Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 676: A Powerful Effect! The Potential of Baijiu!
The door was suddenly pulled open, and what came into Quan Xuanhe's view was Li Yongzhi's face, flushed with excitement, yet also carrying a hint of regret that she hadn't put on makeup.

She froze almost instantly; her bold words in front of the camera vanished without a trace, leaving only a frozen expression with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth, as if the pause button had been pressed.

A short, off-key exclamation escaped her throat.

The next second, she snapped back to her senses as if she had been electrocuted, and bowed almost at a ninety-degree angle.

"!!!!!! (Hello!!! Senior Kwon Seonhyuk!!!)"

The sound was so loud it could shake the dust off the ceiling, with a noticeable tremor and distortion.

This reaction is a bit exaggerated, but that's the show's classic style, so let's just go with it.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk was taken aback by the overly "enthusiastic" welcome, but then gave a gentle smile and bowed slightly in return.

"Hello, Yongzhi-xi, please take care of me." He was very humble, without any airs of a top star.

"(Oh my god, you really came!)"

While rambling incoherently, Yongzhi hurriedly ushered Quan Xuanhe inside.

She instinctively bent down and bowed to let them in, her movements clumsy and flustered, almost tripping herself.

"Really... something really serious has happened! You actually came to my room!"

In the living room, the producers and staff in charge of filming could not hide their excitement.

Although they tried to remain professional, the excitement in their eyes was undeniable, especially among the female staff who exchanged glances that said, "Oh my god, it really is him!"

Although Kwon Hyun-hyuk understood her style, he also knew that she rarely had such an exaggerated reaction when she first met a guest.

So this exaggerated reaction was clearly mixed with genuine excitement.

However, just treat recording a show as an exaggerated situation during variety show filming.

"Uh, this place is cozier than I expected." Kwon Hyun-hyuk looked around, trying to break the somewhat exaggerated atmosphere.

It's more like a cozy place; in reality, the location was indeed cramped, making it the most rudimentary environment he's ever used for a variety show recording.

This clearly demonstrates the major shift in the format of Korean variety shows in the post-pandemic era.

His gaze swept over the rows of wine bottles and simple snacks on the table, finally settling on the main camera facing him, and he gave a light smile.

Lee Young-ji seemed to remember the core of the program: "Come, come, please have a seat!!!"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk sat down at the table, and Lee Young-ji almost sat down beside him, taking a deep breath and forcing herself to calm down, but her eyes were still surprisingly bright.

Looking at the man in front of her, dressed in simple casual clothes yet still so handsome that it was "unbearable to look at," she felt like she could hardly breathe.

"Really. I'm under so much pressure right now," Yongzhi wailed, covering her face, but her eyes, peeking out from between her fingers, were full of laughter—her signature genuine reaction.

"Senior...but why...why did you come? Am I really not dreaming?"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk was amused by her undisguised excitement and frankness.

“Why can’t I come? Yongzhi’s show is all the rage right now, it’s an honor to receive the invitation.” His voice was gentle and relaxed.

"Besides, isn't it interesting how Youngji drinks and chats with everyone on the show? I also want to experience that relaxed feeling."

"What?! An honor?!" Yongzhi exaggeratedly slapped his thigh.

"Oppa, I'm so honored! Daebak, with you sitting here, the whole room has become ten levels more luxurious!"

She glanced around her slightly messy living room, then looked at Quan Xuanhe's face, which seemed to have a built-in filter under the light, and her expression became even more dramatic.

"Ugh, this lighting! I'm such a terrible light bulb, I'm no match for your face! PD, could you please make the lighting brighter? My oppa's face needs top-notch lighting!"

The staff in charge of lighting couldn't help but chuckle and made some adjustments.

“Yongzhi is exaggerating.” Quan Xuanhe waved his hand, his smile widening as he noticed the abundant drinks on the table.

"It seems Yongzhi is well-prepared. If you're under a lot of pressure, a little drink should help, right?"

He took the initiative to suggest it, and it naturally integrated into the core elements of the program.

"Ah! Yes, yes, yes! Alcohol!" Lee Young-ji seemed to have found a lifeline and immediately entered "MC mode," although she was still a bit flustered.

"What would you like to drink, Oppa? Soju? Beer? Or maybe the Lee Youngji Special Mix that I prepared with tons of alcohol?"

