The Uncrowned King of the Peninsula

Chapter 299 What's poking me?

The Nanshan Mountains in winter are somewhat desolate, with withered grass revealing patches of yellow earth, and a rather strong wind that feels cool on the face.

However, galloping on horseback feels completely different.

Bae Young-joon rode his horse, galloping alongside Yoo Ji-min. Despite the cold winter wind, the first time he had ridden so leisurely outdoors made him feel great, and the pressure he had been under gradually dissipated by the wind.

Liu Zhimin was even more excited and happy.

"Oh, hurry up, hurry up~ You're so slow." She giggled, her laughter like silver bells scattering with each hoofbeat of the horse. Her high ponytail swayed behind her, and her graceful figure, wrapped in the tight-fitting riding outfit, made her look dashing and full of youthful energy.

This was completely different from her usual gentle and dignified young lady demeanor.

"Slow down, don't go too fast, horses are weaker in winter." Bae Yong-joon tried his best to urge his horse to keep up and come to her side.

"Hmm? Just a short ride? How far is it?" Liu Zhimin, who seemed to have had no chance to ride a horse in a long time, rolled her eyes at him and snorted in dissatisfaction, "Why are you talking so much?"

"Just say you can't run as fast as me."

She raised her eyebrows smugly and deliberately spoke in a coquettish, affected voice, "Oppa, should I slow down? Are you almost done for?"

"Hahaha~"

"You won't say that then, will you?"

Bae Young-joon blinked, feeling like he was being teased.

"What are you talking about?" He smiled and followed closely behind Liu Zhimin.

"Nothing, I didn't say anything." Liu Zhimin's expression changed, and she revealed a dignified smile. "President Pei, you didn't misunderstand my ladylike thoughtfulness, did you?"

"He is indeed a pervert."

She preemptively accused him, wrinkled her little nose, and pointed at him with her riding whip, saying, "I'm going to tell Minjun when I get back that he shouldn't get too close to this weird uncle of yours."

"Oh, I'm her cousin."

"So what? I said I'm a weirdo, and I am a weirdo."

"Then you'd better be careful, lest Minjun finds out we're out having fun one day, then he'll have to call you aunt."

"Hey~ Who is it? I don't want to be with you. We're just business partners, understand?"

"Cooperation? In-company romance is also acceptable, right?"

"No, absolutely not!"

The two chatted and laughed, and time flew by. Until the horse under their feet gradually slowed down, Bae Yong-joon reached out and touched it, feeling that the horse's strength was almost gone.

"Ji-min, let's stop. The horse can't run anymore," Bae Young-joon called out to Yoo Ji-min. "Don't get hurt if you keep running."

"Really? It's only been a short time!" Liu Zhimin seemed to have had enough fun and complained.

"We can't even see the training ground anymore." Bae Young-joon turned his head to look behind him, and the training ground halfway up the mountain had shrunk to a small dot.

"Alright, that's settled for today." Liu Zhimin sighed with some regret, looking at the scenery of Nanshan Mountain in the distance.

“I heard it’s even more beautiful here in the summer, when the grass is lush. There,” he pointed to a valley not far away, “there’s a river there, very clear and cool.”

"It must be very pretty," Liu Zhimin murmured to herself, her dark hair fluttering in the wind, emitting a faint fragrance.

She turned to look at Bae Young-joon, "Will you come with me again this summer?"

“Of course.” Bae Young-joon nodded. “Since Miss Ji-min gave the order, of course I have to come.”

"Tch~ That sounds nice," Liu Zhimin curled her lip, "but there's no benefit to it at all."

"Didn't we get anything good today?" Bae Young-joon chuckled. "Why are you always so suspicious? It was just a date."

"I didn't expect you to actually take me on a date." Liu Zhimin glanced at him, her two short legs swaying back and forth on either side of the horse, causing the little horse to snort impatiently.

"What? What else could it be?" Bae Young-joon asked.

“I thought you were going to ask me to investigate something, go on a date with me to make me happy, and then tell me now,” Yoo Ji-min said, observing Bae Young-joon’s expression.

"Hey, do you need my help or not? If you don't ask now while I'm in a good mood, I might not agree later."

"Whether it's true or not, I don't want to talk about it now." Bae Young-joon shook his head. "If you're so happy, why bother with all that?"

Liu Zhimin smiled and said, "Hmm, you're not bad."

