Peninsula: My cheat code is unscientific

Chapter 129 New Zealand (6K 530)

Jiang Che was left standing alone in the living room, Yoona's words echoing repeatedly in his mind.

"The three of us...should have a proper talk?" Considering Yoona's behavior upon returning today, and Taeyeon's earlier statement, "We'll talk when you get back," a bold guess gradually surfaced in my mind:
"Holy crap?! No way?!" He gasped in shock.
"Hiss... Is Kim Tae-yeon really this assertive? She went straight for it head-on? And Yoona's reaction... could it be... a tacit agreement?"

He carefully considered Yoona's attitude just now; she didn't seem to have any strong objections.

"...Upon closer reflection, it seems...it's not entirely a bad thing? But since we've already tacitly agreed, why even bother discussing it?"

He scratched his head in frustration:
"Forget it, let's fulfill this promise with Taeyeon first. At worst... I'll just lie down on the ground and completely give up, and whatever they say goes!"

With this in mind, Jiang Che was about to go back to his room when his phone beeped. It was a group chat notification for Girls' Generation and Temporary Workers.

Sunny: @Yoona @Taeyeon I heard you two are going to New Zealand together? That sounds awesome! So @KangCheol, aren't you going to be all alone?
How pitiful! Want to stay at Noona's place for a few days? Food and lodging included, plus we can play games together! Noona's beds are huge and comfortable! [Evil grin.jpg]

Jiang Che looked at the message, his lips twitched, and replied:

[Just to correct you, it wasn't Yoona and Taeyeon who went, it was me and Taeyeon who went.]

Less than three seconds after the message was sent, Sunny called immediately, and an incredulous exclamation came through the receiver:

"What?! What did you say? You're going with Taeyeon?! What about Yoona? She agreed?! How is that possible?!"

Jiang Che moved his phone a little further away and said helplessly:
"I don't know either. Taeyeon said she talked to Yoona and Yoona agreed, but she didn't tell me the specifics of what they talked about."

"This isn't like Yoona at all!" Sunny's gossip-loving soul was completely ignited:
"What kind of spell did Kim Tae-yeon cast on her? You wait, I'll go ask her!"

"Yes, yes, remember to tell me after you've asked, I'm curious too."

The call was abruptly ended, and Jiang Che could almost picture Sunny's fingers flying across the keyboard while simultaneously bombarding Taeyeon and Yoona with private messages.

Sure enough, not long after, a private message popped up from Sunny, her words filled with frustration:

Sunny: Ugh! That brat Kim Tae-yeon, I asked her how she got Yoona to agree, and she actually replied with 'reasoning with her and appealing to her emotions'?
Does she think I'm a three-year-old?! She absolutely refuses to tell me the specifics of what she said! It's infuriating!

[Sunny: I asked Yoona again, but she just read my message and didn't reply! Ugh! What dirty deal did these two make behind my back?! Am I still their dearest Sunny?!]

Looking at the screen full of complaints from Sunny, Jiang Che suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He thought that this person who loved to watch the drama unfold might actually be able to act as a "troublemaker"...

Oh no, I mean "game-changer." With her there, perhaps the atmosphere at the trilateral talks will ease a bit.
So he carefully considered his reply:

Sunny, when we get back from New Zealand, there'll be... um... a three-way meeting. Would you like to join in?

[Sunny: A three-way meeting?! Yoona, Taeyeon, and you? Okay, let me know when the time and place are set, I'll definitely be there. As your largest shareholder, how can I not attend your meeting?]

Yes, yes, I'll contact you then.

Having settled things with Sunny, Jiang Che breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if he had found a lightning rod to protect him from the impending storm.

And this night, no one is destined to sleep.

Taeyeon lay on her bed in the apartment, a mix of excitement, anticipation, and guilt towards Yoona keeping her awake at all.

The thought of being alone with Jiang Che in a foreign country to see the starry sky they had promised to meet made her smile involuntarily.
But then, thinking of Yoona's complicated doe eyes, her heart clenched again. "Yoona...mianye," she murmured in the darkness, her emotions a complex mix of feelings.

