Peninsula: Please, I only want to talk about ordinary people.

Chapter 46 I Miss You

A hand quietly pushed open the apartment door.

The door opened very slowly but still made a soft sound, but it was immediately stopped.

The lights were off in the living room, and there was no sound.

The person slipped in sideways, turned around, and slowly closed the door again, as if they had done it countless times.

"Clatter".

The living room lights suddenly turned on.

Pei Zhufa's hand was still on the doorknob. She paused for a moment before stiffly turning her head.

Kang Seulgi stood with her arms crossed next to the light switch in the living room, her nose flaring out, her face puffed up like an angry brown bear.

"Unnie! You've gone out drinking alone again!"

When Bae Joo-hyun saw it was her, she forced a smile. "Seulgi, weren't you asleep?"

"So, unnie ran out while I was asleep, right?!"

Kang Seulgi's eyes widened in surprise.

"So that's why Unnie said she was sleepy so early tonight and dragged me back to the room to sleep! So that's what she was planning!"

I was sleepy at first, but not at second.

Bae Joo-hyun took off her mask, casually brushed her hair back, revealing the face that fans called "as long as her looks are there, the world will be safe," subtly trying to make amends for herself.

"I saw you were asleep, so I didn't disturb you. I just went out for a walk. When did you wake up?"

I woke up an hour ago!

Kang Seulgi frowned as she looked at her, her gaze sweeping from top to bottom, and the more she looked, the more uncomfortable she felt.

The person in front of me is completely different from the Daegu girl from my trainee days—the one who wore sportswear, had a ponytail, and whose smile could light up the entire practice room.

If fans who are still clinging to the "gentle older sister" persona were to see this, their illusions would probably shatter completely.

"Unnie dressed like that going out—just for a stroll?"

Bae Joo-hyun bent down to take off her shoes, kicking off her combat boots and placing them next to the shoe cabinet.

"Otherwise what?"

She straightened up, walked to the refrigerator, opened the cabinet door, unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, took a sip, and glanced at Kang Seulgi.

"Keep your voice down, don't wake Seung-wan."

Kang Seulgi was taken aback and subconsciously obeyed, lowering her voice, but her momentum didn't diminish.

"Unnie! Don't think you can get away with this—"

"Seulgi."

Bae Joo-fa placed the water bottle on the table, turned around, leaned against the refrigerator door, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and tilted her head slightly to look at her.

Are you trying to control me?

Kang Seulgi subconsciously took a step back, but still stubbornly stared into her eyes with her neck stiff.

"I... I'm afraid that if you get drunk, you'll be recognized!"

Bae Joo-hyun's lips curled into a smile as she reached back and untied her ponytail, looping a hair tie around her wrist. She shook her head, letting her hair fall loose onto her shoulders.

When have you ever seen me drunk?

Kang Seulgi opened her mouth, but no words came out.

That's true. Unlike her teammates who start singing "Bang Bang" after just a couple of drinks, Bae Joo-hyun's alcohol tolerance is something she herself doesn't even know.

Every time she comes back from drinking, she removes her makeup, takes a shower, and changes into her pajamas, following the same routine without missing a beat. The next morning, she's always the first one up to make coffee and breakfast for them.

"Can't you take me with you, unnie?"

"—Shall I take you there?"

Bae Joo-hyun raised an eyebrow and, as she walked over, reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Why did I take you out? Don't I spend enough time with you guys normally? Please, give me some private space~"

Understand?"

"Unnie!" Kang Seulgi grabbed her arm and shook it in dissatisfaction.

"Calling me 'Mom' won't help~" Bae Joo-hyun winked at her.

"Alright, go back to sleep. You scared me just now. If there's a next time—you know what will happen~"

Kang Seulgi trembled slightly, her arrogance noticeably diminished, but she immediately followed after her retreating figure.

"Anyway, if you sneak out alone again next time, I'll tell Joo-hee unnie!"

