so calling him a junior wouldn't be an exaggeration.

After exchanging greetings, Lin Qianqiao turned and walked towards the dressing room. If nothing unexpected happened, the two of them would be sharing a room.

The place isn't big, but the corridors are a bit messy, and staff members are carrying some bags that look quite heavy.

Lin Qianqiao nodded politely as she passed by, receiving a kind smile in return, and then followed Li Rongzhen to the dressing room.

The two quickly arrived at their destination and stopped. Lee Yong-jin gently knocked on the door.

The door opened, and a staff member walked out. He was initially puzzled, but when his eyes fell on Lin Qianqiao, he made way for her without hesitation.

After Li Rongzhen thanked her, Lin Qianqiao followed him into the dressing room.

The door to the dressing room let in a warm yellow light. When the door was pushed open, a gust of wind was stirred up, mixing the scents in the air together: the scent of cedarwood hand cream mixed with the crispness of hairspray, a faint fragrance of gardenia perfume, and a hint of the burnt coffee aroma wafting from the prop room next door.

Not far away, at the dressing table, the light bulbs in front of the mirror were strung together in a semi-circle, the warm light making the dazzling array of cosmetics look like jewels. At this moment, a female stylist was applying eyeliner to a girl in front of the mirror. At first, she was quite focused, but as her eyes fell on the small pearl hair clip tucked behind her ear, she joked, "So-hyun-ssi, this hair clip makes your eyes look bigger and brighter, wow~"

Upon hearing this, Kim So-hyun raised her hand and gently touched the hair clip, her fingertips not touching her makeup, and smiled, her eyes crinkling: "My mom picked this out for me last time. I really like it, so I'm wearing it. I'll have to take it off later so Cody unnie can do my hair."

"Aigoo, no need to be so polite with me." Cody put down his eyeliner. "I've drawn your aegyo sal, Sohyun-ssi..."

Kim So-hyun sat down obediently, a small patch of her fair neck showing through the collar of her white shirt. She put her knees together, placed her hands on her knees, and tilted her head back, letting Teacher Cody do as he pleased, like a well-behaved kitten.

Throughout the process, her gaze remained level, with a faint smile on her lips, neither overly warm nor distant. Cody hummed a tune while applying her makeup, showing that she was genuinely enjoying herself.

In the warm yellow light, Kim So-hyun resembled a newly sprouted magnolia, each leaf unfolding perfectly—not in an attempt to please, but simply because she always remembered to gently and considerately incorporate gentleness into every detail when interacting with others.

When Li Rongzhen, who was leading the way, passed by, he couldn't help but glance at her a couple more times. Was this child a little too mature in her dealings with people? Then he turned his head to look at Lin Qianqiao behind him and felt that he seemed a bit distant. He rarely took the initiative to... approach people.

Not exactly aloof, always smiling at everyone, but doesn't like to talk to people. Are all good-looking kids like this?

What's the deal with this pretty child in front of me...?

Thinking of this, Lee Rongzhen shook his head, completely baffled.

At the dressing table, Kim So-hyun sensed someone coming in from outside. She instinctively opened her eyes and looked at the mirror in front of her, knowing that she had to pass through here to rest.

As expected, her gaze fell upon the tall, slender figure in black passing by. Warm yellow light shone through the gaps, dancing on his black, tousled hair. The high, straight bridge of his nose resembled a meticulously sculpted piece, and his taut jawline carried a hint of coldness, yet the corners of his lips were subtly curved, revealing a faint silver chain at his collarbone—that delicate glint of light was even more dazzling than the lamplight itself.

He suddenly turned his head, as if sensing Kim So-hyun's gaze, his eyes landing precisely on her through the glass curtain wall. His eyes were dark brown, and her reflection seemed to linger in their pupils. His honest and clear gaze unexpectedly entered her line of sight, instantly stirring up a thousand ripples.

The two looked at each other through the mirror's reflection, and time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Suddenly, Kim So-hyun blinked unexpectedly. Her drooping eyelashes, like two small fans, cast a light shadow under her eyes, making her look gentle and demure.

