I desperately want to win on the peninsula

"Bye, Zhou Xianxi."

After hanging up the phone, Kim Seolhyun smiled happily. "Hehe..." She had gotten a little carried away last night and hadn't thought to contact him. The call she made just now was for that reason, and the response she received was that he would contact her later.

"Are you satisfied now, Seolhyun-ssi?" Shin Jimin rested his chin on his hand and looked at the grinning Kim Seolhyun across from him, feeling speechless as he recalled how Seolhyun had been wailing about "Flipped" all night.

"It's all settled, Jimin unnie." Kim Seolhyun returned her phone, feeling a little embarrassed as she remembered how much she had begged this older sister earlier, and gave a wry smile.

"Unnie, what do you think of Inui Choji?"

Shin Jimin took the phone and glanced at the time. Then she heard Kim Seolhyun start researching. Shin Jimin raised an eyebrow and replied casually, "Him? From what I know, his rapping skills are top-notch, and his performances are pretty good. As for his looks, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He's got a lot of charisma in person, and he's definitely my type... I'm not sure about his personality though."

Kim Seolhyun smiled and chimed in, "Yeah, I think so too!"

But upon hearing the last part… Kim Seolhyun’s eyebrows drooped for a few seconds. “Personality…” She recalled last night and felt that he was like a smiley face stress ball. No matter how much she squeezed him, he would eventually return to his original shape. Although he was very easy to manage, seeing the changes that had no effect on him was quite frustrating and discouraging.

Shin Jimin noticed Kim Seolhyun's hesitation and simply revealed everything she knew: "Zhou Xian told me that Lim Gan-chiao was a member specially trained by the president of Starship Entertainment. He was directly parachuted into the debut group. So he hasn't had much contact with the other members of MONSTAX, and his family background is unknown, but he doesn't seem to come from an ordinary family. His personality is pretty much the same as what we saw last night..." After saying that, she shrugged and reported all the information she needed.

"Oh, I see..."

After listening, Kim Seolhyun felt that the situation was a bit complicated. She didn't expect that even her teammates didn't know much about her. Thinking of his sudden coldness last night, she realized that he must have some unspeakable troubles with his family.

But as the memories drifted back to that elusive feeling, a sudden wave of bittersweetness washed over her. Kim Seolhyun paused for a few seconds, then gently shook her head, trying to shake off the thought. She quickly changed the subject, looking up at Shin Jimin and asking, "Unnie, how did you come to know Joo Heon-ssi?"

"We met when we were filming 'Golden Fishing Boat' together a while ago, and we even took a group photo and posted it on Instagram," Shin Jimin replied.

"I remember now, there's that photo with Hong Seok-cheon oppa, right?" Kim Seol-hyun clearly recalled it and even chuckled. "That oppa probably exchanged contact information with Joo Heon-ssi too, right? Wouldn't that put unnie in danger?"

"Oh my, Hong Seokcheon oppa likes Gan Choo-ssi even more. He even asked Joo-heon when he'd take him on a variety show, then they could go to the gym together, and then do team-building activities like taking a bath together." Shin Jimin said, looking at Kim Seolhyun's widening eyes, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "So... you're the one in danger, Seolhyun-ssi."

"Men take bubble baths together, and they even rub each other's backs..." Shin Jimin raised an eyebrow.

Kim Seolhyun interrupted her repeatedly, covering her ears, "Hello! Stop talking!" She lowered her head and closed her eyes tightly, not daring to listen any further.

"Then I won't say anything." Shin Jimin smiled smugly.

A moment later, Kim Seolhyun looked up at Shin Jimin with a defiant gaze and launched a new attack: "Unnie didn't explain her relationship with Jooheon just now, so you're admitting it, right?"

"Oh my, I talked to Joo Heon last night about a collaboration." Shin Jimin pouted. "As for you... I have no idea."

"Cooperation?" Kim Seolhyun had never considered this reason before and was stunned for a moment. She didn't even pay attention to the teasing that followed, or rather, she deliberately ignored it.

"It's simple. Zhou Xian said that we've already entered the SMTM semifinals, so we have the basic buzz and discussion. There will definitely be a single to follow up, so it's reasonable for me to go and seek collaborations, right?" Shin Jimin didn't hide anything from Kim Seolhyun and spoke her mind directly.

She's not like Kim Seolhyun, who has an endless schedule and can even turn down variety show opportunities that other members have been wanting to participate in for a long time. She wouldn't even look at a small collaboration case, so she readily revealed it.

"Choi Sanghamida... So you two were discussing collaboration last night?" Kim Seolhyun apologized with a bitter face, feeling a little embarrassed that her silly interference had almost disrupted Shin Jimin's plans.