Bae Joo-hyun stopped and turned around to look at Kang Seul-gi. Her expression didn't change much, except that she raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Are you threatening me?"

"—Not a threat."

Kang Seulgi took another step back, swallowed hard, and said, "Yes, yes, it's a notification."

Bae Joo-hyun looked at her for two seconds, then chuckled softly with amusement.

"OK."

She reached out and flicked Kang Seulgi's forehead.

"I'll take you next time, but I won't carry you if you get drunk. You'd better figure it out yourself."

Kang Seulgi covered her forehead, watching her turn and walk into the bathroom. She opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Who did Unnie drink with today? — Why does she seem to be in such a good mood?

They actually agreed to this after I asked so many times and was always rejected!

Mina frowned as she looked at the video call request on her phone screen.

Yongtai Sang was a bit opportunistic.

The wind blew again, and the clothes rack on the balcony swayed gently, golden strands of hair brushing against her face.

She swept her hair back, her fingertips touching her slightly cool earlobe. Involuntarily, she recalled the photo from earlier, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason.

By the time she realized what was happening, her finger had already tapped the answer button.

Having already accepted the call, Mina had no choice but to control her expression and her face turned cold as Jiang Yongtai appeared on the screen.

"Nan-chan, are you not angry anymore?"

Jiang Yongtai sat on a bench by the window in the convenience store. The camera swayed for a moment before focusing on him. He smiled, his expression slightly ingratiating.

Mina spoke indifferently, her voice devoid of warmth.

"Yongtai-san, video calls at this time are really bothering me."

"It doesn't seem like you're too troubled, does it? Isn't Nan-chan on the balcony right now? And she answered so quickly~"

He smiled again, his lips a little dry.

Mina was exposed by his words, puffed out her cheeks, and glared at him with dissatisfaction.

"Is there anything else, Mr. Yongtai? If not, I'll hang up."

97

"Something's come up."

Jiang Yongtai wiped the smile off his face and tried hard to look serious.

Although, in Mina's opinion, his serious expression, flushed cheeks, and unfocused eyes were rather comical.

"I'm sorry, Nan-chan, I was wrong last time, please forgive me."

Mina pursed her lips as she watched him apologize earnestly.

That idiot, he has no idea that what bothers him isn't what happened last time—

She lowered her eyes and gave a faint reply.

"Yes, I understand. Don't be angry, Yongtai-san. That's all then—hanging up."

"Wait a moment!"

Seeing Mina's indifferent reaction, Jiang Yongtai, who was drunk, thought that it was because he had brought up "the matter from last time" again that had upset her. In a panic, he told her to stop.

"Is there anything else, Eitai-san?" Mina frowned.

Jiang Yongtai's emotions were much more outwardly expressed than usual. He didn't think carefully about what time it was, where she was, or whether it was convenient for her. He only had one thought in his mind, which he blurted out.

"Nan-chan, shall we meet now?"

Mina paused for a moment, looking at his flushed cheeks and somewhat unfocused eyes, and finally realized that this was not something Jiang Yongtai would say in his normal state.

"Have you been drinking?"

Jiang Yongtai didn't answer. His finger touched the screen and landed right between her furrowed brows, awkwardly stroking back and forth as if he could smooth out the wrinkles.

"Nan-chan, don't frown—you look fierce~"

It seems he really did drink, and he's quite drunk.

She sighed.

"How much did Yongtai drink? Go home if you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk! I'm really not drunk!"

He retorted loudly, unaware that his earlier run had brought back all the pent-up effects of the alcohol, or perhaps because of a series of frustrations, he just wanted to vent to someone.

Now he even slurs his words, yet his expression remains remarkably serious.

"I...I didn't drink that much, how could I be drunk! It was all the seniors who got me drunk!"

After saying that, he grinned and gave a silly laugh.

Looking at him, Mina suddenly remembered Park Jihyo, who became competitive and clingy every time she drank too much, and Lim Na-ryeon, whose voice was louder than usual and who got more excited the more you tried to persuade her.

