Peninsula: A Max-Level Forward's Leisurely Life

The two strolled around the tree-lined avenue for most of the time, entering and exiting several boutiques with distinct styles.

Throughout the journey, although Choi Sulli kept spouting all sorts of lame excuses, her mind had long since wandered off somewhere else.

Seeing her absent-minded appearance, Li Chixun didn't point it out, but just went along with her pace and let her ramble on.

Ten minutes later, they eventually circled back to the row of sports accessories.

Choi Sulli picked up the pair of black and white wristbands again.

This time, her demeanor was noticeably different from before. She not only stopped her cursory glance but also carefully examined the seams and edges, taking it almost to an excessive degree.

Those beautiful peach blossom eyes were fixed on the label, as if they were studying some complicated tactics board.

Li Chixun leaned against the display case next to him, resting his chin on his hand, and saw through the girl's true colors at a glance.

After going through such a long and complicated process, and picking out so many flashy but impractical things, it turns out it was all just a prelude.

This is what she really wants to buy today.

He asked knowingly, "To someone who plays football?"

"Is that not allowed?"

She raised her head and pretended to be stupid, her tone quite arrogant, but her slightly evasive gaze betrayed her guilty conscience.

Li Chixun raised an eyebrow and said, "You seem to know him quite well."

"I just think it's practical."

Li Chixun didn't reply, but directly took the pair of wristbands from her hand.

He pinched the fabric with his fingers, turned it over to look at the stitching on the inside, and even tugged at the edges at both ends to test the elasticity.

This blended material is so cheap that even the substitutes' bench wouldn't use it in the Bundesliga, but it's perfectly adequate for pleasing young girls' tastes in Seoul department stores.

"This material isn't actually used much in official competitions."

Choi Sulli was stunned for a moment, and the confidence she had just put on instantly dissipated by half.

She watched him look down at his profile as he examined the wristband, her fingers twisting together.

Is something I painstakingly chose really so unpresentable?

"The intensity of the competition is high, and this type of design can easily constrict the hand and affect wrist flexibility. It's fine for wearing during regular training, as the sweat-wicking effect is decent."

He handed the items back to her and then truly entered professional mode, offering a set of suggestions that were impeccable.

While listening to the dry sports terminology, Choi Sulli secretly sized him up.

Watching him with his head down, intently analyzing the materials of the gift she had prepared for him, she suddenly felt a sense of lightness in her heart.

He had initially hesitated because of his sharp tongue, but now he is filled with joy.

No matter how difficult it may be to ask, even if I can't give this gift in the end, the trip today has already been well worth it.

As a result, this newly formed pink bubble was ruthlessly burst by an unexpected voice.

"This lady has excellent taste."

The sales assistant next to them came over at some point, and seeing how naturally the two were interacting, she directly assumed that they had a certain relationship.

She leaned forward enthusiastically and added with a smile, "This style would look better on your boyfriend if he has slender wrists."

Sulli was completely stunned.

She never expected the sales assistant to be so aggressive, coming out with a powerful move right away; the script was completely off track.

This is a hundred times more deadly than the terrible ideas Lee Ji-eun gave her.

Lee Chi-hoon was also momentarily speechless by those words, and his movement of taking the wristband paused briefly.

However, he didn't rush to deny it; instead, he turned his head away.

"You certainly have a unique perspective."

He picked up the conversation without hesitation.

When Choi Sulli saw that he not only didn't explain but was also making a scene, she immediately panicked.

She hasn't even confessed yet. If they really mistake her for a couple, wouldn't all her plans from the night before be ruined?!

Absolutely not!

"No, we're not in that kind of relationship!"

The shop assistant's smile widened, and with a knowing look on her face, she covered her mouth and smiled as she stepped back, leaving them an absolutely private space to choose their items.

The situation suddenly became incredibly awkward.

The positive atmosphere created by the professional science popularization has long since vanished without a trace.

Choi Sulli gripped the bag strap so tightly she wished she could dig a hole in the solid wood floor; the whole plan was completely messed up.

What's worse, seeing her blushing and embarrassed, Li Chixun not only didn't know when to stop, but also felt that the time wasn't right.

"Your reaction is so strong, the shop assistant probably thinks I'm not good enough for you."

He paused deliberately, put his hands in his pockets, and lazily glanced over.

Choi Sulli was already angry, and when she heard these sarcastic remarks, she couldn't control her temper anymore.

She walked over, lifted her canvas shoe foot, and stomped hard on the back of his shoe, trying to hide the increasingly hot blush on her face.

Li Chixun winced slightly and instinctively took half a step back.

He hadn't intended to stoop to the level of this little girl, but the more Cui Xueli thought about it, the angrier she became. She stomped on him twice more, as if she were using a sewing machine.