She pointed to a row of bottles of different brands of wine and juice on the table.

"Is Oppa a good drinker?"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk glanced at the options on the table and said in a down-to-earth manner, "Let's have some beer first. We just finished filming and want to refresh ourselves."

"My alcohol tolerance is alright, not to the point of being drunk after one drink, but not the kind that can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk either. Let's see how Yongzhi plans to 'entertain' me today."

His tone was somewhat teasing, and also carried a hint of "bring it on," which was very much in line with the usual opening of "Although There's No Food" where guests would reluctantly accept being "forced to drink."

In terms of alcohol tolerance, Kwon Heonhyuk certainly has no problem. He was already quite good at it, and he's drunk quite a bit since entering the entertainment industry.

"Since Oppa has said so, then I won't be polite!"

Yongzhi instantly perked up, and the tension from before was greatly reduced.

She skillfully picked up the beer bottle, popped it open with the bottle opener, and foam gushed out instantly. She hurriedly grabbed a glass, filled it, and respectfully but still forcefully pushed it in front of Quan Xuanhe.

"Oppa, first toast! Cheers to your arrival!!"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk smiled, raised his glass, and clinked it with hers. The chilled beer went down his throat, and it did bring a sense of relaxation after the shoot.

Yongzhi also took a big gulp and then let out a satisfied "Ha!" After drinking the beer, she was clearly more relaxed.

Lee Young-ji took a big gulp of beer, with her characteristic frankness, as if she were gossiping about her neighbors.

"Oppa! What have you been up to lately? You seem super busy, I see your face everywhere!"

She exaggeratedly drew a large circle in front of her with her hand, referring to the ubiquitous billboards.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk had just taken a sip of his ice-cold beer when he heard this, so he put down his glass with a relaxed smile on his face, as if the filming had just ended.

"Ah, I just finished filming a TV series recently."

"Oh my god! Filming's wrapped up!" Lee Young-ji slammed her hand on the table, her voice rising so high that her beer nearly spilled out, as if she had just heard some major news.

"Daaaa! Which show is it? Can I ask?" She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Hmm,” Quan Xuanhe nodded, responding naturally, his tone calm but clear.

"It's a drama I worked on with senior actress Han Hyo-joo and director Ahn Gil-ho. We just finished filming all the scenes before the recording started."

"Wow...!" Lee Young-ji feigned surprise, then changed the subject with a touch of MC slyness, cleverly steer the conversation toward the direction Kwon Heon-hyuk needed to promote.

"So... now that the drama is finished filming, can Oppa finally take a breather? Or... is there something new coming soon? I see trailers all over the internet!"

She winked deliberately, giving him an "I understand" look.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk chuckled, understanding Lee Young-ji's guidance perfectly.

He turned slightly to face the main camera more directly, speaking with a promotional tone.

"That's a Netflix movie that's going to be released in October."

"Ahhh! It's here!" Lee Yong-ji immediately seized on the key words, clapped her hands excitedly, and bounced on the cushion.

“I know! It’s that one! 20th Century Girl, right? The one she acted in with Kim Yoo-jung!” She almost shouted it out, her voice full of certainty.

"I've watched the trailer! I've watched it so many times!"

"Yes, it's '20th Century Girl'," Kwon Hyun-hyuk confirmed with a smile, and began to introduce it naturally.

"The atmosphere is very special. I play a high school student in it, and there are many innocent yet heartwarming interactions."

"High school student! Kwon Hyun-hyuk is playing a high school student!" Lee Young-ji's reaction was extremely entertaining. She widened her eyes, pointed at Kwon Hyun-hyuk's face, and exaggeratedly said to the camera.

"Ladies and gentlemen, look at this face! Is it even believable? Playing a high school student? This is a complete scam!"

She feigned deep sorrow, then couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk was amused by her reaction and shrugged in agreement: "Maybe... this is what actors are supposed to do? Try to get closer to the character."

He paused, then added, "Making this movie was actually a very enjoyable experience; it felt like going back to school. I hope everyone will like it after it's released on Netflix in October."

"October! Netflix!" Lee Young-ji immediately transformed into a human repeater and publicity officer, emphasizing it forcefully in front of the camera.