The person in front of me looks exactly like those two unnies.

Knowing she couldn't argue with Jiang Yongtai right now, she softened her voice.

"I know, I know, Yongtai-san didn't drink too much."

"Nan-chan, why don't you ask them why they forced me to drink? Don't you care about me anymore!"

Jiang Yongtai's lips suddenly turned down, his silly grin instantly replaced by a wronged expression, and his eyebrows furrowed into an "8".

word.

Mina looked at his expression and wanted to laugh.

Why does Yongtai-san look kind of cute like this?

However, she held back, sighed, and followed up with another question.

"Okay, I'll ask you, why did they force-feed you?"

Jiang Yongtai's expression changed again, becoming indignant.

"Because they want to take my child away from me!"

"—Child? Your child?"

Mina was stunned, not understanding what he was saying.

"right!"

Jiang Yongtai suddenly raised his voice, attracting a glance from the cashier behind the counter. The cashier then lowered his head expressionlessly and continued scrolling through his phone, clearly used to drunkards who suddenly started shouting in the convenience store in the middle of the night.

"They want to make 'Love Through Transfers' their own—and kick me out!"

Mina paused for a moment before realizing what he meant by "child," and a slight smile crept onto her lips.

"Yongtai-san, that's called planning."

"Yes! A project!"

Jiang Yongtai nodded vigorously, "That's a project I brought from KBS, why should they steal it!"

He spoke more and more urgently, his breathing became rapid, his eyes reddened, and then he suddenly stopped, lowered his eyes, and his voice became low, as if something had suddenly drained all his strength.

"—Work-related issues are one thing, but things just keep going wrong anyway—"

He put his arm on the table, lowered his face, and spoke even softer, but Mina could still hear him clearly.

"But you're ignoring me too—you haven't texted me these past few days, and I texted you yesterday but you didn't reply—Nan-chan—I miss you—"

Minami froze.

Is Yongtai-san really that concerned about me? What does this mean? Is he confessing his feelings?!

As she looked at his expression on the screen, the smile on her lips slowly faded.

I had never seen Jiang Yongtai like this before. He looked like a stray dog ​​soaked in the rain, pitifully squatting by the roadside, unable to go anywhere.

She opened her mouth towards the screen, about to say something, but then stopped, as a faint voice came through.

Jiang Yongtai lowered his head, resting it on his arm on the table, still holding his phone with the camera pointing upwards at the convenience store ceiling.

The voice fluctuated in pitch. Mina turned the volume up to the maximum, pressed the receiver to her ear, and listened with a frown for a while before she could hear it clearly.

That was Jiang Yongtai snoring; he had actually fallen asleep.

"—Baka!"

She muttered a curse under her breath, "How could he fall asleep at a time like this?"

"Yongtai-san, Yongtai-san!"

She called out twice, but there was no response from the other end of the screen, only Jiang Yongtai's increasingly loud snoring.

Mina bit her lower lip, unsure of what to do, when the screen suddenly moved.

The camera flickered, cutting from the ceiling to the convenience store clerk's face.

He glanced down at the sleeping Jiang Yongtai, then looked at his phone.

Mina's heart skipped a beat. In order not to expose herself, she quickly turned the camera around and pointed it at the night sky outside the balcony.

"Hello? Are you this gentleman's friend?"

"—Yes, that's me."

The shop assistant visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"This gentleman seems to be drunk and asleep. I'll wake him up now, but if it's convenient for you, it would be best if you could come and pick him up."

Mina pursed her lips and gripped her phone tightly.

Last time it was Sana. Is it my turn this time?

Yongtai knows he can't hold his liquor, yet he drinks so much every time. Is he doing it on purpose?!

Moreover, Sana told me last time that he wasn't acting like this when he was drunk!

She didn't know that last time Jiang Yongtai had gotten completely drunk, and after sleeping for a while, he had regained some of his senses.