Their actions were less like fighting and more like flirting in broad daylight.

Lee Ji-hoon dodged, his voice laced with helpless disdain: "Choi Sulli, are you crazy? That's enough. A good man doesn't argue with a woman. If you step on me again, I'll hit you back!"

The two stumbled and tumbled their way to the cashier.

Choi Sulli placed the wristband she had just chosen on the counter and took out her wallet from her bag.

When it was time to pay, Li Jixun leaned against the cashier and finally asked the last crucial question of the day.

"So, who is this gift actually for?"

Choi Sulli turned her head away, looking at the sidewalk outside the glass window, stubbornly sticking to her guns.

They just won't say.

She even thought she had played the "playing hard to get" trick very well, and had him completely under her control.

As long as she doesn't speak, the initiative remains in her hands.

Lee Chi-hoon was amused by her stubbornness.

Alright, kid, I'll see how long you can keep up this act.

He chuckled softly, looking into her eyes: "The boy who receives a gift from you is truly lucky."

Upon hearing this, Choi Sulli abruptly raised her head, her fingers instinctively gripping the newly packaged box, almost handing it over.

But when things really come to the final step, the closer it gets to the confession, the harder it is to open one's mouth.

Especially for a proud young lady like her who has been pampered since childhood, admitting to pursuing someone in front of a large cashier in public is harder than climbing to heaven.

If she were rejected, she wouldn't even have anywhere to hide.

She hugged the box tightly, her hands guarding her chest as if afraid it would be snatched away.

"The packaging wasn't done properly; I'll fix it when I get back."

She made up a lame excuse, didn't even bother to take her change, and turned to walk out of the store, her steps so fast it was as if paparazzi were chasing her.

The afternoon sun made the streets of Sinsa-dong slightly warm, and the shadows of the sycamore trees along the roadside were stretched very long.

Outside the cafes along the street, several young couples were chatting by the railing, and the whole neighborhood exuded a lazy atmosphere.

The two walked one after the other on the sidewalk.

Choi Sulli walked ahead, her palms sweating so much that the edges of the packaging box felt soft.

She was so focused on encouraging herself that she didn't even notice the scenery along the way.

Hurry up and give it to me!

Do I really have to take this box back to my dorm?!

She cursed herself countless times in her heart for being so spineless, but she still couldn't take that decisive step.

Just as they were about to reach the crossroads, and once they crossed the corner, the two of them would likely go their separate ways, a very imposing pause came from behind them.

Lee Chi-hoon stopped two steps away from her.

"Miss Choi Sulli, I've spent so much time with you today, I can't have come all this way for nothing, can I?"

He tilted his head, his tone carrying a casual smile.

Choi Sulli turned around abruptly, her mind not even able to keep up with the speed of her mouth.

"Of course not, this is for..."

She instinctively retorted, raising the box in her hand as she did so.

The words suddenly caught in his throat, and he couldn't finish the sentence.

Lee Chi-hoon stood there in the sunlight, his hands in his coat pockets, looking at her with a half-smile.

He didn't urge her, nor did he offer his hand, nor did he offer any thoughtful help to save her from trouble.

He wanted to make this little girl say those words herself.

This is a kind of perverse pleasure unique to adults, with a strong push-pull tension that corners you, yet makes it impossible for you to get angry.

The occasional curious glances from passersby amplified the sense of oppression.

Choi Sulli blushed deeply under his gaze, even her ears turning an alluring pink.

My heart skipped a beat, and my chest pounded.

There's no way to retreat.

If I desert now, I'll never have another chance.

To hell with girl group pride, to hell with being reserved.

She gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, rushed forward, and forcefully shoved the somewhat crudely packaged black box into his arms.

"Here you go! Shut up, don't laugh!"

She glared at him fiercely, as if to bolster her courage, afraid that her momentum would dissipate if she hesitated for even a second.

Li Chixun looked down at the box in his arms. It was completely unlike the work of that high-end jewelry store. It was obvious that this little girl had made it by herself while hiding in her room.

There was an awkward earnestness hidden beneath the roughness. He finally confirmed all his previous guesses.

Instead of immediately removing it, he gently picked at the hair-like ribbon.

Going through all this trouble, even getting yourself into trouble, just to deliver this.

"Oh, it was for me. Are you trying to woo me?"

This sarcasm was so direct and undisguised that it struck a nerve with Choi Sulli.

She instantly bristled, her cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish, and raised her hand to hit his shoulder.

Lee Chi-hoon chuckled, casually raising one arm to block her attack, while his other hand steadily tucked the gift into his coat pocket.

Choi Sulli missed her first attack and turned away angrily.

She walked at the front like an angry little penguin, not even glancing back at him. Only her two ears, which were completely red, betrayed her chaotic heartbeat.