"Everyone! Did you hear that? In October! On Netflix! '20th Century Girl'! You absolutely have to watch it! If you don't..." She made a throat-slitting gesture, accompanied by a funny expression.

She picked up the wine bottle and generously filled both Quan Xuanhe's and her own glasses.

"Oppa just finished filming and came here to record a show and promote his new movie. He's really worked so hard!" She raised her glass high, her face beaming with a sincere and enthusiastic smile.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk smiled and raised his glass to clink with hers: "Thank you, Young-ji. I hope everyone will continue to support us."

Fueled by the alcohol and the increasingly familiar atmosphere, her eyes locked onto Kwon Hyun-hyuk again, with a hint of cunning and the expectant look typical of a fan.

"Oppa," she said, leaning forward slightly, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the rim of her glass, her tone a mix of tentative inquiry and barely concealed curiosity.

"Filming, movie promotion... these are all amazing! But..." She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, leaving everyone in suspense.

"We! We really! Really! Absolutely miss our oppa standing in front of the microphone stand!"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of wailing, and she exaggeratedly clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture, bowing to Quan Xuanhe.

"Please! Oppa! About that...that solo comeback we're so excited about!"

Lee Young-ji's eyes were wide open, and she seemed to hold her breath, afraid of missing any subtle expression from him.

"Is there even the slightest hint right now? Just the slightest possibility? Just the slightest... hint?"

She gestured a tiny, almost invisible slit with her thumb and forefinger, her face filled with the earnest plea for hope.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk was amused by Lee Young-ji's highly dramatic questioning. He put down his glass, his fingers gently stroking the rim, as if he was carefully choosing his words.

His smile remained gentle, but his eyes held a thoughtful expression.

He seems to have mentioned the topic of soloing earlier, when he surprised fans with a surprise visit.

But it seems to have been delayed until now.

We can't keep postponing, that would seem like breaking a promise, and besides...

Kwon Hyun-hyuk felt that even releasing an album would be a success.

He just uses his sixth sense more in acting, though he can certainly use it in finding songs.

“Ah… Solo… The feeling of singing in front of a microphone is really special, and I miss it a lot.” He said honestly, which made Lee Young-ji’s eyes light up even more, as if she saw a glimmer of hope.

“But Yongzhi,” he changed the subject, looking at her with a helpless yet sincere smile.

"As you know, time is really crammed full of film and television projects. Scripts, roles, filming, promotion... it's like spinning a top, and it feels like even taking a good breath and calming down to find a song has become a luxury."

His tone was somewhat self-deprecating, yet it revealed the truth.

"…!" Lee Young-ji let out a knowing sigh, his shoulders slumped dramatically, and his face showed a mixture of understanding and slight disappointment.

"I understand, I understand!" She nodded repeatedly, like a deflated balloon, but quickly cheered herself up and sat up straight.

"So! So!" She suddenly pointed her finger at Quan Xuanhe, her eyes burning with renewed fighting spirit.

"Oppa! This isn't a rejection! Right? Right? It's just that the time isn't right yet! The right time!"

"We need to wait for... um... the perfect moment when all the stars are perfectly aligned! A perfect moment that makes Oppa think, 'Ah, this is it!' right?"

After she finished speaking, she stared at Quan Xuanhe with hopeful eyes, as if waiting for a crucial confirmation.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk was amused by her interpretation, which was full of Lee Young-ji's unique style, and burst out laughing.

He nodded, making no direct promises, but leaving room for fans to continue to look forward.

"Well, you could say that... it requires the right timing, the right place, and the right people? When I feel truly ready, able to deliver great music and a great stage..."

He paused, then raised his glass, as if toasting to this possibility of the future.

“I will seriously consider it. After all, the stage is another home.”

"Wow! That's enough! Enough!" Lee Yong-ji instantly revived, excitedly slamming her hand on the table, almost knocking over her wine glass.

She quickly grabbed her beer bottle and, without thinking twice, filled both Quan Xuanhe's and her own glasses to the brim, causing beer foam to overflow.

"For the sake of 'seriously considering'! For the future 'Vocal Hyuk'! And even more so for Oppa's words 'the stage is home'!"

She raised her glass high, her voice loud and infectious, her face flushed with excitement and alcohol.

"Oppa, let's take this as a promise! Although we don't know which day it will be, my ears and my liquor are always ready to cheer you on! Cheers!"

