I desperately want to win on the peninsula

A hotel somewhere in Los Angeles.

In the room, Shin Jimin tucked a strand of chestnut brown curly hair behind her ear, the frayed edges of her jeans swaying slightly with her movements, paired with an off-the-shoulder black knit top, the faint glimmer of a thin silver chain at her collarbone under the hotel room lights.

As she bent down to tie the laces of her studded ankle boots, the bathroom door suddenly opened a crack as she picked up her baseball cap.

"Where are you sneaking off to, unnie?" Seolhyun poked her head out with a face mask on, her wet hair still dripping, her white bathrobe loosely tied, and a half-eaten apple in her hand.

Jimin paused, grabbed the mini crossbody bag from the entryway cabinet, slung it over her shoulder, and lied through her teeth: "Going outside for some fresh air."

"You're lying!"

Seolhyun ripped off the face mask, leaving foam particles stuck to her reddened cheekbones. "You're wearing a new rose-beige lip gloss, and you've changed the earrings you bought today..."

"Come on." Jimin, feeling exposed, simply turned around and poked Seolhyun's forehead with her fingertip: "Go put on your face mask, or you'll get pimples tomorrow."

"It's okay to have pimples, take me with you when you go out... I'll just be a quiet buddy." Seolhyun grabbed Jimin's sleeve and pretended to be pitiful.

Seolhyun had noticed Shin Jimin's situation before she even started washing up, and now that she'd caught her red-handed, it was only natural for her to make a request, since she was caught red-handed.

Besides, after spending a whole day in the hotel, I was incredibly bored.

"Seolhyun-ssi, what should I say to you?" Jimin looked at the water stains on her sleeve with a helpless expression.

"I'll take that as a yes. Wait for me a moment." With that, Seolhyun went back to her room to change.

Three minutes later, she popped out wearing an oversized hoodie and platform sneakers, her bare face mostly obscured by the shadow of her hoodie, clutching her phone and room key: "Location? Who's on the other end?"

"It's Zhou Xian and Kyo..." Jimin sighed and pulled out a tissue to wipe her sleeves. She looked at Seolhyun, who was getting increasingly confused, and said irritably, "They're the two people who are rivals between SMTM and Zico's team, so I didn't tell you. Got it?"

"Arasso, I'll just pretend I don't know."

Upon hearing this, Seolhyun finally remembered who the two people were. She hadn't expected this situation, but she thought it wouldn't hurt to meet them and get to know them.

Jimin rolled her eyes and opened the door: "Whatever. Anyway, I've already told you, don't blame me if you two have a fight later."

"What kind of conflict could there be? We've only known each other for a few days. It's too much of an exaggeration to say that." Seolhyun gradually caught up with Jimin and walked side by side.

She was asked for my contact information a while ago, and we've only recently started chatting more enthusiastically, and she's the type who's pampered and coaxed.

She considered him one of the better ones among her many suitors, but since the drunk driving incident, she has reduced her communication with him, probably to avoid getting into trouble.

Perhaps because of this situation, the man has recently increased his contact with her, and the inexplicable feeling of suffocation has made Kim Seolhyun feel a bit depressed. She just wanted to clear her mind, so going out with him was a good idea.

"Pfft... Don't be fooled by his sweet talk now. If you touch that sensitive nerve, men from the peninsula can be more petty than you think."

"Arasso..."

The elevator mirror reflected the two figures: one was meticulously groomed and exuded a慵懒 and sexy vibe, while the other looked like a truant high school student who had stolen adult clothes.

……

The night in Los Angeles still carried the lingering warmth of the day.

Lin Qianqiao sat alone in the shadows of the driver's seat of a black Cadillac. He held a phone in one hand to answer it, while his other hand unconsciously fiddled with the steering wheel. His freshly dried hair, fluffy and frizzy, was reflected in the rearview mirror under the dim streetlights.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze somewhat vacant as he stared at the blurry city skyline in the distance, a slightly helpless curve forming between his chin and neck.

"So-hyun-ssi, guess what time it is in LA right now?"

"...Gan-chiao oppa, why did you go to LA?" Kim So-hyun on the other end was clearly surprised.

On the street, Lin Qianqiao spotted Zhou Xian and the other two. Noticing them, she didn't hang up the phone, but looked away and continued, "Of course he has a schedule. It's the Kcon concert organized by CJ, and they've invited a lot of actors. You're not big enough to be invited, so it's normal that you don't know."

"Coo...Coo-gu-lei! Oppa, if you undermine my confidence like this, you'll have to take responsibility if I can't become an actress in the future!" Kim So-hyun was initially a little annoyed, but then inexplicably changed her tone and forcefully tried to get him to sign a contract.