On the other side, in her room, Yoona stared at the blurry light and shadow on the ceiling, feeling a sour taste in her mouth, as if she had swallowed a whole lemon.

She was the one who found Jiang Che first, and she hadn't even gone on a trip with him alone yet...

As a result, they now inexplicably have an agreement... Kim Taeyeon, you're really something... She angrily punched the pillow, as if it were Taeyeon's face, but after the anger subsided, a deep sense of powerlessness welled up in her heart.

She sighed, and a wicked thought popped into her mind:
"When the time comes... I must make Jiang Che transform into Taeyeon's appearance, and then I'll go on a trip with him, so that Kim Taeyeon can also experience this feeling while she's alone at home!"

But then she thought again, a sense of melancholy creeping in: 'Who knows if there will even be a future... When they return, what will be the outcome of that three-way meeting?'

Filled with trepidation and bittersweetness, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Lying in bed, Jiang Che's mind was a complete mess. What was he supposed to talk about when he got back? His mind raced...

Was it a discussion about ownership? Monday, Wednesday, and Friday belong to Taeyeon; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday belong to Yoona; Sunday is a rest day? *Slap!* He quickly slapped himself mentally, 'Wake up, Kang Cheol! You're dreaming!'

"But what exactly should we talk about?" Although we were just being safe and found Sunny to act as a lightning rod, it's hard to say whether that lightning rod will actually work.

In his anxiety, he simply took out his phone and typed into a search engine: "I like two girls, how can I subtly express my desire to 'have them both' without getting beaten up?"
The search results were either things said in the first year of junior high, or stories of breaking up in the first year, or gory social news. Jiang Che was horrified, his mind filled with the ending of Makoto Shinkai in "School Days," making it even harder for him to sleep.

Meanwhile, Sunny in the apartment was equally excited, rolling around on the bed like a cat that hadn't gotten its catnip. "Ugh! What exactly did Yoona and Taeyeon talk about?!" she fumed, frantically rubbing her hair.
'Jiang Che is a useless guy. As a key figure involved, he doesn't even know what happened! It's driving me crazy!'

However, thinking of Jiang Che's invitation to participate in the "tripartite talks," Sunny calmed down a bit, and even felt a little smug:
'Hmph, at least this kid has some conscience; he knew to call me in for the trilateral talks! He certainly has a keen eye for talent. He must have sensed his own impending doom, so he called me in to protect him beforehand, right? He's got potential!'

That night, the four of them, each with their own worries, stayed awake until dawn.

As dawn broke, Jiang Che, sporting dark circles under his eyes, got up. Today was the day he and Taeyeon were leaving for New Zealand.

Having transformed into Yoona's appearance, he tiptoed into the kitchen and began preparing breakfast, still grumbling about the chaos of the previous night.

Just as he finished frying the eggs and was about to grab the bacon, he turned around and found that Yoona had already sat down at the dining table.

She was wearing loungewear, her hair casually loose, clearly having finished washing up. She held a water glass in both hands, and had large dark circles under her eyes.

His face was expressionless as he stared blankly out the window at the faintly brightening sky, as quiet as a fine sculpture.

Jiang Che was puzzled. This woman usually waited until breakfast was ready before getting up. Why was she getting up so early today?
He was a little unsure of Yoona's mood at that moment, so he could only pretend to focus on making breakfast. But seeing her like this, he felt a pang of heartache for no reason, so he quickened his pace and soon brought the two breakfasts to the table.

"Yoona, dinner's ready."

Upon hearing this, Yoona's gaze fell on Jiang Che's face, lingering for several seconds before she gave a soft "hmm," picked up her chopsticks, and began to eat in small bites.

The two remained silent, the only sound the soft clinking of cups and plates on the table, creating an eerily quiet atmosphere.

Jiang Che racked his brains for a topic, such as "The weather is so nice" or "You got up so early," but he felt that none of them were appropriate, so he could only bury his head in his food.

