Peninsula: The Great Producer

Song Xihai pointed at Qi Yaojiu: "You still say it's not true? You still won't admit it?"

Qi Yaojiu calmly said, "Really no, really not, but I won't allow anyone to have any ulterior motives towards Zhi En before she turns 20."

"Wow, Qi Yaojiu, do you know how outrageous you are? Who do you think you are? What gives you the right?"

"As long as she listens to me."

"Tch, anyone can brag."

Qi Yao Jiu stopped and looked at Li Zhi En, who was squatting on the ground taking pictures of wildflowers, and called out, "Zhi En, come here."

Lee Ji-eun didn't move, but she replied, "Okay, I'll be right there."

Song Xihai muttered defiantly, "What's wrong with that? I can do it too."

Qi Yaojiu gestured with his hand.

Song Xihai cleared his throat and called out, "Ji-eun Xi, come over here."

"Wait a moment."

Upon hearing the response, Song Xihai straightened his head and puffed out his chest.

"Crack"

After taking pictures of the wildflowers, Lee Ji-eun stood up and turned to where Ki Yo-gu and Song Seo-hae were standing, asking, "Oppa, what kind of flower is this?" as she quickly walked over.

Upon reaching them, Lee Ji-eun stood silently beside Ki Yo-gu, pointed to the flowers by the roadside, and continued to ask, "What, what kind of flower is that?"

Song Xihai chimed in, "I'm asking you, Nine."

Qi Yaojiu shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Song Xihai boasted, "How could he possibly know? I'm not bragging, but Qi Yaojiu can't even recognize all the seafood in the sea or the vegetables in the fields. I definitely know that's a hibiscus flower."

Lee Ji-eun skipped the topic and looked at the sea, asking Ki Yo-gu, "Oppa, are we going to go sea fishing by boat?"

Qi Yaojiu nodded and said, "That's right, we'll take a boat out to sea to fish."

Song Xihai interjected, "I've prepared the boat and ramen. We'll make seafood ramen on the boat at noon using the seafood we caught. I'm sure Ji-eun has never had it before; it's absolutely delicious."

Lee Ji-eun muttered, "Seafood ramen? I need to manage my figure."

Qi Yaojiu comforted him, "You can train for a day after you go back tomorrow. Since you're already here, eat and drink as you please."

“Oppa wouldn’t let me drink rice wine last night either.”

Song Xihai had been eagerly looking for a chance to speak, and when he heard Li Zhi'en complaining that Qi Yaojiu wouldn't let her drink rice wine, he immediately said, "Jiu, that's not right of you. Why did you stop Zhi'en from drinking rice wine? Rice wine isn't real alcohol, what's wrong with tasting it?"

Qi Yaojiu didn't speak, but Li Zhi'en waved her hand and said, "Forget it, I'm not old enough to drink yet. When I turn 19, I'm going to buy a bottle of every kind of alcohol in the supermarket and put them on the table and drink them slowly one by one."

Song Xihai frowned.

No, he was speaking up for Lee Ji-eun, so why did Lee Ji-eun back down so quickly?

It's just rice wine. To put it bluntly, kids on Wanjae Island have been drinking rice wine since they were 12 or 3. Does that mean kids in big cities like Seoul have to wait until they're 19 to drink alcohol? Surely not. In dramas, students even disguise themselves to buy cigarettes and alcohol.

Arrived at the pier.

Song Xihai boarded the boat first and reached out to help Li Zhi'en.

Qi Yaojiu boarded the ship first, and extended his hand to Li Zhien, separating Song Xihai from her.

Lee Ji-eun grabbed Ki Yo-gu's hand and boarded the ship.

The waves rocked the boat, and Lee Ji-eun, who had boarded, kept muttering to herself.

Qi Yaojiu didn't let go, holding Li Zhi'en tightly. He asked Song Xihai to give him the life jacket, and personally helped Li Zhi'en put it on. He also smoothed Li Zhi'en's bangs and told her, "Stay by my side and don't go anywhere."

Lee Ji-eun nodded vigorously.

Song Xihai could only watch helplessly.

He needed to set sail, so he went to the cabin first.

Qi Yaojiu took a seasickness patch and helped Li Zhi'en apply it; he himself hadn't used one today.

