Peninsula: Aiming for a Grand Slam

When the charcoal fire reaches the optimal temperature, a thin layer of white ash forms around the edge of the baking pan.

Chen Jixian picked up the tongs, grabbed a slice of pork belly, and was about to put it on the baking tray.

Bae Joo-hyun glanced at it and said, "Rub it with fatty meat first to melt the oil."

She pointed to the piece of pure white fatty meat on the side of the plate.

Chen Jixian was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening, and then picked it up and spread it around the baking tray.

Once the oil started sizzling, he prepared to put the pork belly on top.

Bae Joo-hyun glanced at him again, this time focusing on the way he was pinching the meat.

There was a hint of helplessness in her voice: "Don't rush to put it in. Wait until the plate gets a little warmer. If you put it in now, it will stick."

He withdrew his hand and waited patiently.

then,

He lost his clip.

Bae Joo-hyun pulled the clip away naturally, like taking a bottle cap that her younger brother couldn't open from his hand.

"When grilling pork belly, grill the fatty side first to render the fat, and then just scald the lean side with the residual heat."

"Don't poke it with tongs when you're flipping it, or the juices will leak out."

She laid the meat slices one by one on the baking tray, and used tongs to support them from the side when flipping them.

Then, with a flick of the wrist, the entire piece of meat was flipped over steadily, its edges slightly browned.

"Don't rush to dip the meat in the garlic and sauce. Wait until the meat is about 70% cooked before adding them, otherwise the garlic will burn and become bitter."

She placed the freshly grilled meat onto Xiao Chen's plate.

I turned the heat down a little.

"If I eat out by myself in the future, I'll remember these tips so I won't burn the food."

Chen Jixian sat across from him empty-handed, watching the meat piled higher and higher on his plate.

He wanted to say something to salvage his image and regain some control.

But when she orders, she doesn't even need to look at the menu; she knows every step of the grilling process by heart.

Chen Jixian didn't even know that the piece of fatty meat he had just used was for wiping the baking pan.

Bae Joo-hyun picked up another slice of freshly grilled pork neck and put it on his plate.

Chen Jixian quickly moved the plate back half an inch.

"Sis, that's enough. You haven't even eaten much yourself."

Bae Joo-hyun put more meat on his plate: "You've been playing a lot, so eat more. I need to manage my figure, so I can't eat too much."

Xiao Chen looked at her plate, which was piled high with barbecue meat, and then at the almost empty plate in front of her.

He took out a pair of clean chopsticks, picked up a slice of perfectly roasted pork belly, and placed it on her plate.

"Then at least eat this piece. Otherwise, I'll be eating all this barbecue by myself while you just stand across from me watching."

Bae Joo-hyun looked at the meat on the plate, then at Chen Jixian... He did not back down.

She picked up her chopsticks, put the meat in her mouth, chewed it, swallowed it, and then spoke.

"It's alright, the skill is still there."

Chen Jixian finally got the tongs back and, under the strict guidance of his older sister, began to put the meat slices in one by one.

Of course, sometimes I still get criticized for not being able to keep up with my theoretical knowledge in practice.

"What have you been up to lately...?"

Chen Jixian placed the grilled pork belly on her plate.

He paused halfway through his sentence.

It seemed as if they were carefully choosing their words:

"How's work?"

Bae Joo-hyun's chopsticks paused in mid-air before she gently picked up the piece of meat.

"The company is still making arrangements. I've recently been learning some drawing and Japanese, so I'm not exactly idle."

She put the meat in her mouth.

He chewed and swallowed before continuing:

"The members will be back soon, and things will probably be even busier then."

Bae Joo-hyun's tone was calm.

However, Xiao Chen could sense that she had let go of a lot of burdens.

Maybe,

Will this incident allow her to return to work sooner?

[Payment successful for 1000 RMB.]

Chen Jixian glanced at the upper left corner without making a sound.

He began:

"That's good. Hope you can resume activities soon."

"And you, what competitions do you have next?"

"Exams. The TOPIK exam. I registered in January; it only happens a few times a year."

Bae Joo-hyun paused for a moment: "...Good luck."

Chen Jixian tugged at his collar, trying to cool himself down as he spoke, "Chatting with Nuna will definitely improve my Korean."

"You even unsubscribed from my chat program, and you still want to chat with me?"

Bae Joo-hyun asked with a smile, and then put another piece of grilled meat on Xiao Chen's plate.

Chen Jixian opened his mouth.

Finally, he covered his forehead and laughed.

This woman actually holds a grudge.

Bae Joo-hyun flipped the last piece of pork neck over, the fat dripping onto the charcoal fire and sparking tiny embers.

She was about to pick it up

Chen Jixian spoke first.

"Nuna".

"Um?"

"Did those photos and rumors from last time cause misunderstandings among those around you?"

Bae Joo-hyun's chopsticks hovered on the baking tray for a moment.

"Why are you suddenly asking this?"

She used tongs to pick up the meat and put it on his plate, her movements as natural as before.

But her heart was not at peace.

The psychological circle brightened, like a lamp that was suddenly turned up halfway.

she,

I saw through his thoughts.

Chen Jixian remained calm: as expected, he had prepared himself mentally long before he tested him.

He said, "It just suddenly occurred to me... If this causes any misunderstanding, I can explain."

Bae Joo-hyun placed the tongs on the edge of the baking tray and took a sip of tea.

As she put down the cup, she tapped her finger lightly on the rim.

"Actually... there is an oppa with whom I have a very good relationship."

"He did ask me about it when the photos were released. I explained it to him briefly, and he understood."

Bae Joo-hyun paused for a moment,

It's like giving him some time to process it slowly:

"He's not in the entertainment industry and doesn't know much about these things. But that's precisely why you don't have to think too much when you're with him, and it's actually quite relaxing."

Chen Jixian did not speak.

A pale gold ring, with a very thin layer of silver mist floating around its outer edge.

The ring did not shrink, nor did it become the size of an egg like Sato; it maintained a healthy expansion-contraction frequency.

Chen Jixian saw it.

But he didn't have the energy to analyze it.

His chest felt like it was blocked by something, and his breathing became very shallow.

She was pushing me away with lies—that was the only fact he could understand now.

"She's so thoughtful."

Not a cold face,

It's not a direct rejection.

It's not "You're not good enough for me".

She used a fictional oppa to preemptively block all the things he might say.

She packaged her rejection so gently, as if she was worried that the sharp edges would hurt him.

"...Is he good to you?"

he asks.

My voice is a little hoarse.

"……Um."

The golden ring became dazzling, like a miniature sun.

Chen Jixian lowered his eyes.

He fears.

I was afraid of making an unpleasant expression on my face.

I suddenly feel like laughing.

Chen Jixian wasn't laughing at others; he was laughing at himself.

He thought about so many things before he went to the appointment—

I changed into a shirt, rolled up the cuffs, watched a barbecue tutorial on YouTube, and even took notes.

He even thought, "If she doesn't refuse, I can ask her to come watch my game next time!"

Laugh to death.

What normal 30-year-old woman would date a high school student who owes her money?