The crisp sound of glasses clinking rang out, and Li Yongzhi boldly downed his drink in one gulp.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk also took a big gulp with a smile, and the atmosphere on the set reached a new, slightly exciting climax, filled with the smell of alcohol and anticipation, with Lee Young-ji's signature "Awoo~" cry.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk couldn't help but shake his head with a smile as he watched Lee Young-ji drink heartily after her toast.

He put down his wine glass, as if suddenly remembering something, and reached into the pocket of his coat to rummage around.

“By the way, Youngji-ssi,” Kwon Hyun-hyuk’s tone carried a hint of gentle apology and a touch of mystery.

"Although I'm here as a guest, it seems a bit impolite to come empty-handed. Besides, I heard that Young-ji has been under a lot of pressure lately and that recording the show has been very tiring..."

As he spoke, he took a small square velvet box from his pocket, the perfect size for holding jewelry, and pushed it onto the low table in front of Li Yongzhi.

He specially asked his assistant to buy it after he learned that the show was being filmed; it was also from Chaumet Paris.

Since it was a TV show, he couldn't very well give jewelry from other brands; that wouldn't be appropriate.

"Wow? What? What?!"

Lee Young-ji's eyes widened instantly, becoming bigger than saucers. Just moments before, she was immersed in the excitement of the "promise," but this unexpected surprise left her completely stunned.

She pointed incredulously at the small box, then looked at Quan Xuanhe's handsome face with a slight smile. Her mouth opened but she couldn't make a complete sound, only short gasps.

“…!!!” she exclaimed again, then suddenly covered her mouth with both hands, her body bouncing twice on the cushion with excitement.

“Oppa?! This…this is for me??” Her voice rose and trembled with extreme surprise and disbelief.

Quan Xuanhe smiled and nodded: "Yes, it's a small gift. I hope you like it."

Upon receiving confirmation, Lee Young-ji covered her head with her hands, her eyes wide like saucers, and only after confirming again did she cautiously open them.

Inside the box lay a simple yet exquisite silver bracelet, its delicate luster shimmering even in the dim light, clearly indicating its high value.

"Waaaaaaahh ...

Lee Young-ji's screams almost lifted the roof off. She excitedly stood up, holding the box in both hands, and frantically showed it to the camera. Then she turned to Kwon Heon-hyuk, so excited that she was incoherent.

"Daiba! Oh my god! Oppa! You're really a god, right? How can you be so handsome and so nice?! I...I...Waaaaah..."

She exaggeratedly wiped away tears, though her face beamed with barely suppressed ecstatic joy.

"This is so beautiful! It's totally my style! Oppa, how did you know I like this minimalist style?!...I'm going crazy!!!!"

She immediately took out the bracelet and awkwardly and excitedly put it on her wrist, admiring it repeatedly, showing it off to the camera, to the lights, and to Kwon Hyun-hyuk from various angles.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Did you see that?! Oppa gave it to me! Ahhh! I'm going to treasure it! No! I'm going to wear it every day, even when I'm showering or sleeping!"

After the initial excitement subsided, Li Yongzhi sat down again, in a state of extreme arousal, her face as red as a boiled shrimp.

She looked at the beer on the table, which Kwon Hyun-hyuk had just "saved" her by taking a few sips of, but which was still more than half full, and suddenly felt that it wasn't strong enough.

"No way! Oppa! How can we just drink beer at a time like this!"

"This deserves a real celebration!"

She jumped up, ran to the refrigerator, rummaged around for a while, and then ran back excitedly holding a clear glass bottle.

"Found it! Oppa! Look at this!" Lee Youngji proudly slammed the bottle on the table, making a crisp sound.

"This is a recently discovered sorghum liquor! Today, to thank Oppa for the gift and to celebrate this historic moment, let's drink it up!"

Quan Xuanhe's eyes flickered slightly when he saw the bottle of wine.

He recognized the liquor; it was Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor, Red Golden Dragon, costing over 200 yuan a bottle, 58% alcohol by volume.

I saw it when I was studying in China.

“Yongzhi-xi, this wine…” Quan Xuanhe wanted to remind her of the wine’s potency.