"I'm not that bad, am I? Why would I only contact you when I need something?" Bae Young-joon looked into Yoo Ji-min's bright, sparkling eyes.

"Who knows? I thought it was just a date, but who knows what other motives you might have?" Liu Zhimin snorted.

"A purpose? Of course." Bae Young-joon's gaze slid down from her delicate features to her full breasts, their curves alluring and exuding feminine allure.

"Is that your purpose?" Liu Zhimin looked at him, pursed her lips, and puffed out her chest, but her words were merciless: "Pervert."

"He is indeed a pervert."

"It's only human nature," Bae Young-joon chuckled. "I like you, is that not allowed?"

"Who knows what you like? You like everyone you meet."

“Now that you’ve become the president of the company, and your Hanjiang Sports is all over the news, you’re even more impressive,” Liu Zhimin said, a hint of unease hidden in her expression.

The two people unexpectedly began to collaborate.

Yoo Ji-min provided Bae Young-joon with crucial information, enabling him to find a way out of the predicament. In return, Bae Young-joon dealt with their common enemy.

Woo Kyung-ho, and his father.

However, Liu Zhimin now realizes that Pei Yongjun doesn't seem to have the same choice as her, and a sense of unease, which she dares not face, rises in her heart.

Afraid of being abandoned and deceived.

Ultimately, she's just a young girl still a trainee. Her adult-like demeanor is largely due to imitation. Of course, dealing with real young girls like Kim Minjung is no problem for her.

But when she actually took that step and started working with Bae Young-joon, a complete adult, her thoughts were very complicated.

"You saw it?" Bae Young-joon asked.

“Yes, there’s news about Hanjiang Sports everywhere. I can’t help but see it.” Liu Zhimin nodded.

"Are you feeling good right now?"

"The Grand Commander is so capable, he's helped you so much. It seems like you're really going to take a big bite out of Woo Kyung-ho's plan. That's really impressive."

Her eyes were lowered as she looked at the horse's head swaying in front of her, her small, white, and adorable hands unconsciously pinching and kneading the mane.

“The President only gave me the opportunity to make a phone call,” Bae Young-joon said, spurring his horse closer to Yoo Ji-min.

"A phone call?" Liu Zhimin looked at him.

“Yes, it’s just one phone call, but if the timing is right, it can be very useful,” Bae Young-joon said.

"Like this?" Liu Zhimin asked.

“That’s right.” Bae Young-joon nodded, looking at the distant hillside and grassland. “We’ve finally made progress, and we’re not as clueless as before.”

“He said that when Hanjiang Sports has 300 million subscribers, he will recommend me to be a director of KBS.” “300 million?” Yoo Jimin asked, “How many do you have now?”

"Less than 200,000," Bae Yong-joon said.

"Then, then how do we..." Liu Zhimin frowned, then suddenly understood, "Produce 48?"

"Are you trying to get subscriptions through this?"

No wonder Bae Young-joon suddenly switched to the Produce 48 project and even secured the reporting rights.

"Simple, fast, and efficient, the Produce series is expected to reach millions of active viewers, which translates into subscriptions to Hanjiang Sports."

"Regardless of how long they can book, the President's mission has been accomplished."

Bae Young-joon chuckled, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Anyway, he didn't say how long he wanted to maintain that, did he?"

Liu Zhimin nodded.

"So, after spending the last few days dealing with CJ Entertainment, we've finally reached a basic agreement." Bae Young-joon breathed a sigh of relief. "Now, we just have to wait and see Woo Kyung-ho put on a great show."

"Well, congratulations." A muffled voice came from beside me.

Bae Young-joon turned his head and saw Yoo Jimin pouting, looking at the withered yellow grass next to him.

"What's there to congratulate? Isn't this opportunity all thanks to you?" Bae Young-joon smiled, moved closer to her, and took her small hand that was fiddling with her mane.

"Really?" Liu Zhimin looked up, glanced at him, and secretly tightened her grip on his hand.

"Really, it's all thanks to my dear Ji-min." Bae Young-joon winked at her, his tone sincere, and lifted her small hand to his lips to kiss it. "Thank you."

"Tch, of course, you know that much." Liu Zhimin snorted.

This guy is alright; he's busy with important matters, and he hasn't forgotten about me.

Otherwise, he'll be in for a beating.

As she thought this to herself, the vague unease she had felt from not being contacted much these past few days quietly dissipated, replaced by a sweetness that only existed during dates, and a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

Bae Young-joon laughed when he saw her awkward expression.