The ship sailed towards the middle of the sea.

At first, Lee Ji-eun found the feeling of weightlessness fun. It felt more real than the boat ride she had experienced the day before, and the feeling of looking at the sea was completely different.

With both hands gripping Qi Yaojiu's clothes tightly, Qi Yaojiu remained silent, struggling to steady himself.

He wouldn't spout nonsense like "to overcome fear, you have to face it." Nor would he tell Lee Ji-eun that if she's afraid of water, she shouldn't come out for deep-sea fishing.

He never spoils the fun, and he is still doing so now. He just silently watches over Lee Ji-eun, not wanting anything to happen to her when she is happy.

After ten minutes, the boat stopped.

Song Xihai took out a fishing rod and bait.

Squatting on the deck, Lee Ji-eun held Ki Yo-gu's pocket with her left hand and carefully touched the bait with her right, muttering, "Um, what's this?"

Song Xihai boasted, "Earthworms? These are hard to find in winter. I dug for a long time before I finally found one."

"How come they're different?"

"Does Ji-eun know earthworms?"

“When my younger brother and I lived with our grandma, we would walk past a small hill after school. Some of my classmates would dig up earthworms to catch small fish and shrimp in the ditch, but this one was too big.”

"Earthworms usually stop foraging and hibernate in winter, so they probably get fatter because they sleep more."

"Haha, I've gained weight."

Lee Ji-eun's laughter was as clear and melodious as a silver bell.

Song Xihai chuckled along, not forgetting to give Qi Yaojiu a haughty look, as if to say, "I made Zhi'en laugh, can you do that?"

Qi Yaojiu baited the hook and picked up the fishing rod.

Song Xihai asked in confusion, "Aren't you going to help Zhi'en Xi prepare a fishing rod?"

Qi Yaojiu looked at Li Zhien and said, "I'll teach you how to fish first."

"Okay, Oppa!"

Lee Ji-eun followed Ki Yo-gu and got up, walking to the middle of the left side of the ship.

Qi Yaojiu had Li Zhi'en stand in front of him holding the fishing rod, while he stood behind her, also holding the fishing rod.

He patiently taught Lee Ji-eun how to fish.

Song Xihai couldn't hear what was being said.

But Song Xihai could see it.

He complained speechlessly, "That guy Qi Yaojiu did it on purpose. He said he was teaching Zhi En Xi how to fish, but he just wanted to take the opportunity to get close to Zhi En Xi."

"Who in their right mind teaches fishing to have the girl stand in front while they stand behind?"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think they were hugging from behind and showing affection."

"Ji-eun is still smiling so happily. It's just casting a line. Is it really that fun? Isn't it something anyone with hands can do?"

Qi Yaojiu completely ignored the fact that there was also Song Xihai.

The boat rocked with the waves, and Lee Ji-eun and he were in physical contact almost every moment.

Surprisingly, Lee Ji-eun, who was standing in front, suddenly seemed to be no longer afraid of the water. She listened to Ki Yo-gu's gentle words, stared at the buoys on the sea, and felt a sense of security from her back as the boat rocked.

As long as Qi Yaojiu is there, he will not encounter any danger.

He would hug her in time, just like now. Although he didn't hug her, every sway made Lee Ji-eun feel like she was nestled in Ki Yo-gu's warm embrace.

Thoughts drift away.

Fishing is no longer the most important thing.

Lee Ji-eun wanted to record this beautiful moment so that she could show it off to everyone she knew when she could.

Suddenly remembering Song Xihai, Li Zhi'en quickly turned her head to look for him.

Song Xihai came over with two fishing rods. Their eyes met, and Song Xihai said happily, "Ji-eun-xi, I'll help you prepare..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lee Ji-eun interrupted him, saying, "Seohae oppa, could you help me take some pictures of me fishing? It would be even better if you could record a video."

After saying that, Lee Ji-eun revealed a charming and touching expression.

Who could refuse that?

Song Xihai quickly put down his fishing rod and took out his phone from his pocket.

Lee Ji-eun resumed fishing, seemingly more like a staged photoshoot, but the scene was beautiful; it would have been even more beautiful if Ki Yo-gu hadn't been in the frame. (End of Chapter)