Just as breakfast was halfway through, the silence was broken by the crisp sound of the doorbell.

Jiang Che subconsciously looked at Yoona. Yoona, however, avoided his gaze, her tone calm and expressionless:

"It must be Taeyeon unnie who's here."

He took a deep breath, walked to the door, and saw through the peephole that it was indeed Taeyeon. He then opened the door.

Outside the door, Taeyeon, dressed in casual travel clothes, was full of energy, her face beaming with undisguised excitement. Seeing Kang Cheol open the door, her eyes instantly lit up like stars, and her voice leaped with joy:
"Jiang Che! Are you ready? Let's go!"

Her gaze passed over Jiang Che's shoulder, landing on the figure quietly dining in the living room. She waved, her smile still bright, but a hint of apology lingered in her eyes.
"Yoona, we're leaving now!"

At the dining table, Yoona looked up in response, her face instantly blossoming into a flawless, warm, and considerate smile.
"Yes, unnie, Kang Cheol... Have a safe trip, remember to let me know when you arrive safely. Good luck with your work!"

Jiang Che turned around and said dryly:

"I'm leaving now. Take good care of yourself at home, and remember to contact me if anything happens." After saying that, he picked up the small suitcase next to him and followed Taeyeon out of the apartment.

The door clicked shut.

Almost simultaneously, Yoona's perfect smile vanished instantly, her hand gripping the chopsticks tightened unconsciously, her knuckles turned white from the force, and the breakfast on the plate was riddled with holes from her poking it.

In the hallway outside the door.

As soon as the door closed, Taeyeon naturally reached out and grabbed Kang Cheol's arm, her whole body feeling light as if she were about to float away, humming a tuneless little tune.

Seeing her undisguised joy, Jiang Che couldn't help but chuckle, lowering his voice:

"Taeyeon, is it really necessary to be this happy?"

Taeyeon smiled, her eyes crinkling, and nodded vigorously, replying in a soft voice:

"Yes! I'm so happy!"

The two chatted and laughed as they went downstairs. A familiar van was already waiting downstairs. After opening the car door and getting in, Jiang Che realized that the person in the driver's seat was the same manager who had been able to hold off two thugs all by himself.

"Yoona, good morning." The manager turned around, greeted her with a smile, and glanced between the two of them without giving it much thought, assuming that the two sisters were just too excited to travel together.

"Hello, Oppa," Jiang Che greeted politely.

The car drove smoothly toward the airport. On the way, the agent gave instructions while driving:
"Yoona, besides accompanying Taeyeon on this trip to New Zealand, the company has also assigned you two small tasks."

Jiang Che muttered to himself, '...A mission? Wasn't it supposed to be just for fun? How did it turn into filling in for someone? Filling in for someone costs extra!'

The agent ignored what Jiang Che was thinking and continued:
"First, during Taeyeon's filming, you might need to act as a translator occasionally, responsible for communicating with the locals. Although there will be a translator, it's always good to have someone else listening. Second, we might film some behind-the-scenes footage of you interacting with Taeyeon, edit it, and release it. That should create a 1+1>2 effect, giving Taeyeon's solo debut even more momentum."

Well, that's typical SM style; their cash cows can't be left idle anywhere. Jiang Che thought to himself, but obediently agreed aloud:

"Yes, oh my god, I'll cooperate."

After agreeing, he immediately leaned close to Taeyeon's ear and whispered a complaint:
"I thought I was going there for fun, how did I end up filling in for someone else?"

Taeyeon secretly pinched his arm and responded in a low voice:

"Oh, I knew Yoona wouldn't be allowed to go out and play. This is the result of my long-term efforts, so you should be content!"

Jiang Che pouted and deliberately spoke in a cloying tone:
"Yes, yes, yes, Taeyeon is the best, okay?"

Taeyeon burst out laughing at his quirky tone, quickly covering her mouth and shrugging her shoulders.