"Oppa, don't worry!" Lee Young-ji was in a state of great happiness and excitement and did not understand Kwon Hyun-hyuk's subtext at all. She only thought it was a variant of soju that was similar to what they usually drank.

"I know, it's 58-proof sorghum liquor!"

Without saying a word, she unscrewed the bottle cap, and a strong and pure aroma of wine instantly filled the air.

Li Yongzhi, however, only sensed an aura of "heroism".

She took out two clean small liquor glasses, and deftly poured herself a full glass, the clear liquid swirling inside. Then she poured one for Quan Xuanhe.

He glanced at it and his heart skipped a beat.

Drinking baijiu from a shochu cup?

You must have swallowed about an ounce or two in one gulp, right?
They really don't know their own limitations...

"Oppa, this one!" She raised her glass of baijiu high, her face flushed with a mixture of gratitude, excitement, and pride, her eyes shining brightly.

"To the gift you gave me! To your visit to my humble abode today! To our 'promise' we just made! I'll drink first! Please, Oppa, do as you please!"

After saying that, Li Yongzhi, who thought the "sorghum liquor" was no different from the liquor she usually drank, tilted her head back and gulped it down in a few big mouthfuls.

Quan Xuanhe didn't even have time to stop her; he could only watch as her throat bobbed and a glass of strong liquor was emptied instantly.

"Ha—!" Li Yongzhi put down the empty glass, her face contorted in pain, and she couldn't help but gasp.

Clearly, they hadn't expected it to be so intense.

But since she had already brought it out, she had to drink it, even if it meant saving face.

Quan Xuanhe just watched her drink it without even having a chance to explain.

But since Li Yongzhi had already downed his drink in one gulp, he felt embarrassed to hold it up and not drink it, so he simply tilted his head back and downed it in one go as well.

He couldn't help but frown, and picked up the ice water next to him to rinse his face.

"This toast! To '20th Century Girl'! Cheers, Oppa!"

Li Yongzhi, stubborn as ever, raised his glass again, gestured to Quan Xuanhe, and then, under Quan Xuanhe's slightly furrowed brows and somewhat ominous gaze, took several large gulps, finishing off the second glass of baijiu.

After the second bite, she was so spicy that she stood up and paced back and forth in the small living room, muttering to herself, and then poured ice water down her throat.

"Wow, that was incredibly impactful!"

Lee Young-ji said this, and then stood there pretending to be calm, as if talking to herself, and said this with a sigh.

"Wait a minute, I'm going to the restroom, I'll be right back."

After saying that, she didn't even care that she was recording a show. She turned around and rushed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.

An eerie silence fell over the filming location.

Kwon Heonhyuk held up his wine glass and looked innocently at the camera, clearly knowing what was going on.

"Actually, you can't drink this from a liquor glass. You have to use a very small glass, about five or ten milliliters per sip?"

“I’ve lived in China, and that’s how it is for everyone.”

He faced the camera and explained, shaking his head with a smile, feeling both helpless and amused.

At this moment, only the faint sound of the camera operating remained, along with... the heartbreaking sound of "Ugh—!!!" faintly coming from the direction of the toilet, which was tried to be suppressed but ultimately failed, accompanied by the sound of the toilet flushing.

Quan Xuanhe silently put down his wine glass, rubbed his forehead, and let out a long, somewhat absurd sigh.

"Yongzhi, you can't do that again."

"Take care of your health!"

The camera quickly switched and captured:
A close-up of the bottle of spirits on the table, missing only two glasses, with the label reading "".

On Lee Young-ji's seat lay her brand-new bracelet, which she had just put on and hadn't even warmed up yet.

Several female staff members covered their faces, their shoulders shaking violently, clearly trying to suppress their laughter to the point of internal injury.

The male PD had a desperate expression on his face, as if he knew this would happen, and silently mouthed "she's dead" to the camera.

Finally, the camera slowly pans to the tightly closed toilet door, which seems to be trembling slightly, from which comes a clearer and more painful sound of vomiting and flushing...

The camera finally focused on Kwon Heonhyuk's handsome face, which was filled with a helpless expression that said, "I really didn't expect this to be the show's effect," with post-production subtitles appearing appropriately next to it.

[The power of 'sorghum liquor'... Yongzhi, are you alright?] and [For sponsorship of hangover soup, please contact the production team of "Although There's No Food"].

(End of this chapter)