Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 612 Train to Busan (Be a Good Little Dog) 7.2k
Jin Dong slowly pushed open the door and dragged his feet out of the bedroom.

The noise wasn't very noticeable amidst the sounds of people busily preparing breakfast.

But the moment she stepped out, she met the gaze of Quan Xuanhe, who had turned to look at her after hearing the commotion.

In just a fraction of a second, Jin Dongtian's eyes flickered like those of a startled deer before quickly lowering.

She nodded hastily to Kwon Seonhyuk and mumbled, "Good morning, oppa..."

The voice was faint, like a mosquito's buzz, and the gaze shifted, fixed only on the floor beneath her feet. She covered her head and quickly walked to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

The whole process was smooth and natural, yet it also revealed a deliberate sense of detachment and stiffness, as if the person wanted to shrink into a corner.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk took in her reaction without showing any emotion, and simply replied calmly, "Good morning, Min-jung."

He looked away, as if the awkward eye contact from just moments before had never happened.

He remembered the chaotic aftermath of last night clearly, and Jin Dongtian's current evasiveness and embarrassment were entirely expected.

Liu Zhimin's gaze quickly swept back and forth between the two.

Quan Xuanhe's calm demeanor reassured her somewhat, but Jin Dongtian's unusual behavior—his ears that seemed to be burning and his eyes that were extremely evasive—instantly sounded an alarm in her heart.

what happened?

Did I really get caught sneaking into Quan Xuanhe's room last night?
Or did something else happen that you don't know about?
Liu Zhimin's heart skipped a beat, and her gaze toward Jin Dongtian took on a subtle scrutiny.

"Xuanhe, Jimin, come and sit down! Minjun, don't shrink back there, sit a bit closer to the middle!"

Jin Dongtian's mother walked out of the kitchen carrying a plate of golden-brown fried fish, her loud voice instantly breaking the faint sense of stillness in the air.

She placed the plate in the center of the table, then turned to her daughter and said, "Minjung, pour some barley tea for your unnie and oppa."

They were completely unaware of the undercurrents swirling among the young people.

"Yes, Mom."

Jin Dongtian responded and stood up timidly to get the teapot and cups, her movements still a little tense.

Liu Zhimin sat down next to Quan Xuanhe. Taking advantage of the moment when Jin Dongtian's mother turned around to go back to the kitchen, she quickly tugged at Quan Xuanhe's sleeve and looked at him with a puzzled and curious gaze.

Quan Xuanhe simply shook his head without making a sound.

She lowered her head and carefully poured a cup of tea for Yoo Jimin: "Unnie, here's your tea."

"Thank you, Minjung."

Liu Zhimin smiled sweetly, her voice was sweet, but her eyes held a probing look.

Next was Quan Xuanhe's cup. Jin Dongdong's hand holding the teapot paused almost imperceptibly. He then aimed the spout at the cup and slowly poured in the slightly yellow and clear tea.

Quan Xuanhe's gaze fell calmly on her slightly lowered face. Her thick, curly eyelashes trembled uneasily like the wings of a startled butterfly, and the skin on her fair neck still had a faint pink hue.

He didn't speak, but when she finished pouring the tea and softly said "thank you," he clearly saw her shrug her shoulders slightly again, as if she had been poked by an invisible finger.

"You're welcome, oppa," Kim Dong-won replied softly, then placed the teapot on the table, picked up his teacup and took small sips, his gaze fixed on the table.

"How did you sleep last night, kids?"

Jin Dongtian's father, dressed in casual home clothes, also sat down, smiling and asking questions while his loving gaze swept over the three of them.

"Great! Uncle, the bed is very comfortable."

Liu Zhimin immediately smiled and answered, temporarily suppressing her doubts and demonstrating impeccable professionalism as an artist.

“…Yes, I slept very well, Dad.” Jin Dongtian’s reply was vague, without even looking up.

Quan Xuanhe smiled and replied, "Yes, thank you for your concern, Uncle and Aunt. I'm getting a good rest."