The manager driving in the front seat: "..." Why do I feel like I'm being superfluous? Isn't the atmosphere between those two in the rearview mirror a little too romantic? Or is it just my imagination?

He shook his head, quickly dismissing the strange thought, and focused on driving.

Upon arriving at the airport, checking in, and going through security, everything went smoothly. Once on the plane, Taeyeon immediately pulled Kang Cheol to sit next to her without saying a word, while her manager tactfully sat in the row behind them.

At the beginning of takeoff, Taeyeon was still excited, pointing at the clouds outside the window and shouting and chattering non-stop.

But soon, the aftereffects of staying up all night and the fatigue of catching the plane early in the morning took hold. Her voice gradually became softer, her head nodding little by little, and finally she simply hugged Jiang Che's arm, tilted her head and fell asleep on his shoulder.

Jiang Che turned his head to look at Taeyeon's unguarded sleeping face. The usually charismatic leader on stage appeared unusually gentle at this moment. He smiled helplessly and adjusted his position to make her more comfortable.

Taeyeon slept soundly for a long time. It wasn't until the plane reached New Zealand airspace that Kang Cheol gently shook her.

"Taeyeon, wake up, we're almost there."

Taeyeon groggily opened her eyes and realized she was still clinging to Kang Cheol's arm. She quickly let go and saw Kang Cheol grimacing as he moved his arm. A look of apology immediately appeared on her face.
"Mianhei, Jiang Che... your arm must be numb, right?"

As she spoke, she carefully began to knead his hands.

Jiang Che gently patted her head with his other hand, his tone relaxed:
"It's okay, it'll be fine in a bit."

"Okay!" Taeyeon immediately perked up. After the plane came to a complete stop, Kang Cheol naturally took Taeyeon's hand and followed the crowd down the gangway.

The fresh air of New Zealand is invigorating, the sun is shining brightly, and the sky is an almost unreal blue of clarity, a stark contrast to the somewhat hazy scenery of Seoul.

Taeyeon took a deep breath, as if trying to absorb the feeling of freedom into her body. She turned her head and looked at Kang Cheol beside her, her eyes shining brighter than the sunlight in the Southern Hemisphere.

Wow...the air is so fresh!

Jiang Che was also affected by the environment and nodded:
"Yeah, I feel like all my worries have disappeared."

The manager looked at the two figures in front of him, almost glued together, and smiled helplessly.
"Let's go, let's settle into the hotel first."

Upon arriving at the booked hotel, the manager skillfully checked us in and handed us three room keys. "Taeyeon gets one room, Yoona gets one, and I'll stay next door."

There are no filming assignments today, so you're free to do as you please. But if you go out, please take me with you; safety first.

"Yes, Arasso, Oppa!" Taeyeon responded obediently, but as soon as she got the room key, she couldn't wait to pull Kang Cheol towards the elevator.

After putting away his luggage and resting for a while, there was a knock on Jiang Che's door. Outside stood the energetic Taeyeon.
"Jiang Che! Let's go for a walk! I'm hungry!"

Jiang Che smiled and replied, "Okay, let's go, let's call our manager."

So the three of them left the hotel. Taeyeon was in high spirits and would go over to look at any interesting shops she saw. She also couldn't help but stop and listen to street performers.

Jiang Che occasionally uses fluent English to communicate with locals, asking for directions or food recommendations.

The manager followed a few steps behind the two, watching them sometimes chatting and laughing side by side, and sometimes Taeyeon naturally putting her arm around Kang Cheol's arm and even whispering in his ear. For some reason, the manager felt that the two of them were a little... too ambiguous.
He shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the absurd idea:
'Ugh, what am I thinking? Isn't it normal for Yoona and Taeyeon to be close?'

Dinner was at a well-known local restaurant. Taeyeon ate to her heart's content, her cheeks bulging like a little hamster storing food, and she would occasionally fork the food she thought was delicious onto Kang Cheol's plate.