"Miss? Are you still there?"

"Uh, I'm still here—"

Mina snapped out of her daze and gritted her teeth.

This is the last time —

Consider it repaying the favor he did for her playing games with her in Hyogo; she'll return to her rightful place as a "friend."

As for his last sentence—just pretend you didn't hear it!

"I'll go there. Don't wake him. What's your address?"

The clerk gave me the address.

"Okay, I'll be right there. Thank you."

After hanging up the phone, Mina frowned and quickly walked back to her bedroom.

Park Jihyo saw her burst in through the door in a flurry of activity. Before she could even ask a question, she saw her grab a hoodie hanging on the back of the chair and put it on.

"Mina, it's so late—are you still going out?"

Mina put on her hoodie, changed out of her pajama bottoms, and nodded.

"I have to go out for a bit, unnie—"

She paused for a moment, turned around and looked at Park Jihyo, her expression so serious that Park Jihyo thought something major had happened.

"Please keep this a secret, don't tell anyone else—please!"

"————Uh." Park Jihyo was stunned.

She rarely saw Mina ask her for a favor so earnestly. She had a lot of questions stuck in her throat, but seeing Mina's anxious look, she could only nod.

"Okay, I understand. So, are you coming back?"

She suddenly thought of this question.

Going out so late and with this expression—it's most likely because of a man; it's also possible that Mina won't be coming back.

But she has a boyfriend? How could that be?!

Park Jihyo exclaimed inwardly.

Mina walked to the door of the room, paused for a moment, and did not turn around.

"I—should come back."

After saying that, she opened the door and walked out, leaving Park Jihyo looking completely incredulous.

Minami pushed open the convenience store door, but lost control of her strength, and the door hinges made a muffled thud.

The shop assistant looked up from behind the counter. She quickly walked forward, bowed slightly through her mask, and lowered her voice.

"Hello, we just spoke. I'm here to pick someone up."

The shop assistant nodded and gestured with his chin toward the window.

She looked in that direction and saw Jiang Yongtai still lying on the table, his face buried in his arms, his phone beside him, fast asleep.

Thankfully, the person is still alive.

Mina had been tense the whole way, and the breath she had been holding in finally eased, but a surge of anger immediately welled up inside her.

That idiot! In the middle of the night, I had to run out to pick him up, and then I'd have to figure out how to explain it to Park Jihyo when I got back, while he was sleeping so soundly!

Mina walked over with a cold face, stood behind him, and nudged his shoulder.

"Yongtai Sang".

He's not awake.

She frowned, raised her hand, and slapped him hard on the back.

"Jiang Yongtai!"

Even she herself hadn't expected to produce such a loud sound.

Jiang Yongtai groaned, almost vomiting from the blow.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes still bloodshot, and turned his head to look back in a daze, his gaze unfocused.

Mina stood behind him, wearing a hoodie with only her eyes showing, glaring fiercely at him.

He stared at her for a while before recognizing her, and asked blankly, "Nan-chan? What are you doing here?"

How dare you ask?!

Mina glanced at him again and said in a low voice.

"Sober now? Come with me, I'll take you home."

"----oh."

Jiang Yongtai's scattered soul hadn't fully returned to its place yet. Hearing her say this, he subconsciously got up, grabbed his phone, and followed closely behind her.

As they reached the door, Mina suddenly stopped, grabbed him, and pressed down on his back. The two of them bowed to the shop assistant before pushing the door open and leaving.

As soon as she stepped out the door, she let go of his hand and walked ahead alone, head down, completely ignoring whether Jiang Yongtai could keep up behind her.

The cold wind outside sobered Jiang Yongtai up a bit, and now that most of the effects of the alcohol had dissipated, his mind was finally starting to work again.

I was video chatting with Mina just now, and I think I asked her if she wanted to come out, and then I fell asleep. But how did she know I was in the convenience store?