"That's good! That's good!" Jin Dongtian's father laughed heartily.

“The weather looks nice today. Minjung, didn’t you say you knew a few good places? We can take Xuanhe and Jimin to visit them.”

“Yes…” Jin Dongtian responded, but it didn’t sound enthusiastic, and even a little reluctant.

This is completely opposite to the lively and ingenious spirit of yesterday.

She was happy to do that yesterday.

But that was yesterday; overnight, things have changed.

The mere thought made her feel suffocated, especially when facing Quan Xuanhe... She felt so ashamed that her stomach was twitching slightly.

Kim Dong-won's mother served the last soup and a plate of delicate side dishes. Seeing her daughter drinking tea with her head down, she couldn't help but frown and say, "Min-jung, cheer up! Didn't you say you were going to take Unnie and Oppa out to play? Why are you so listless now? Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Jin Dongtian suddenly coughed violently, almost spitting out his barley tea.

She covered her mouth and coughed violently, her face turning bright red instantly, whether from choking or because her mother's words had touched a sore spot.

"Alaso, I went to bed late last night and chatted with Unnie for a long time."

Her voice was filled with helplessness as she glanced at Liu Zhimin, who was staring at her, and muttered this under her breath.

Liu Zhimin's face stiffened.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk looked at the two of them from left to right.

He picked up a spoon, ladled a bowl of steaming seafood soup in front of him, and naturally changed the subject.

"Auntie, this soup smells delicious. It's so kind of you to prepare such a sumptuous breakfast so early in the morning."

"Not at all, I'm glad you like it." Jin Dongtian's mother was indeed distracted and began to enthusiastically introduce the local specialties on the table.

Breakfast took place in this subtle and thoughtful atmosphere.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the brightly colored food on the table, but it couldn't penetrate the turbulent emotions in Liu Zhimin and Jin Dongtian's hearts.

While maintaining a smile in response to Kim Dong-won's mother's enthusiasm, Liu Zhimin's mind was racing.

There's something strange about her.
If she had caught me cheating, she would have been smug and subtly mocked me, not reacted like this.

Quan Xuanhe calmly enjoyed his breakfast, as if everything from last night was just a passing cloud.

He watched Jin Dongtian shovel rice into his mouth in a pitiful manner, barely tasting it, and then glanced at Liu Zhimin beside him, who was lost in thought. He sighed silently in his heart.

It seems that enjoying some quiet time together as a couple during this trip to Busan is impossible...

Jin Dongtian sat there, feeling Quan Xuanhe's subtle gaze, and felt extremely uncomfortable.

She quickly shoveled the last grains of rice from her bowl and stood up as if fleeing.

"I'm done eating, I'm going to clean up!" Before the words were even finished, she had already hurriedly slipped into the kitchen with the empty bowl.

As Liu Zhimin watched Jin Dongdong's retreating figure disappear through the kitchen doorway, her beautiful eyes turned to Quan Xuanhe, filled with undisguised questions and confusion.

Jin Dong hurriedly returned to his room, looked out the window at the rising sun, and let out a long, silent breath, as if to expel all the pent-up frustration and chaos from his chest.

The blush on her cheeks had not completely faded, the heat in her ears had not yet subsided, and the dread in her heart remained.

Things are so different now. Yesterday they were trying every means to pester me, but today they want to back down.

"I'll give it to Moya," Kim Dong-won said with a self-deprecating bitter smile.

Now all she wants to do is shrink herself into a tiny ball and bury herself in a hole where no one can find her.

The sudden embrace in the darkness, the burning body temperature, and Quan Xuanhe's sharp eyes that seemed to penetrate her soul and dissect and scrutinize all her thoughts.

The thoughts kept colliding in my mind, bringing waves of suffocating dizziness and intense shame.

He was fully aware of his own actions, and his little tricks, which he was so proud of, crumbled in front of him.