She knew that Shin Jimin was moving closer to the hip-hop scene. During their collaboration stage on the first season of "UR" last year, Kim Seolhyun and Choa came to the show to support Shin Jimin. So, it was quite reasonable for her to collaborate with Jooheon this time. She also understood that Shin Jimin's current career goal was to move towards the hip-hop scene. So, she almost interrupted the leader's conversation, but in the end, she still felt a little embarrassed.

Shin Jimin felt that she was career-minded. Since her company couldn't provide her with good resources, she made connections last year and got a top 4 contestant from SMTM to feature on her song "PUSS". Although the results weren't outstanding, at least she found her style.

Given that SMTM wasn't as popular last year as it is this year, featuring again would be very helpful in attracting hip-hop fans. These fans are willing to spend a lot of money on various offline music festival activities. If she can attract a wave of fans, not to mention personal resources, she will at least have no worries about the most profitable commercial performance opportunities.

"Half and half, I guess. You came just in time, you helped me take Inui Takumi away."

Shin Jimin looked at Kim Seolhyun teasingly, raising an eyebrow, "This way I can talk about the collaboration in peace."

When she heard last night that Lin Qianqiao would be coming, she was somewhat eager to try and find a breakthrough through him to seek some cooperation. However, when she saw him in person, it was clear that he was beyond her reach, and she immediately lost all interest.

Fortunately, Jin Xuexuan's divine weapon appeared out of the sky and took him away in no time. It was just unexpected that the divine weapon would be subdued so quickly.

"Hehe, unnie, have you finalized the collaboration?" Kim Seolhyun continued to ask.

"More or less..." Shin Jimin replied vaguely, "Because MONSTAX is preparing for a comeback, we won't be able to collaborate until the end of the year."

"Qinjia?"

When the topic of her comeback came up, Kim Seolhyun's eyes lit up, her big eyes flashing with anticipation.

Seeing this, Shin Jimin pursed his lips and continued, "Well... so the two companies still need to go through a handover process, and the specifics are hard to say. But we two are quite in sync, and if we can come up with a decent demo during this time, it shouldn't be a big problem."

"Great! I'm already looking forward to it. Joo Heon-ssi looks very capable. It will definitely be very effective if he collaborates with unnie." Kim Seolhyun blinked.

"Tch..." Shin Jimin could tell at a glance that Kim Seolhyun hadn't heard of the song, and teased, resting her chin on her hand, "How about... you ask your company to help you invite Inui Cho-ssi to collaborate?"

"Me?" Kim Seolhyun pointed to the tip of her nose, her eyes full of confusion.

"After SMTM ends, he'll probably get a lot of solo artists inviting him," Shin Jimin raised an eyebrow, offering advice: "After all, he's coming back as an idol, which isn't very appealing to the hip-hop audience. It'll be hard for him to fully capitalize on the show's popularity, so he'll need to leverage external collaborations to maximize his profits."

"Companies outside are also aware of this situation, so there will be many invitations to cooperate with Starship. It all depends on the willingness of both parties."

She had her reasons for making that suggestion, mainly because several YG trainees who participated in SMTM formed a sub-unit called MOBB and managed their own affairs, so Starship was bound to follow suit.

"Oh..." Kim Seolhyun nodded upon hearing this. Actually, she was quite tempted by the suggestion, but felt that doing so was a bit too utilitarian.

To be honest, Kim Seolhyun didn't become famous because of AOA's hit songs, but that's definitely a factor. She's more known for her outstanding performance in the "GG" industry, which is why she's been favored by many companies. For example, the widely circulated "GG jeans" trend, which brings us to the tag "strongest physique"...

Therefore, even if she doesn't engage in any form of cooperation, it won't affect her commercial value, because Kim Seolhyun's ability to hold a large number of endorsements actually has little to do with the music industry, so there's not much point in her collaborating with others.

The member who became a sensation in AOA through her songs was Choa, with her short blonde hair, highly distinctive vocal abilities, and alluring image that captivated both men and women.

"I'm just saying, it's up to you."

Shin Jimin felt that Kim Seolhyun didn't need to waste her time on Lim Gan-chiao. It wasn't that she felt inferior, but rather that she felt he wasn't interested.

After all, she and Kim Seolhyun had been chatting for more than ten minutes, and she hadn't even made contact as promised... so she probably wasn't paying much attention.

But then I thought about it again and realized it made sense, given Lin Qianqiao's face and the recent surge in discussion about her.

As long as he is ambitious, once he has established himself in the past year or two and maintained a certain momentum, a male idol with popularity and good looks will definitely not lack fans.

He might even see Kim Seolhyun as an obstacle in his path... Shin Jimin was speechless and even a little helpless as he analyzed this.