"What are you laughing at?" Liu Zhimin felt that her thoughts had been read, and her cheeks flushed. She couldn't help but glare at Pei Yongjun with embarrassment and annoyance.

"Can't you just smile? My dear lady, if you like me, just say so. Don't keep it to yourself." Pei Yongjun laughed even harder as he watched her get angry and embarrassed.

"No way! Who likes you! Hey, stop laughing! Stop laughing!" Liu Zhimin felt embarrassed as he laughed more and more, and raised her whip to hit him. "If you laugh again, I'll hit you!"

"Ouch!" Bae Yong-joon quickly tugged at the reins and urged the horse a few steps to the side. "This hurts!"

"Really?" Liu Zhimin looked at the riding crop in her hand and pouted at him. "After seeing how you treated Lim Nayeon last time, I thought you would like her. You're very good at it."

"So you do feel pain after all."

"Like that?" The scene from that night suddenly flashed into Bae Young-joon's mind.

Lim Nayeon lay on the sofa, her little bottom sticking up, her eyes covered so she couldn't see anything, while Yoo Jimin, standing next to her, coldly handed her the small whip she had brought.

With a gentle flick of his wrist, a red mark appeared on the little rabbit's fair and tender bottom, and its muscles clenched tightly around him.

"What?" He coughed lightly.

"So, that's all? Do I need to say it? Didn't you hit her? Why are you pretending not to know now?" Liu Zhimin pouted, but a blush flashed across her fair face, and some scene was probably replaying in her mind.

"No, this is my first time too, I just didn't remember."

"You handed it over, and the atmosphere was already there." Bae Young-joon looked completely innocent.

"Is it my fault?"

“You’re clearly very skilled at it…” Liu Zhimin rolled her eyes at him and muttered, “What are you pretending for?”

"Why are you asking this? Do you like it?" Bae Young-joon asked, looking at Yoo Ji-min's slightly flushed face.

"What? I don't like it at all," Liu Zhimin said, her face tense.

"Really? I thought you liked it when I saw what you brought." Bae Yong-joon looked at her with amusement. "Otherwise, why would you buy this?"

"I'll slap you!" Liu Zhimin glared at him angrily. "Just you wait."

"I'm warning you, don't do that to me, don't do those kinds of perverted things!"

She looked wary.

"Then what's normal is fine?" Bae Young-joon asked.

"Even normal methods won't work? I don't know you well, and I'm going home soon. You can figure it out yourself." Liu Zhimin pointed to his hand.

"You should be able to do it yourself, right?"

"If I don't know how, can you teach me?" Bae Young-joon asked earnestly, "The kind where you teach me step by step."

"No way," Liu Zhimin refused outright.

"Then I'll have to find someone else." Bae Young-joon shook his head regretfully.

"No!" Liu Zhimin exclaimed anxiously, "Who are you going to find?"

Bae Young-joon couldn't help but laugh again.

"Don't laugh!" Liu Zhimin felt as if Pei Yongjun was making her laugh so hard that she was both embarrassed and annoyed. She had no choice but to tell him to stop laughing.

Bae Young-joon waved his hand, laughing as he said, "Okay, okay, I won't laugh anymore. I won't ask anyone else; I'll handle it myself."

"Okay, my lady."

"I don't care about you!" Liu Zhimin felt her cheeks burning, and she yanked the reins and whipped the horse. "I'm leaving. You'll have to deal with this yourself..."

"what!"

The horse beneath her was already exhausted, and when the reins were suddenly pulled, it twisted violently and almost fell over, causing Liu Zhimin to sway violently as well.

Pei Yongjun reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and pulling her off the saddle.

The horse she was riding bounced twice more before limping and turning in circles.

"Oh, what happened..." Liu Zhimin was held in Pei Yongjun's arms, still in shock, looking at the horse she had been riding just moments before, her heart pounding.

"It bumped into something and overreacted." Bae Young-joon pointed to the horse's right foreleg, where a large rock had flipped over, apparently tripping over when it turned its head in a hurry.

"It looks like he's injured."

He looked at the limping horse.

"Hmm?" Liu Zhimin hummed in response, then suddenly turned to look at him, a blush of embarrassment and annoyance rising on her pale cheeks. "You..."

"Uh, I bumped into you, I overreacted for a moment." Bae Young-joon, who was poking her butt, smiled innocently.

(End of this chapter)