Peninsula: My e-sports dream shattered, I chose to become an actor.

The next day, when Lee Myung-yeop saw Kim Ji-won again, she had returned to normal.

His tone was natural, his demeanor relaxed, and because he was no longer preoccupied with the flutter in his heart, he was even more open than before, no longer deliberately avoiding physical contact.

That frankness actually made the atmosphere between the two more harmonious.

After saying goodbye to Kim Ji-won, who was off to film a movie, Lee Myung-yeop took out his phone to see what was going on.

At that moment, Krystal Jung sneakily approached.

"Did something happen between you and Ji-won noona?" she asked softly. "It seems like your relationship has gotten better?"

Lee Myung-yeop looked at Jung Soo-jung with some surprise. Kim Ji-won's changes were actually very subtle; that "relaxation" was something that ordinary people would hardly notice, but Jung Soo-jung noticed it in less than a morning. Her observation skills were truly frighteningly sharp.

However, he certainly wouldn't tell Krystal Jung about this. He maintained his surprised expression and said:

"No, aren't you being too sensitive?"

"Really?" She sniffed uncertainly. "Maybe I'm being too sensitive... but I always feel like there's something between you two that I don't know about."

Li Mingye lowered his head and continued scrolling through his phone, his expression natural, but inwardly he felt a surge of admiration.

This observational skill is truly remarkable. If she gets a boyfriend in the future, her ability to catch cheaters will definitely be at MAX level.

……

November 9th is Momo Hirai's birthday.

Under the cover of night, Li Mingye, completely concealed and wearing a black mask and hat, sneaked into a Japanese izakaya in the Jiangnan district like a spy.

He asked someone to find this place, and it's quite secluded.

When I opened the door to the private room, I saw the three of them already waiting inside.

"Sorry, I was delayed a little on the way."

Li Mingye said this while taking off his equipment.

However, none of the three clearly blamed him.

Sana Minatozaki spoke first with a smile, her voice sweet and soft: "Oppa works so hard filming, we're so happy you could come."

Although it was just a word of comfort, she subconsciously placed herself in a subservient position, and that kind of careful flattery was perhaps something she herself didn't even realize.

Li Mingye shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, his tone gentle:

"What hardship have I endured? You guys have it much harder."

After saying that, without waiting for Sana's reply, he gave Hirai Momo, who was sitting in the main seat, a bright smile:

Happy birthday, Momo!

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Momo's face, and her ears turned slightly red, but she couldn't hide her joy.

"You already sent me a message this morning, why do I have to say it again in person now? It's so cheesy."

"Can online and offline be the same? Don't you understand the importance of ritual?"

He then handed a delicate paper bag to Hirai Momo.

"Take a look, I don't know if you'll like it."

There were no outsiders present, so Hirai Momo didn't stand on ceremony and immediately took out the gift.

"Huh?" Her face lit up with surprise, her voice rising an octave. "How did you know I wanted this?"

She took out the gift, which was a set of HUHUDANCE protective gear.

Li Mingye said casually:

"You told me yourself that your old protective gear broke and your knees hurt when you danced. Idiot."

Hirai Momo was still a trainee and didn't have much income, so it wouldn't be appropriate to give her expensive gifts. Therefore, Li Mingye gave her something she needed.

"Stop calling me an idiot all the time," Hirai Momo wrinkled her nose, complaining but her eyes crinkled into crescents with laughter. "I'm not stupid, but you've made me one."

She didn't seem to notice, and the blush on her face deepened even more than before.

"Let's eat!"

The group started eating and chatting, and the lively atmosphere of the izakaya made the atmosphere especially warm and cozy.

"Tzuyu, how are you feeling in Class B? Are you adapting well?" Li Mingye put a piece of grilled meat on Zhou Tzuyu's plate.

"No problem, the teacher took good care of me."

Chou Tzu-yu's face has noticeably thinned out, although it is still somewhat round.

Li Mingye briefly recalled the timid Zhou Ziyu he had met when they first met, and then compared her to the girl in front of him, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

In just six months, things have changed so much.

However, compared to the "complete form" that shines brightly on stage in his dream, the difference is still quite large.

Thinking of this, Li Mingye couldn't help but reach out and rub Zhou Ziyu's round head.

You have a long way to go, young lady.

Chou Tzu-yu was a little confused by the sudden head-rubbing, with half a radish still in her mouth, staring blankly at him. But after she came to her senses, she didn't pull away. Instead, she squinted her eyes, enjoying the contact like a kitten being stroked.

Li Mingye, on the other hand, became quite engrossed in playing with it.

Who designed this little round head? It feels so comfortable to coil up...

"Hey!" Hirai Momo couldn't stand it anymore and tapped the table lightly with her chopsticks. "What are you two doing?"

There was a hint of bitterness in her tone.

Sana Minato covered her mouth and chuckled to herself, like a cunning little fox, her eyes darting back and forth between Li Mingye and Momo.

……

After a pleasant dinner, Li Mingye went home, and the other three also returned to their dormitory.

In the dormitory, Hirai Momo lay on her pillow, humming an unknown tune in a cheerful mood, her cheeks still flushed.

Seeing Hirai Momo's face beaming with happiness, Minatozaki Sana couldn't help but tease her:

"Wow, some people can't hide their smiles when they finally see the person they've been longing for!"

Hirai Momo immediately blushed and rushed over to cover Minatozaki Sana's mouth.

Why are you shouting so loudly? Someone will hear you!

Sana Minatozaki removed Momo's hand and blinked: "I was speaking Japanese, why are you in such a hurry?"

Her face was full of mischief.

"Shy Momo is so cute~"

Sana Minatozaki hugged Momo Hirai tightly and rubbed against her gently, like a clingy puppy.

Hirai Momo blushed and turned her head away.

Seeing Hirai Momo's expression, Minatozaki Sana stopped joking and started thinking.

She had known for a long time that her best friend had feelings for Li Mingye; it was a long time ago, back when she wasn't that close to Li Mingye yet.

Later, with deeper contact, Momo became even more deeply involved.

But now, Li Mingye has become a rising star actor on the peninsula, the dream lover of countless young girls, with his fan base growing every day. Meanwhile, they are still just trainees who aren't even sure they'll debut, sweating profusely in the practice room every day.

Faced with such a huge gap, even the usually carefree Momo couldn't help but feel inferior.

It's not a big deal if there's a big gap between friends, but as lovers, you always feel like you're not good enough for them.

"Have you ever thought about... being honest with him?" Sana asked tentatively.

"No," Hirai Momo shook her head firmly, her eyes dimming for a moment, "If I confess, we won't even be friends anymore. Our current relationship... is just right."

"What if he accepts?" Sana tilted her head, making a bold assumption.

"How could that be... He looks at beauties like Kim Ji-won and Park Shin-hye every day, how could he possibly be interested in me..."

"That's not necessarily true."

Sana Minatozaki's eyes darted around, her gaze suddenly focusing downwards, landing on the curve.

"They don't have someone like you!"

Sana stretched out her wolf claws, moving restlessly with a wicked grin on her face.

"When the time comes, just cover his face with this, and he'll definitely agree to anything you ask."

"Hahaha...don't do that...ha...it's so itchy..."

Hirai Momo rolled around on the bed as she was tickled, her laughter filling the entire dormitory.

The two temporarily forgot the troubles caused by their difference in status and played around to their hearts' content.