Lin Qianqiao smiled and nodded in response, then followed Li Rongzhen steadily behind him. She didn't rush to greet him, mainly because he was getting his makeup done. If she disturbed him abruptly and Cody's hand slipped, it would be a disaster.

"Cody unnie, was that your co-star from today's shoot who just walked past?" As the figure disappeared in the mirror, Kim So-hyun asked Cody, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Kim So-hyun remembers that her partner for today's schedule is an idol rapper who is currently participating in SMTM. This is all the information her manager provided.

At first, I thought it was the kind of outfit with a bright green braid and all-over gold and silver jewelry... I didn't dare to check the name on Naver, afraid of polluting my eyes and mind in advance, and I was even mentally prepared to be blinded by the dazzling sight.

Unexpectedly, the offline encounter was quite different. She had a very simple style, her clothes were clean and neat, and her looks were the kind that would leave a deep impression. When our eyes met, I felt a strange flutter in my heart.

"Let me see..." Cody stopped what she was doing when she heard this. She had been focused on applying makeup and hadn't noticed the person who came. Her gaze then fell on the sofa not far away and she saw Lin Qianqiao talking to the staff. Cody couldn't help but admire her stunning appearance.

"To be honest, this guy is really handsome... What amazing luck I'm having today, even my work has become so easy, you're definitely my partner."

"Ah... I didn't see his face. I'll go say hello after I finish my makeup."

"Kuncha, you'll see soon. He's a really handsome guy. The two of you will definitely make great photos and you'll be a perfect match." Cody's words seemed to evoke anticipation in Kim So-hyun's eyes.

Seeing this, Cody got back into work mode.

The dressing room gradually became lively, filled with the buzzing of hair dryers and the hushed sounds of discussion.

As he sat on the sofa scrolling through his phone while waiting... he suddenly recalled the scene from earlier and was quite impressed. Even though he couldn't speak, his eyes seemed to carry a polite look, and his every move revealed good manners. He truly deserved to be a senior in the industry for many years.

As expected, real-world levels aren't something you can achieve overnight... You still have to work hard to level up.

Lin Qianqiao still needed to grind for experience points. He was used to playing hack-and-slash games, like Diablo, which was a good place to grind...

I just don't know if Earth Online has any places where I can kill a bunch of monsters and level up.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Qianqiao heard the approaching sound and, sensing something, raised her head, whereupon Kim So-hyun appeared in her sight.

Her features are soft, with an oval or round face and a gentle jawline, giving her a friendly appearance. Her eyes are the focal point; they are almond-shaped with slightly upturned corners, clear and bright, and she has visible under-eye bags when she smiles, making her look adorable.

She wore a white silk shirt with a delicate black bow at the collar, and a knee-length skirt that revealed her smooth calves with a flowing silhouette. She completed the look with white sneakers, making it a fairly casual outfit.

Overall, it has a very girlish feel to it... If the blond guy next door saw it, he'd probably have to give him a beating before he'd leave.

"Ah ne han sai yo, Kim So-hyun il mi da."

"Ah Niang Ha Sai Yo, Lin Qian Qiao Yi Mi Da."

When they were out together, the two were quite polite. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Kim So-hyun took the initiative to say, "Gan Cho oppa's performance in SMTM was really outstanding."

Looking at Kim So-hyun, who looks like a well-behaved schoolgirl, it would be a miracle if she watched SMTM, mainly because the show's broadcast time completely overlapped with her filming schedule.

"Kamsang-mi-da..." Upon hearing this, Lin Qianqiao thanked him, "I don't usually watch dramas, but I watched 'School 2015' very seriously, it's really great! So Hyun-seo's portrayal of Lee Eun-bi is truly refreshing."

"Qin'jia? Kangsangmidah." Kim So-hyun smiled sweetly, revealing her teeth.

Looking at the dishonest Lin Qianqiao in front of him, he immediately knew that she had never watched the show. She played two roles, but he didn't mention it at all.

The two of them went on and on about this topic, praising each other excessively and making up all sorts of nonsense—it was truly pathetic...