He quickened his pace to catch up, but Mina had already gotten into the car parked on the side of the road ahead. She glanced at him, rolled down the window, and spoke in a voice colder than the night wind.

"Get in the car."

"No need, I'll call a designated driver. My car is still here—"

Jiang Yongtai said subconsciously.

"I said get in the car."

Mina didn't give him a chance to finish speaking, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Jiang Yongtai looked into her eyes, paused for a moment, and then wisely shut his mouth.

"----oh."

He went around to the passenger side, opened the door, sat down, and obediently fastened his seatbelt.

Mina started the car, didn't say a word, turned the steering wheel, and drove towards his apartment.

The carriage was so quiet that only the low hum of the engine could be heard. Jiang Yongtai turned his head and glanced at her cautiously.

Mina had already taken off her mask and hood, revealing her entire face. Her lips were pursed into a straight line, and her eyes were fixed on the road ahead, not even sparing him any attention.

He swallowed hard, looked away, sat up straight, and didn't dare say a word.

It wasn't until Mina parked the car downstairs and turned it off that Kang Young-tae finally pieced together the fragmented events of the journey, including the words, "I missed you."

He unbuckled his seatbelt, turned to look at her, decided to ignore the drunken ramblings, and said with an awkward smile, "Nan-chan, thank you for bringing me back."

Mina glanced at him, and tacitly avoided saying the sentence that would make both of them feel awkward.

"Are you sober now?"

"Uh... I'm half awake."

Mina nodded. "What happened tonight? That project you mentioned?"

She was puzzled; Jiang Yongtai was acting very strangely today, to say he lost his composure was an understatement.

When Jiang Yongtai saw that she asked about work, he didn't respond for a moment. The matter was too complicated to explain in a sentence or two.

Seeing his hesitation, Mina glared at him.

"What are you thinking? Speak up! Weren't you having a great time just now? Even being all cutesy—"

"Yongtai-san, how come I didn't know you were so good at acting cute? Did you learn it from Sana?"

She had already decided to keep a proper distance from him, but since they were friends, and she knew what was bothering him lately, she wanted to know.

But the words, once they're on the tip of my tongue, automatically come out with a sarcastic tone.

Jiang Yongtai lowered his head awkwardly. If he could, he would pay any price to turn back time to when he was drunk and said those things.

Seeing his ostrich-like expression, Mina realized she had gone too far with her teasing and sighed.

"Yongtai-san, we didn't used to communicate like this. Didn't we agree to be each other's confidants?"

Jiang Yongtai was stunned for a moment. When she brought up the agreement, he hesitated for a moment, then finally looked up at her, then turned back to look ahead, his voice hoarse.

"—May I smoke?"

Mina, seeing his feigned serious expression, laughed in exasperation and slapped him on the back of the head.

Do you still want to smoke?

"No smoking!"

Jiang Yongtai scratched the back of his head and looked at her innocently.

If you don't want to give it, then don't give it; why hit someone?

Mina was still glaring at him, so he had no choice but to give up and sighed.

"Things are a bit complicated—let's go upstairs and talk, and have a drink while we're at it."

Mina pouted and subconsciously glanced out the window at the floor of his apartment building. The embarrassing scene of her bumping into Kang Hye-won here last time reflexively flashed back to her.

Jiang Yongtai seemed to know what she was thinking and told her what she was worried about.

"Don't worry, Huiyuan messaged me this afternoon. She went back to her dorm to find her teammates and won't be coming over tonight."

Minami breathed a sigh of relief, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

"----All right."

The two got out of the car, walked into the apartment building, and stood in front of his door.

Mina watched him raise his hand to enter the password. She had already learned that string of numbers from Sana last time, but seeing him skillfully input it now still stirred up a complex mix of emotions within her.

"Why haven't you changed your password yet?"

She muttered a slightly sour sound, her voice muffled under her mask, as if talking to herself.

"Huh? What did you say, Nan-chan?"

Jiang Yongtai pushed open the door and looked back at her with a puzzled expression.