"Dreaming in broad daylight... I have no right to take responsibility." Lin Qianqiao noticed Zhou Xian approaching and heard his breathing becoming heavier on the other end of the line. She pursed her lips and changed the subject, "Besides, I have high hopes for your acting career. This year's Best Newcomer Award should be yours, right?"

"Hehe! Just watch my performance!" Sure enough, Kim So-hyun replied with a smile, clearly in a good mood.

"Crispy cartilage!"

Lin Qianqiao's cheers were neither too loud nor too soft, so Kim So-hyun naturally made a request: "If I win the Rookie Award, will Oppa give me a reward?"

"A reward? Do you want the Lego set I put together on the plane?" Upon hearing this, Lin Qianqiao recalled the valuables she had on her. It seemed that the only thing she could offer was that set. The original set was ridiculously expensive, and shipping wasn't included. Plus, it was a pain to put together.

"Hey~ Don't be so stingy..."

Kim So-hyun's slightly childish and coquettish voice reached Lin Qianqiao's ears, but it couldn't break through her icy heart. She bluntly said, "That's all. I'm going to sleep."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Hmm..." Lin Qianqiao yawned, looking slightly tired.

"Oppa, if you're sleepy, go to sleep first, oh ya smi."

"Bye..." Lin Qianqiao hung up the phone.

Kim So-hyun is indeed a smart and sensible child.

The rear door opened at that moment, letting in a sliver of cool Los Angeles night air, followed by conversations from the back of the car.

"Jimin and Seolhyun, please sit in the back. I'll sit in the passenger seat with Incheon."

"Okay, Kamsammida."

Shin Jimin and Kim Seolhyun bent down and sat in the back seat of the car. The leather seats made a slight rubbing sound, and the soft overhead lights inside the car illuminated the small space.

As the car door closed softly, a scent mingled with the cool night breeze outside, the leather smell inside, and a faint hint of perfume wafted through the cabin.

With a slight smile and steady breath, Jimin said softly to the driver, "Good evening, Inui Chiao-xi."

Seolhyun settled herself down somewhat hastily, her breath still slightly hurried from her run under her hat. Her voice was clearer and a little reserved than Jimin's: "Annyeonghaseyo, Inui Chiao-ssi."

She exhaled softly as she spoke, her bare face appearing exceptionally fresh in the light and shadow.

"Hello..." Lin Qianqiao glanced at the two women through the rearview mirror, greeted them with a light laugh, and then looked away.

Shin Jimin was no surprise, but Kim Seolhyun next to her seemed a little unexpected.

Ironically, he had just finished a cross-border phone call with Xiao Xuan when Da Xuan appeared in his line of sight, leaving him feeling rather bewildered...

Just a while ago, I had absolutely no interaction with these two adorable creatures, but now I've seen them both in just one week.

As soon as he finished speaking, the passenger door opened, and Zhou Xian climbed in and, imitating Luffy, loudly commanded, "Let's go!"

"Okay, then fasten your seatbelt first."

"Oh, oh, oh..."

Lin Qianqiao glanced at the passenger seat with annoyance, then started the engine, released the handbrake, and stepped on the gas. The black Cadillac engine roared and drove off into the road.

To be honest, Zhou Xian was lucky to have found the right person to go out so late at night.

Lin Qianqiao happened to have an American driver's license, which made it convenient for him to travel. He obtained it when he was sixteen years old.

With the hotel offering car rental services, you can now cosplay as Mundo and go wherever you want... except for the north and south.

The best part is that he actually lived in LA for a long time and is quite familiar with the area.

Otherwise, where would he get that authentic, genuine feeling when he raps on the show? It's so genuine.

The destination of this trip was MAMA Lion, a popular restaurant and bar located in Koreatown, Los Angeles.

Judging from the location, it's clearly a place for Asians to have fun, so it's natural to choose this spot. It's quite lively at night.

The club here occasionally invites well-known DJs to perform, making it quite suitable for young people.

Kcon was naturally held in an area close to Asian communities, otherwise, how could so many people attend the concert? It also served as a form of publicity.

Therefore, many companies book hotels that are close to Koreatown, mainly because the area is relatively safe. As the vehicle stopped at a marked parking spot, the four people got out.

Lin Qianqiao wore a black hooded sweatshirt, the hood draped casually over her back, a black baseball cap, and her car keys were casually stuffed into her pocket. She wore gray jogger sweatpants and Onitsuka Tiger sneakers.

It didn't look like they were going to a club for fun at all; it looked more like they were practicing at Starship.

They even have the same outfit! He saw Kim Seolhyun wearing a similar three-piece hoodie set... It's obvious she's really chill.

Turning her gaze away, Lin Qianqiao, like a tour guide, led the way while giving a brief explanation to the three people beside her.

"That's Koreatown. The clubs there are decent, probably similar to Hongdae and Itaewon... If you see any Asians in the clubs, you can usually communicate in Korean. You can ask them for help if needed."