This was absolutely the most embarrassing and shameful moment of her life!
Should I continue to pretend nothing's wrong and stay by their side?
What about that enthusiastic "Busan tour guide"?
Just imagining the knowing look that Quan Xuanhe might give her, and imagining Liu Zhimin's scrutinizing eyes, made her stomach churn and her hands and feet turn cold.

However... if we back down now, wouldn't that just prove our evasion and cowardice, making us look like complete losers?
"Minjung! Hurry up and get ready."

Outside the door, my mother's cheerful voice rang out again, carrying an unquestionable tone.

Jin Dongtian suddenly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, as if to forcefully suppress all the struggle and resistance, adjust his mood, and finally made up his mind.

"Arasso, I'm putting on makeup!"

Jin Dongtian sat in front of the dressing mirror and hurriedly began to apply her makeup.

Hearing her voice, Kwon Hyun-hyuk turned to look at Yoo Jimin, "Why don't you use Min-jung's to do your makeup first?"

Early in the morning, Liu Zhimin naturally went out without makeup.

However, young girls are at the most beautiful age, and they are still beautiful even without makeup. Some minor flaws that are covered up by exquisite makeup actually make them look more vivid and real.

Liu Zhimin rolled her eyes, thought for a moment, and her love of beauty prevailed over everything else. She nodded and went to knock on the door.

"Minjung, can we do our makeup together?"

Despite some minor ingenuity, the deep friendship between the two has not been extinguished.

Kim Dong-won was holding a powder compact when he turned his head and saw Yoo Ji-min. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded decisively.

Liu Zhimin probably doesn't know that it's not enough to just face Quan Xuanhe alone.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk sat in the living room chatting with Kim Dong-won's father.

He seemed quite interested in the details of his DP shoot, and the two continued to discuss the topic.

About half an hour later.

Both of them had their makeup done, a simple, natural look.

Seeing this, Quan Xuanhe stood up and prepared to leave.

"Busan has many great places, Hyunhyuk and Jimin should enjoy them."

"Minjung should also be a good tour guide and have more fun."

Jin Dongtian's mother looked at the three of them, who were all ready to go, and gave them instructions with a smile.

"Thank you for your hospitality."

Quan Xuanhe and Liu Zhimin thanked him one after the other, while Jin Dongtian watched them silently.

With one meal and one night, the Golden Winter Family Trip came to an end.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk got into the driver's seat, glanced at the "ostrich" in the back seat trying to minimize its presence through the rearview mirror, said nothing, and smoothly started the engine.

The low growl of the engine temporarily filled the gaps in the silence.

Liu Zhimin opened the passenger door, got in, fastened her seatbelt, and casually glanced back through the rearview mirror.

"Where should we go now? Does Minjun have any recommendations?"

Quan Xuanhe glanced at Jin Dongtian through the rearview mirror and saw that she was looking down at her phone and not saying a word. This was not a good look, so he spoke up.

The car merged into the traffic flow on the highway.

Kim Dong-won's home is in Liangshan, not Busan. It takes some time to drive to Busan, which is located on the coast.

"The weather is great."

Liu Zhimin broke the silence, her voice deliberately light as she spoke to Quan Xuanhe, but her eyes glanced at the rearview mirror again, seemingly casually.

"It's even sunnyer than yesterday, and it looks bluer too."

At this moment, Jin Dongtian spoke up.

"Haeundae, if it's the first stop here, then go to Haeundae."

Haeundae is so famous that it's the first thing people think of when they think of Busan. The famous movie "Haeundae" even gave this place free publicity.

"Mm." Kwon Hyun-hyuk responded with a faint smile, and continued, "The blue sea and sky of Haeundae will never disappoint."

Liu Zhimin looked at the two of them, and without knowing what was going on in her mind, she blurted out this question.

Did you sleep well last night?

Upon hearing this, Quan Xuanhe's gaze immediately fell upon Jin Dongtian in the rearview mirror. The air inside the car froze for a few seconds.

Her expression clearly froze, followed by a hint of confusion.

"It's okay."

Jin Dongtian noticed the gaze coming from the rearview mirror and said this somewhat stiffly.