Mina got angry looking at his "confused and innocent" expression.

This guy just confessed his feelings to me, but he can't seem to let go of Sana. What's going on?!

She rolled her eyes at him.

"It's nothing, come in. It's late, I'll leave after I've listened to you."

"----oh."

Jiang Yongtai could usually try to figure her out, and if he succeeded, he could even guess what she was thinking.

But my head is still half-open, and my ability to read the air is like a radio with a bad signal, buzzing and receiving nothing, so I had to give up.

Once inside the room, he settled her on the sofa and then went to the kitchen to pour her some water.

Mina sat on the sofa, pulled her hoodie back to reveal her blonde hair, and unconsciously glanced around the living room.

It was the same sofa, the same coffee table, and the PS5 controller next to the TV cabinet was still leaning against the charging dock. Even the angle of the cushions was exactly the same as four days ago.

Nothing has changed, but her mindset has.

What she saw was Sana sitting cross-legged on the sofa, hugging a cushion, shouting at the TV screen—

Seeing Jiang Yongtai carrying a plate of cut fruit out of the kitchen, he naturally sat down next to Sana.

Sana opened her mouth without turning her head, and he, with a smile, stuffed a piece of apple into her mouth. Sana took the opportunity to lightly bite his finger, then grinned carefree.

Sana had never described these images to her before, but at this moment they seemed to have been forcibly shoved into her mind by some force, becoming incredibly clear.

This is where Sana Minatozaki and Young-tae Kang lived together.

And she's sitting here, Sana's teammate, her best friend, someone she trusts so much—

She looked down at her hands resting on her knees, her eyes falling.

Mina, what are you doing here?

This wasn't the first time this thought had crossed her mind. Before, she could tell herself, "Just a friend, just a gaming partner, just someone to pass on a few messages for him when Sana isn't around."

But tonight was different. He was drunk and said, "I miss you." She put on a hoodie and ran out of the dormitory, speeding all the way to the convenience store.

What makes her so special? Is it because she's his "confidante"?

Based on his saying "I like Minai" in front of everyone in the cafeteria?

Or was it because he said at the clinic, "You're my favorite member of Twice"?

Mina recalled that when Sana Minato turned around in the coffee shop, she smiled softly and said to her, "He was able to help you relax during your time in Hyogo, which is more important than anything else."

When she said that, she was genuinely happy for herself.

But she had no idea she was sitting in her ex-boyfriend's living room, no idea she had just held her breath during a video call with him from the balcony.

I wonder if, after hearing "You're my favorite person" in the clinic, she lowered her head simply to hide the corners of her mouth that were turning up in a smile—

Mina slowly leaned back into the sofa and closed her eyes.

The guilt didn't start tonight; it had been there ever since she found herself subconsciously waiting for his messages. It was just particularly heavy tonight, so heavy she could feel its weight.

It pressed against her chest, making her unable to refuse even though she knew she shouldn't have come up, just to spend a little more time with him. She opened her eyes and looked towards the kitchen. Jiang Yongtai was pouring water at the bar with his back to her, his movements still a little sluggish.

She still didn't stand up.

Jiang Yongtai walked over with two drinks, placing one in front of Mina. Seeing her lost in thought, he asked, "What's wrong, Mina-chan? What are you thinking about?"

Mina snapped out of her daze, gave a faint smile, and suppressed all her emotions, not giving him any chance to find out.

"Nothing, I'm just a little sleepy."

If Jiang Yongtai were clear-headed enough, he would see the forced smile beneath hers.

But he just nodded, sat down and took a sip of ice water, and then started talking about the "Love by Transfer" project, and finally about what happened at the dinner party that night.

Mina had been looking down, swirling her finger around the rim of her glass, but stopped when she heard Liang Zhengyu's part.

"So even your direct supervisor might not be on your side?"

Jiang Yongtai nodded with a wry smile.