Jiang Che accepted everything offered, and the interaction between the two was natural and intimate. The manager felt like a high-wattage third wheel. "Hmm, this must be a normal expression of their sisterly affection." Thinking this, he silently lowered his head and ate heartily.

After a satisfying meal, the three returned to the hotel. Their agent, standing at his room door, gave them some instructions:
"Get some rest early tonight, we need to start filming first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Oppa, you should get some rest too," Taeyeon and Kang Cheol replied in unison.

Jiang Che took out his room card, opened his room door, and was about to go in when he found that Taeyeon had followed him in.

"Hmm?" Jiang Che turned around in confusion:

"Taeyeon, aren't you going back to your room?"

Taeyeon closed the door behind her, a sly smile on her face, and waved her hand:

"Oh, it's still early. I won't be able to sleep if I go back. I'll stay here for a while and chat before I go back."

Looking into her bright, sparkling eyes, Jiang Che couldn't bring himself to refuse, so he could only nod.

"Alright, then please sit wherever you like."

The room wasn't big; besides the bed, there was only a small sofa and a chair. Taeyeon naturally sat on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs, and began chattering excitedly about all the new things she had seen that day.

Jiang Che pulled up a chair and sat opposite him, listening with a smile and occasionally interjecting a few words.

Before she knew it, it was already dark outside the window. Taeyeon checked the time before reluctantly standing up:

"Ah, I'm going back now."

Jiang Che also stood up: "Yeah, get some rest, you have filming tomorrow."

"Okay, okay, I'm off then."

As she reached the door, Taeyeon suddenly turned around, opened her arms, and gave Kang Cheol a shy smile:

"Jiang Che, thank you for coming with me today."

Jiang Che was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and gently hugged her.

"Fool, there's no need to thank me."

The hug was brief, lasting only a moment. Taeyeon released his hand contentedly and waved to him, "Goodnight!"

"Good night."

The door closed, leaving Jiang Che alone in the room. He stood in the doorway, seemingly still able to smell the faint fruity scent emanating from Taeyeon, and a strange feeling welled up inside him.

After thinking for a moment, he took out his phone and opened the group chat for "Girls' Generation and Temporary Workers." It was completely silent—Sunny hadn't sent a message, but Yoona hadn't either.

He hesitated for a moment, then opened his private chat window with Yoona and typed:
【Yoona, um...we've arrived in New Zealand. Is there anything you'd like as a gift? I'll bring it back for you.】

After sending the message, it seemed to sink without a trace, and there was no response for a long time. Just when he thought Yoona might not reply, his phone beeped.

[Yoona: Just come back safe and sound.]

Although it was just a simple sentence, Jiang Che inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied:

[Hey, Arasso. I'll pack myself up and bring myself back as a gift for you, I promise it'll be a one-of-a-kind gift in the whole world! *smirks*]

After a while, Yoona replied with a disgusted emoji and then a goodnight emoji.

Jiang Che looked at the two emojis and smiled. Being able to reply with emojis, hmm, looks like a good omen. So he replied with a goodnight emoji and put down his phone.

The next day, filming for the music video for "I" officially began. Under a clear blue sky, the Southern Alps, covered in snow, stretched into the distance, while before them lay a crystal-clear, calm lake, a magnificent scene that seemed to have stepped out of a painting.

Kang Cheol stayed by Taeyeon's side throughout the entire shoot. He toned down his usual carefree nature and acted exceptionally reliable. While Taeyeon was filming, he either quietly watched from behind the monitor or proactively helped by handing water to the staff.

Or, when the translator was too busy, he would step in and communicate fluently in English with the locally hired actors and location managers, which greatly improved filming efficiency. Even the director privately told his agent:

"Yoona-ssi is so thoughtful, and her English is so good, she's been a great help."

Kim Tae-yeon also fully demonstrated the professionalism of a singer when working, with a firm gaze, rich emotions, and a pursuit of perfection in every shot.

But as soon as the director yells "Cut," she immediately runs to Jiang Che's side, naturally leans against him to rest, or whispers to him about her feelings about the filming.

(End of this chapter)