In reality, Liu Zhimin was just feeling bold and wanted to test Jin Dongtian's reaction to her sneaking away last night.

but
This reaction is strange.
Liu Zhimin felt a vague sense of unease, as if something was amiss.

The car drove smoothly along the coastal road leading to Haeundae. The sun was shining brightly, and the blue sea and sky were indeed as refreshing as Kwon Hyun-hyuk had said.

But the atmosphere inside the car was as if shrouded in an invisible veil, revealing a subtle tension.

Liu Zhimin's abrupt question, "Did you sleep well last night?" echoed in the cramped space, carrying a probing barb.

Jin Dongtian almost buried her head in her phone in the back row, and the blush that had just faded from her ears returned.

Her fingertips, gripping the phone, turned slightly white, and her heart skipped a few beats.

"It's...okay, I guess." Her voice was dry, as if she were squeezing a sentence out of her throat.

She quickly glanced up at the rearview mirror, where Quan Xuanhe's deep eyes were also sweeping over her, calm and expressionless, yet making her feel as if all her embarrassment had been seen through.

She immediately lowered her head again, her fingers unconsciously swiping across the screen, opening and closing an app, pretending to be busy to hide the chaos in her heart.

Quan Xuanhe's mistaken embrace, his oppressive body temperature, his almost soul-searching interrogation... every detail burned her nerves like a brand.

And then there was Liu Zhimin's oblivious, soundly sleeping appearance... all of this made her toss and turn, as if she were in a frying pan.

"Is that so?" Liu Zhimin responded, her voice carrying a hint of deeper meaning.

Jin Dongtian's stiff, almost speechless reaction was far from what she had expected: "triumphant after being caught" or "completely unaware."

This was even more unusual. Liu Zhimin's doubts spread like ripples across a lake.

Could something have happened that I don't know about?
Her gaze sharpened, filled with scrutiny and confusion, as she locked onto Jin Dongtian's downcast face in the rearview mirror, before turning her attention to Quan Xuanhe.

Why did she feel that Minjeong didn't dare to look at Kwon Heonhyuk even once today?
Quan Xuanhe felt the probing gaze from the passenger seat and also caught the almost palpable awkwardness and evasiveness in the back seat. He sighed silently in his heart.

He naturally took control of the conversation: "Jimin, we're almost at Haeundae. The weather is so nice, we can go for a walk on the beach or find a cafe with a good view. Minjung should know where it is, right?"

"Hmm!" Liu Zhimin was interrupted from her thoughts, withdrew her scrutinizing gaze, and cooperated with a bright smile.

The car eventually arrived near Haeundae's famous seaside boardwalk.

Jin Dongtian finally took a deep breath, forcing herself to cheer up and fulfill her role as "guide," although her voice still lacked its usual energy and sounded somewhat businesslike:
“Oppa, unnie… that beach in front is less crowded because it’s not the main tourist area, and the sand is finer.”

Jin Dongtian really knows a lot about this; he explained it in great detail.

“Walk along this road, up... there’s a famous coffee shop called ‘Wave View’ at that corner. The open-air platform has a great view, right across from Gwangalli Bridge and Haeundae Beach.”

She spoke rather quickly, trying to remain calm, but consistently avoided looking directly at the two people in the front row, her gaze fixed on a certain point outside the car window.

Following her directions, Kwon Hyun-hyuk quickly found the coffee shop "Wave View" with its eye-catching white awning and navy blue logo.

He parked the car.

The three of them got out of the car and were greeted by the salty, refreshing sea breeze and the even brighter sunshine.

Golden beaches, azure sea, and the Guang'an Bridge gleaming in the sunlight... all combine to create a captivating scene.

The sea breeze swept by, temporarily dispelling the stuffiness and unease inside the car.

The café is situated on a platform halfway up the mountain, in a superb location that truly lives up to its name, offering panoramic views of the waves and the surrounding scenery. The outdoor seating is arranged in a staggered pattern, creating a beautiful interplay of sunlight and shadow.