"Why do you look so familiar?" Zhou Xian asked in surprise, following closely behind.

"I lived here for a period of time before I lived on the peninsula."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qianqiao replied calmly that his status as a Korean-American was already public knowledge, and his fans were generally aware of it.

This was actually the first time Zhou Xian had heard about Lin Qianqiao's personal life experiences, so it wasn't surprising that Shen Jimin and Jin Xuexuan heard it. No wonder they could find places to have fun so easily late at night.

The Korean Street isn't as lively as Itaewon or Hongdae. After all, Seoul's population density is quite high, with people crowding into a few places to have fun. You can see men and women chatting and drinking at every intersection.

In comparison, this place is slightly quieter, but not much better, since it's a place for drunken revelry.

Although it was Shin Jimin and Kim Seolhyun's first time here, they recognized the faces on the street quite well and even heard a few familiar accents... I wonder if that counts as meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

The four of them entered a restaurant and bar called MAMA Lion, decorated in an industrial style with red brick walls.

The interior design of the COMMON GROUND shopping mall in Seoul is similar to this style. It looks rather rough, but it is actually designed to create an open space that allows people to flow in freely. The surrounding decorations are quite crafted.

The first floor is where resident singers perform; it's obvious they're bands trying to make a living or pursuing their dreams, and their job is to ignite the atmosphere.

There's also a bar area that serves drinks, surrounded by about a dozen booths, which are already full of people enjoying their drinks.

Similarly, since it is an open industrial design, there will naturally be a second floor.

A man who appeared to be the manager of the store saw Lin Qianqiao enter and his eyes lit up. He went up to greet her familiarly.

Seeing that he had brought a friend, the supervisor readily led him to the second floor.

Afterwards, the four of them sat down in pairs at an open booth. Kim Seolhyun turned her head and glanced curiously at the relaxed and comfortable Lim Gon-chiao, not expecting him to like the retro and artistic atmosphere.

The melancholic blues of the 80s and 90s kept playing in my ears, and the light in the bar was like dimmed honey, thickly flowing on the dark red brick walls and dark wooden tables and chairs.

Old posters with brass frames hang on the wall, and a black-and-white portrait of Miles Davis glows softly under a kerosene lamp-shaped chandelier.

An old-fashioned record player in the corner was slowly turning, the scratching sound of the needle gliding across the record mixed with the lazy whistling of the saxophone, like melting chocolate slowly spreading in the air.

The bar was already quite full of customers, so it wasn't surprising to see a few people sit down, and they quickly resumed their conversation.

Lin Qianqiao skillfully ordered food from the clerk and also asked for a non-alcoholic beverage.

"Let's tidy up here first, eat and drink our fill, and then we can go to the club next door for drinks." Lin Qianqiao had been here many times before, so she was quite organized. "The cocktails here are pretty good, and the bartenders are skilled. You guys should give it a try."

"I want to try this."

"Sure, I'm fine with it."

Zhou Xian pretended to discuss something with Shen Zhimin for a few minutes, then casually pointed to the menu and ordered a few things, which were all fine.

Instead, it was Kim Seolhyun, who was closest to them, who suddenly held up the menu and asked Lim Gan-chiao, "Gan-chiao-xi, can I order the same cocktail as you?"

"I ordered the non-alcoholic version, do you want some too?"

Lin Qianqiao had witnessed firsthand the peninsula people's habit of not being able to enjoy themselves without alcohol. Hearing Jin Xuexuan's words, she explained it clearly to avoid the situation from being too tired and not having the fun at all.

"Hey, I'm quitting drinking lately, so this cocktail is perfect for me," Kim Seol-hyun replied with a smile.

"Okay, I'll order for you."

Lin Qianqiao nodded upon hearing this and ordered the same non-alcoholic beverage for her. Jin Xuexuan smiled upon seeing this and said, "Kamsammida."

Hearing this, Shin Jimin, sitting next to him, was beaming with excitement. He glanced at Kim Seolhyun, who was pretending to be reserved, and then at Lim Gan-chiao across from him. Even without makeup, his looks were still striking, and without the aid of makeup, his natural charm was even more apparent.

His bright and clean face was free of any blemishes, and his smooth and delicate skin was the envy of many. It could be said that he was even more attractive now, making it impossible to look away.

She suddenly understood and found it amusing.

After a brief chat, Zhou Xian and Shen Zhimin introduced themselves to each other.

The two AOA members I remember most are the two in front of me, plus Park Cho-ah with short blonde hair; I don't really remember the other members.

Once the food was served, Lin Qianqiao didn't join the conversation, since he wasn't the main character.

Shin Jimin is better at livening up the atmosphere, while Joo Heon is responsible for echoing and continuing the conversation. Their topics are nothing more than idols and hip-hop.

They started talking about other things, and Zhou Xian stopped talking.