Shin Jimin looked up at Kim Seolhyun, who was slumped over the table. Her chin was resting on her crossed arms, her little head bobbing back and forth, her eyes wandering aimlessly. Her round face would sometimes show a toothy smile, and sometimes she would frown and mutter softly... as if she were immersed in her own world.

The phone screen next to her cheek never lit up; it just sat there quietly. Shin Jimin raised an eyebrow, sensing the composure of someone with such good looks.

After a moment of silence, the door clicked open, and the sounds of girls chatting and rustling as they entered continued. Strangely, there was also a series of male voices. This should be the waiting room for female celebrities.

The entire Red Velvet group entered first and immediately went to a corner to sit together, where leader Bae Joo-hyun distributed food from a bag...

A hint of helplessness flashed in her eyes. She had just gone to buy food with the members of AOA when she unexpectedly ran into Blcok B, who was also going out. She was even more surprised that these people could shamelessly follow her to the female celebrity waiting room because of their relationship with AOA.

The AOA members who followed behind looked a little embarrassed by Red Velvet's attitude. After all, they had just been happily chatting and laughing together when a group of unfamiliar boy groups suddenly came to bother them.

Moreover, their target was too blatant. After only a few words, they set their sights on Red Velvet's visually stunning leader. It was quite awkward when Blake B and the others shamelessly boasted about their achievements, because Bae Joo-hyun kept a cold face throughout, except for a few polite responses.

Seemingly oblivious, Blcok B followed into the waiting room. The man in the lead glanced at Bae Joo-hyun in the corner, her delicate features shining brightly. A possessive glint flashed in his eyes, and his desire to win her over and play with her stirred within him.

The noise pulled Kim Seolhyun from her thoughts. She opened her innocent eyes and looked at Blcok B who had entered. The noisy conversation sounded like they were in a nightclub. She wondered how they had gotten in.

As if sensing something, Zico shifted his gaze to AOA and a delighted smile appeared on his face. When he looked at Kim Seolhyun and Shin Jimin, he emphasized his purpose, "I didn't see Jimin and Seolhyun at the restaurant earlier, and I thought you weren't feeling well. I'm relieved to see that you're alright."

"Yes, Zico was really worried about the two of you, so he thought of coming to check on you."

The team members began to give a thumbs up in agreement, praising the captain's heart as noble as ever.

"Kamsammida." Kim Seolhyun nodded gently, without saying anything more.

"...Really? Kamsammida." Shin Jimin was slightly speechless. Was he putting on an act for her or for someone else?

She probably thought that glancing in Red Velvet's direction as soon as she entered would make her oblivious, but now that she knows Kim Seolhyun is here, she's come over to try and get closer to her again.

Zico felt a surge of anger at Kim Seolhyun's sudden aloofness. He had felt he was close to winning her over before the drunk driving incident, but he hadn't expected her to start putting on airs after the accident. She changed her attitude faster than flipping through a book.

Suppressing his anger, he forced a sunny smile. "Seolhyun-ssi, I really support 'Heartbeat'. Your performance on the music show this time was really outstanding, especially your opening stage performance, it was absolutely amazing." He emphasized the word "amazing" and gazed at Kim Seolhyun with deep affection.

"..." Hearing the compliment, Kim Seolhyun forced a stiff smile. She recalled Shin Jimin mentioning the conflict between the two of them last night, and felt even more uncomfortable facing his gaze. She pretended to casually turn her head and look at the corner.

"Why is Zico only praising Seolhyun? We're all teens, and we've all performed well. It's not good to show favoritism." It was clear that Kim Seolhyun was hesitant and dodging, so Shin Jimin had no choice but to step in and interrupt Zico's offensive. Now she knew she was in a difficult position.

Other AOA members stepped in to smooth things over.

"Yeah, it's quite sad that Oppa said that."

"Well... I also have my moments of glory, Oppa must have noticed, right?"

"Haha, of course I noticed."

Zico forced a smile, waved his hand, and said a few words in agreement. Then, he glanced at Shin Jimin with a surprised look. The other person's change in attitude made him even more unhappy.

Of course, he didn't storm off in anger, nor did he intensify his offensive against Kim Seolhyun. Instead, he turned around and chatted with the other AOA members, pretending to be having a pleasant conversation.

He knew that as long as he kept in touch, he would eventually win over Kim Seolhyun, a woman who seemed easy to manipulate. Zico, a seasoned lover, was well aware of this and never lacked patience for his prey.

Now, all you need to do is exchange a few more words with her members and leave her aside for a while, and soon you'll be able to tell who the king and queen are and who the real leader of this game is.