"Nam Seung-ho told me to wait, but it's been almost two weeks and there's still no news. Now that Na Young-seok's show is about to finish filming, Lee Myung-han will be able to transfer Liang Zheng-yu over."

I either have to stay on "Refrigerator Interview" or I can only join Liang Zhengyu's team as an assistant PD.

"

"—So what are you planning to do?"

Jiang Yongtai leaned back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling.

"Nam Seung-ho told me to wait, so I'll wait a bit longer. But if he proves useless, I'll leave tvN with the project myself. There will always be a place that suits me."

Mina looked at his profile, remained silent for a moment, then picked up her cup and took a sip.

"Yongtai-san, if your company hears what you just said at the convenience store, you'll be in trouble."

Jiang Yongtai knew she was worried about him, so he turned to look at her.

"————Yes, I know, thank you, Nan-chan."

Mina ignored his gaze, gently placed the cup back on the coffee table, and got up to put the hoodie back on.

"Good to know. I'm leaving."

"I send you."

Jiang Yongtai was about to get up when she stopped him.

"No need, you should rest."

She paused, looked away, and spoke in a very flat voice.

"But—don't call me next time, we—are just friends."

Mina decided to take advantage of the night to make things clear to him.

She doesn't want to come here again.

Jiang Yongtai frowned, suddenly remembering what he had said to her at the convenience store.

What does Nan-chan mean by that? What does "just friends" mean? Is she blaming herself for saying that in her drunken state?

Seeing that she was about to leave, he instinctively grabbed her hand, and Mina turned around in surprise.

Jiang Yongtai took a deep breath and looked at her intently.

"Nan-chan, I'm sorry, what I said earlier was all drunken talk, please don't take it seriously, and I was just—"

Drunken ramblings? Don't take them seriously.

Yongtai Sang said—those were all drunken words?

Mina didn't hear what he said after that. The tension she had been holding since she entered the house snapped at that moment.

A surge of emotion welled up in her eyes, and she quickly turned her head away, her voice turning completely cold.

"Let go! I know—so, let go!"

Jiang Yongtai did not give up.

For some reason, he had a very clear intuition that if he let go now, Mina would slip away from that important place in his heart.

That position he always thought was just "friendship" —

He lowered his voice and shook his head.

"I won't let you go, Nan-chan. Did I say something wrong? Why are you suddenly telling me we're just friends?"

What did I say wrong?

She really wanted to turn around and tell him, "You're not wrong!"

But she dared not, afraid that if she turned around, Jiang Yongtai would see what was already overflowing in her eyes.

Mina bit her lower lip, trying to find the tone of voice she usually used when speaking to him.

"No, Yongtai-san, of course we're just friends~ What else could we be?"

Stop messing around, I want to go back. I'm so tired of driving in the middle of the night.

But her body was trembling slightly, the trembling coming from the wrist that Jiang Yongtai was holding and passing into his palm.

That was Mina resisting her own physiological reactions, and her body providing evidence to Kang Young-tae on her behalf.

Jiang Yongtai opened his mouth, but the ability that worked on Mina, which was sometimes effective and sometimes not, was still issuing warnings to him repeatedly, even though it was temporarily dormant due to the aftereffects of alcohol.

He ignored her increasingly violent struggles, and with a quick pull of his wrist, he dragged her back.

Mina stumbled a step, and as she turned around, the brim of her hat slipped off her head, and golden hair fell down, hanging on both sides of her face.

Her eyes were already red and swollen, filled with tears that hadn't yet fallen, and her lower lip had a row of white teeth marks from being bitten.

She tried desperately to force a smile, hoping to get away with it at the last minute, but her lips twitched and then couldn't hold on any longer.

Upon seeing his face, that tear finally fell.

Mina immediately turned her head away, praying that he hadn't seen it.

As Jiang Yongtai watched the drop of water slide down her chin, he felt as if his heart was being pounded by something dull and heavy.

He asked softly, his voice trembling, "—Nan-chan, why—are you crying?"

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