Because it was a weekday, there weren't many people. They found a relatively quiet corner with a good view and sat down.

"What would you three like to drink?" The waiter politely handed over the menu.

Jin Dongtian had no interest in looking at the menu and randomly pointed to a coffee with a picture that looked good: "This one... I'll take it."

After ordering, silence returned, with only the sound of waves and distant, indistinct voices in the background.

Liu Zhimin rested her chin on her hand, admiring the scenery, but her peripheral vision kept glancing at Jin Dongtian, who was sitting diagonally opposite her.

Her silence, evasiveness, and obvious absent-mindedness were even more pronounced than in the morning.

Quan Xuanhe suddenly spoke up, looking at Liu Zhimin with a gentle yet unquestionable tone.

"Zhimin, I think the view from the corner of that terrace at the back is pretty good. Why don't you go take a look? There's no one there, and the angle is quite unique, perfect for taking pictures."

"When Minjung and I ordered, something came up and we forgot to confirm."

Liu Zhimin was taken aback. They sent her away alone? She immediately looked at Quan Xuanhe, her beautiful eyes instantly filled with incomprehension, shock, and a rapidly rising sense of vigilance and displeasure.

Why did they want to speak to Jin Dongtian alone? Was there something she couldn't hear? Could it really be...?

"Oppa?" Yoo Jimin's voice was filled with confusion and doubt.

Quan Xuanhe's gaze was steady, carrying a reassuring power: "Go take a look, and while you're at it, think about what you want to eat for lunch, hmm?"

Although she was extremely unwilling, filled with resentment at being excluded and a deeper sense of unease, she finally bit her lip and stood up very slowly under Quan Xuanhe's insistence.

"……All right."

Liu Zhimin reluctantly agreed, glanced at Jin Dongtian who was bowing his head and remaining silent, his body even stiffer, before turning around and walking towards the corner terrace that Quan Xuanhe pointed to.

Only after Liu Zhimin's figure disappeared into the flower bushes at the corner of the terrace, and he was sure she couldn't hear the conversation anymore, did Quan Xuanhe turn his gaze to Jin Dongtian, who had been keeping her head down.

Sunlight shone on her slightly trembling eyelashes, casting small shadows.

He sighed softly, breaking the stiff silence between them: "Alright, Minjung, lift your head, don't be so tense."

Quan Xuanhe's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, precisely piercing through Jin Dongtian.

Her body trembled almost imperceptibly, and after struggling for a fraction of a second, she finally raised her head very slowly to meet Quan Xuanhe's gaze.

The sunlight stung her eyes, causing her to squint slightly. Her gaze met Quan Xuanhe's calm and deep eyes, which scrutinized her with an undeniable air of understanding.

“Oppa…” Jin Dongdong called out, his voice dry and tight, the last syllable almost inaudible, his gaze darting away, not daring to meet his eyes for long.

“Now it’s just the two of us,” Quan Xuanhe said, his voice steady, as if stating a given fact, yet carrying an invisible weight that pressed down on Jin Dongtian.

"Don't be like this anymore." His gaze was fixed on her, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of the coffee cup. "Is it just because of last night?"

Her fair fingers twisted tightly around the checkered napkin on the table.

“Ani,” she tried to explain, her voice trembling, “I just don’t know how to face this…”

"Who are you facing? Me? Or what happened last night?" Quan Xuanhe leaned forward slightly, making the pressure even more intense.

“Look me in the eyes and answer me.” His voice deepened, carrying an unyielding command.

Jin Dongtian felt as if an invisible force had seized his chin, forcing him to raise his head, his gaze inevitably meeting his deep, pool-like eyes.

Her panic, shame, and inescapable weakness were clearly reflected in it.

"I'm sorry, oppa"

She couldn't continue, admitting that her actions were incredibly embarrassing.

That vague, inexplicable feeling, a mixture of curiosity, resentment, and perhaps even a hint of dark voyeurism, was completely exposed on that chaotic night.

