Peninsula's Life Begins in 2016

Chapter 118 Nanshan Tower

The car quickly returned to Hongdae.

Jiang Yan parked his car, picked up a paper bag, went upstairs, and pushed open the door to 601.

The TV in the living room was still on, replaying a music show.

Choi Sulli was curled up on the sofa, a wool blanket covering her knees, holding a half-cold cup of barley tea in her hands, her head nodding, clearly very sleepy.

Hearing the door open, she jolted awake, turning her head groggily: "You're back?"

"Okay." Jiang Yan changed his shoes and walked into the living room, placing the paper bag on the coffee table. "Go to bed if you're sleepy."

"No, I promised to wait for you to come back." Choi Sulli rubbed her eyes, stood up unsteadily, and hugged Kang Yeon. When she saw the paper bag on the table, she asked curiously, "What's this?"

"Snacks given to me by a friend of Min-jeong."

"Snacks?" Choi Sulli raised an eyebrow, regaining some focus. She reached for the paper bag, examined it, and then looked up at Kang Yeon. "Handmade?"

"----Um."

"Which friend sent it? Male or female?"

"The woman's name is Yoo Ji-min, and she is also a trainee at SM Entertainment."

"Oh~" Choi Sulli drawled out the last syllable, put the paper bag back on the table, then raised her hand to hug Kang Yeon's neck, winking playfully, "Our producer is so charming, girls like him wherever he goes."

Jiang Yan reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He then gently flicked her forehead and said, "Don't be silly. She's still a trainee, seven or eight years younger than you."

"So what if I'm seven or eight?" Choi Sulli retorted confidently, tilting her head back. "You're two years younger than me, and you still have me completely smitten."

Jiang Yan looked down at her self-righteous little expression and couldn't help but reach out and pinch her cheek: "Weren't you sleepy? How do you still have the energy to say these things?"

"Sleepy as I am, I still need to assert my sovereignty." Choi Sulli yawned, then suddenly seemed to remember something, her eyes lighting up. "By the way, are you sleepy now?"

"I'm fine, what's wrong?"

"Let's go to Nanshan Pagoda."

"Yes, now."

Jiang Yan turned his head and glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost eight o'clock.

"Truth, is it risky to go to Namsan Tower at this time? Maybe we should go later?"

"Risks?" Choi Sulli buried her face in his chest, nuzzled him, and said sweetly, "Come with me. I've prepared masks and hats, and since it's nighttime, no one will recognize me. Besides, there aren't many people at Namsan Tower at this hour. We can take the back paths, and no one will notice us."

Before Jiang Yan could say anything more, Cui Xueli had already broken free from his embrace and ran to the entrance to put on her shoes.

"I'm going to Jeju Island tomorrow, and I won't see you for three days. Think about it."

Hearing her words and watching her frantically put on her shoes, Jiang Yan shook his head helplessly and took his coat off the hanger.

"Okay, let's go together."

Choi Sulli looked up and gave him a triumphant smile.

The temperature difference between day and night in April is quite large, and the night breeze at Nanshan Pagoda is much cooler than at the foot of the mountain.

at the foot of the mountain.

Choi Sulli adjusted her hat and mask, covering half of her face, revealing only her beautiful almond-shaped eyes.

The two slowly walked up the path.

The streetlights cast their shadows long and short, and occasionally a night jogger would pass by, their footsteps echoing on the stone pavement.

Sulli walked ahead, wobbling as she stepped on the curb to maintain her balance. "The last time I came here was when I was filming a variety show. I was so tired back then that I didn't have the mind to look at the scenery."

Jiang reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her off the curb: "Walk properly."

"Oh." Choi Sulli obediently responded and slipped her hand into his palm.

The two walked side by side to the viewing platform, where the lights of the octagonal pavilion illuminated the entire platform.

There weren't many tourists at this time; only two or three couples were scattered around.

The wall of love locks is densely covered with all kinds of padlocks, swaying gently in the night breeze, the metal clashing and making a soft sound.

Choi Sulli stood in front of a large number of love locks, looking down at the iron net covered with locks of various colors.

Jiang Yan followed her gaze, then looked down at his hands, and then at the locksmith shop not far away, which was still lit with warm yellow lights.

"Wait me a moment."

He had just taken half a step when his sleeve was gently tugged.

"What's wrong? I'll be back soon."

Jiang Yan turned around in confusion. Cui Xueli pulled him, her almond-shaped eyes under the brim of her hat curving into two shallow crescent moons.

Choi Sulli didn't answer immediately. Instead, she pulled him back to her side, loosened his sleeve, and slid her fingers down his wrist to hook them together.

"You don't need to buy that."

She turned her head and looked again at the iron mesh covered with locks. "I know many people say that if you hang a lock on Namsan Tower, lovers will never be separated."

"But Jiang Yan, we don't need that."

Choi Sulli withdrew her gaze, turned around to face him, and although the mask on her face covered her expression, it could not hide the tenderness in her eyes that was almost overflowing.

She raised her other hand and gently placed it on his chest.

"Because a long, long time ago—you already locked my heart."

"You hung that lock before I even knew what liking someone meant. Over the years, people have tried to pick it but haven't been able to because I've never given anyone a key."

She gripped his hand slightly, through his coat and shirt, as if trying to nail those words into his heart.

A night breeze blew in from the other side of the observation deck, making Jiang Yan's eyes feel a little uncomfortable.

He looked at the hand that Choi Sulli had pressed against his chest, and at the almond-shaped eyes above her mask that were filled with starlight. Suddenly, he felt that all the lights in Namsan Tower combined couldn't compare to the brightness reflected in her eyes at that moment.

He didn't speak, because some things don't need to be said.

He reached out and grasped the hand that Choi Sulli had pressed against her heart, then gently pulled her into his arms.

Choi Sulli buried her face in his shoulder, chuckled softly, and then raised her other hand to wrap around his waist.

"Oh, Jiang Yan."

"Um?

'

"Was what I just said particularly cheesy?"

"Um... a little bit."

"So, do you like it?"

"like."

Choi Sulli buried her face deeper into his shoulder, a hint of smugness in her eyes: "Then can you say such cheesy things to me in the future?"

"————Okay, I'll tell you when I've learned it."

Choi Sulli chuckled and lifted her face from his embrace. "Then you'd better study hard. I'll be checking your homework anytime."

Jiang reached out to straighten her crooked hat and pulled down her mask, which had been brushing against her face, to cover her smiling face again.

"Let's go, it's windy at the top of the mountain, don't catch a cold."

"Um.

"The two walked hand in hand down the mountain. When they reached the fork in the road halfway up the mountain, Choi Sulli suddenly stopped and pointed to the narrower and darker path next to her."

"Let's go that way. There aren't many people there, and we can see the side of Seoul Tower, which is really beautiful."

Jiang Yan glanced in the direction she was pointing. The path was indeed more secluded, with fewer streetlights, and the shadows of the trees pressed down in layers in the night, making it look a bit eerie.

Are you sure?

"I'm sure. I've been here before when filming variety shows, and it's very safe."

Just then, both of them saw a flock of birds fly overhead. Jiang Yan asked again, still hesitant, "Are you really sure?"

Choi Sulli took a step back. "Never mind—let's take the main road. It's wider."

"Pfft—haha!"