Thinking of this, Zico smiled smugly, his squinty eyes narrowed, and he lowered his voice when chatting with the other AOA members. Coupled with his baby face, this made him even more charming, and he became a warm and caring person.

……

The five members of Red Velvet, who were not far away, breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the others hadn't chased after them; dealing with them would have been incredibly troublesome.

Suddenly, a cell phone rang, and the abrupt sound attracted the attention of most people.

Hearing the sound, Shin Jimin glanced at the phone on the table, thinking that the timing was absolutely perfect, and looked at Kim Seolhyun to remind her, "Seolhyun, your phone is ringing."

"Ah!" Kim Seolhyun suddenly realized that her phone was ringing. She quickly picked it up and looked at the screen. The unfamiliar caller ID startled her.

Perhaps noticing the gazes of many people, Kim Seolhyun made an apologetic expression and got up to go to a corner, though her steps were a little hurried.

After standing still, she swiped to answer the call, held the phone to her ear, and whispered, "Yo-ho... Is this Inui Chō-xi?"

"Yo-bo-se-yo, you guessed right."

"Hey, I heard you went to the beach today, did you have fun?"

"It's pretty good. Besides being able to walk in the mud and sand, there's also a carousel that looks really fun. You should try it if you go."

"A carousel? How childish!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Kim Seolhyun visibly brightened up, and her words became much lighter.

Remembering that there were still many people in the waiting room, she cautiously glanced in the direction of the members and keenly noticed several glances that were directed at her, some curious, some puzzled, and all sorts of looks.

She quickly suppressed her cheerful smile, lowered her head, and continued the call, pretending to be calm, but her voice was much lower.

Because Kim Seolhyun didn't want to hang up the phone with him at all, her voice unconsciously became sweet and sticky.

On the other end, Zico could clearly sense the change in Kim Seolhyun's expression after she answered the phone. Her mind was completely focused on the other end of the line, and her carefree attitude made it obvious what she meant. No wonder she had been distant lately; it turned out she had a new love interest.

bass! !

An inexplicable anger surged within him, and Zico's face instantly darkened.

Click!

Just then, the door to the waiting room opened again, and Red Velvet's agents came in.

She was startled when she saw a group of boy band members sneak into the female artist's waiting room. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that there were no Red Velvet members in the crowd. After scanning the area, she spotted the five members of Red Velvet squatting in a corner, eating and watching the show. When they saw their manager come in, their eyes lit up, and they waved and greeted him as if they had seen a savior.

Seeing this, the staff walked straight towards Red Velvet without even saying hello to Blcok B. After they got closer, the manager lowered his voice and asked Bae Joo-hyun about the situation. After a rustling conversation, the manager understood what was going on.

The Staples Center has 23 food and beverage stations and an outdoor restaurant where familiar staff usually eat. It's surprising that this group of people even makes use of their spare time between meals.

Just now, Blcok and his group were pretending to come over to say hello at the restaurant, thinking it was just polite talk. I didn't expect they were estimating the staff's lunch time. The manager also rushed back to the waiting room after receiving the text message.

Bae Joo-hyun didn't expect Kim Heechul's prediction to be so accurate. Yesterday, when he met her at the hotel, he mentioned this, saying that there was a bastard he had taught a lesson to at the variety show on the 2nd who liked to flirt with pretty female idols, and he specifically told her to be careful.

She was told to contact her agent immediately if anything went wrong, so she did as instructed.

As the staff entered the waiting room, Blcok and his group felt uneasy, especially with those watchful eyes that seemed to be directed at them like thieves.

Zico, who was under the spotlight, noticed that all eyes were on him, and his face immediately darkened. He glanced at Kim Seolhyun not far away and saw that she hadn't noticed what was going on. He then glanced at Bae Joo-hyun, who was pretending to be calm. She was eating quietly with her teammates, but she didn't show the disgust she felt for him deep down.

Seeing that no one paid any attention to him, and even if he was very unhappy, he had no chance to vent his anger, the SM staff would not tolerate it. After exchanging glances, the group left awkwardly.

As soon as they stepped outside, Zico, who was in the lead, finally couldn't hold back his emotions any longer. With a contorted face, he growled in a low voice, "Shit!"

"Brother, that woman really didn't give you any face. Don't expect us to be nice to you next time you run into her."

"Exactly, they even dared to call for help, they're shameless."

"I don't know who she's trying to impress; she's probably already been snatched up by XO's group."

"And that Kim Seolhyun, she's as stupid as a pig. She didn't even say a word when Zico came in, and she was giving everyone the cold shoulder!"

Zico grew increasingly annoyed as his two prey escaped his control one after another, and in frustration, he slammed his fist against the wall.

boom! !

The other members of Blcok b were so frightened that they shuddered and fell silent, no longer daring to utter a word.

……