This in itself is enough to make one feel ashamed and want to escape from facing it.

"What are you sorry for?"

"Even if you're going to apologize, you should apologize to Jimin."

Quan Xuanhe simply looked at her fluttering long eyelashes, his words remaining calm.

Jin Dongtian's eyes darted away.

In comparison, making her apologize to Liu Zhimin in person would also hurt her self-esteem.

If she hadn't been able to maintain the upper hand last night, she wouldn't have laid bare her innermost thoughts in front of Quan Xuanhe.

"Listen," Quan Xuanhe's voice was steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable command.

"What happened last night was an accident. Let's leave it at that. There's no need to think about it anymore, much less mention it. As for you and Zhimin..."

He paused, looking at Jin Dongtian's carefully raised eyes, which were filled with moisture and pleading.

"I will pretend none of this ever happened."

He raised an eyebrow slightly, and calling her by her name made her heart flutter again.

"But there's a condition: I want you to remember this lesson."

Quan Xuanhe's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clearly etched into her chaotic mind.

"Remember how you feel right now, and remember where it came from. It's caused by your own lack of clarity, immaturity, and all those messy little thoughts."

"So from this moment on—"

Quan Xuanhe's gaze enveloped her as if it were a tangible force:
"Stop having any thoughts you shouldn't be having." His tone carried a commanding tone.

"Be open and normal in front of me, and treat me the way you normally would."

“As for this trip.” He leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the magnificent sea view from the terrace.

"Being a good tour guide, isn't that what you want to do? When Zhimin comes back, we can go wherever we want."

Kim Dong-won listened blankly, a mixture of immense shame and the undeniable authority in Kwon Hyun-hyuk's words extinguishing any thoughts of escape, and she passively accepted his instructions.

She sniffed, looked into Quan Xuanhe's deep and calm eyes, and nodded weakly.

A strange feeling, a mixture of suppressed and subjugated resentment, and a kind of...

A sense of security welled up inside me.

Yes, don't worry.

“Nearaso, oppa…” Kim Dong-won responded almost instinctively.

She was like a student who had finally understood after being scolded by a strict teacher, feeling tired and wronged but having no choice but to obey, sitting there obediently and waiting for the teacher's next instruction.

As Quan Xuanhe looked at Jin Dongtian, who had finally become obedient and compliant, the coldness deep in his eyes completely disappeared, replaced by a sense of satisfaction after gaining complete control.

"If that doesn't work, I'll tell Zhimin." He added as a final reminder, then picked up his coffee again, took a sip, and glanced at the corner of the terrace where Zhimin was peeking out curiously.

The last sentence clearly made Jin Dongtian shiver. Her relaxed mood suddenly became tense again, but she no longer tried to avoid the situation.

An Dui.
She absolutely couldn't let Liu Zhimin know about her shameful thoughts.
Otherwise, she would truly be a complete loser!
"Jimin is back."

Behind the flower bushes at the corner of the terrace, Liu Zhimin peeked out, her face filled with curiosity and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

She looked at Kim Dong-won, who was bowing his head and remaining silent, and then at Kwon Hyun-hyuk, who was calm and even leisurely drinking coffee. For a moment, she couldn't figure out what had happened.

But her intuition told her that something was definitely wrong.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk smiled at Yoo Ji-min and put down his coffee cup.

"You're back? This location is really nice, isn't it? We've confirmed with Minjung. We'll go for a walk on the boardwalk by the sea later, then find a place for lunch. I heard the seafood hot pot nearby is really authentic. Minjung?"

He naturally called out to Jin Dongtian.

Jin Dongtian, like a soldier whose name had been called, immediately looked up, his voice clear but still a little uncoordinated: "Yes, I know a place, not far from the seaside, with very fresh produce."

She looked at Liu Zhimin, her eyes no longer filled with the previous complexity and incomprehension, but instead appeared normal and at ease.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk, who was watching Kim Dong-won from the side, nodded secretly.

Be a good, obedient child.

(End of this chapter)