Peninsula: My cheat code is unscientific

Chapter 130 Asleep? No! (6K 630)

The behind-the-scenes footage captured Taeyeon smiling radiantly at Kang Cheol, their chemistry practically overflowing the screen.

Looking at the behind-the-scenes footage filled with sweet, romantic moments on the monitor, the director half-jokingly said to the agent:

"Have they always been like this? I'm even thinking of including this in the main film as a romantic subplot..."

The agent could only force a smile and agree:

"Yes, yes, the sisters have always had a good relationship, and maybe they were just too excited."

But inwardly, he was thinking: 'Should I tell the company about this when I get back? It would be troublesome if something serious happened later!'

After several days of intense filming, the music video shoot finally wrapped up successfully. The entire team breathed a sigh of relief and celebrated the successful completion of their work.

Once back at the hotel, Taeyeon immediately grabbed Kang Cheol and went to find her manager, her eyes sparkling as she announced:

"Oppa! Yoona and I have made a plan. We're going to Lake Tekapo for three days! You should go back to Seoul first!"

The agent was taken aback and subconsciously said:

"Huh? Just the two of you? No, no, that's too dangerous! I'd better stay with you, otherwise I won't feel at ease."

"Oppa!" Taeyeon immediately interrupted him, her tone firm:

"We're not little kids anymore! Besides, Yoona's English is so good, it'll be no problem! Don't worry, don't worry."

The manager glanced at Taeyeon, then at Kang Cheol beside her, her mind in turmoil. Letting two popular female idols travel abroad alone for three days without their managers? What if the company found out…?

At this moment, Jiang Che interjected from the side:
"Oppa, don't worry, you forgot? Taeyeon is Spider-Man, and I know kung fu too, so it'll definitely be fine."

The manager's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this, clearly recalling the scene in the parking lot earlier. Taeyeon, standing next to him, also reached out and patted Kang Cheol's arm, saying, "Hey."

The agent ultimately gave in and sighed helplessly.
"...Okay. But! You must call me at least once a day to let me know you're safe! Stay in touch at all times! Absolutely no dangerous places! Do you understand?"

"Yes! Arasso! Thank you, Oppa! Oppa is the best!" Taeyeon beamed instantly, repeatedly assuring him.

"Thank you, Oppa. We will be careful."

The manager shook his head as he watched Taeyeon's expression change instantly. He then gave Kang Cheol several more instructions before leaving, turning back to look at him every few steps.

After seeing her manager off, Taeyeon instantly became like a husky that had broken free of its leash, excitedly grabbing Kang Cheol's hand:

"Yay! We're free! Jiang Che, how do we get to Lake Tekapo?"

Seeing Taeyeon's excited expression, Jiang Che smiled mysteriously and took her hand in return:

"First we'll collect our luggage, then we'll fly to Christchurch, rent a car from there, and it'll be about a three-hour drive there."

He paused, then deliberately lowered his voice: "Don't worry, I definitely won't sell you out."

"Hehe, you wouldn't bear to sell me!" Taeyeon replied playfully, then followed him briskly to get the luggage.

After several transfers, the two arrived at Christchurch Airport and quickly picked up a comfortable SUV from a car rental company. Taeyeon opened the passenger door first and got in, while Kang Cheol put down his luggage, got into the driver's seat, and skillfully adjusted the seat and rearview mirrors.

As the car drove out of Christchurch, the scenery gradually changed from urban buildings to open pastoral fields. Under the blue sky and white clouds, herds of cattle and sheep grazed leisurely, and in the distance were the Southern Alps, their peaks still covered with snow.

This natural scenery, so different from the hustle and bustle of Seoul, thrilled Taeyeon.

"Wow—!!!" She rolled down the car window, letting the cool wind tousle her hair, and shouted at the boundless scenery, as if to release all the emotions that had been pent up for a long time.

After shouting, she let out a long sigh of relief, her face showing unprecedented relaxation and joy.

However, when she turned her head and saw Jiang Che's profile as he focused on driving, her excitement faded slightly, replaced by a subtle sense of awkwardness.

She hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke, "Jiang Che..."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"You...you don't want to go back to your original form, do you? It just feels weird."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Che raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, a playful smile curving his lips:
"If I transform back into my original form, then you'll have to drive. Is it really possible to handle right-hand drive and left-hand traffic? And then when we stay at the hotel, I'll have to transform back into Yoona again. That's such a hassle."

Taeyeon waved confidently, her voice trailing off with a touch of coquettishness:

"I can handle this, it's not troublesome at all, just hurry up and transform!"

Jiang Che's mischievous side resurfaced, and he deliberately dragged out his words:

"Hmm... You want me to turn back? It's not impossible... but you have to act cute first and call me 'Oppa'?"

"Hey!" Taeyeon instantly bristled, punching his arm in embarrassment and annoyance.
"Jiang Che! Are you looking for a fight?"

Jiang Che coughed twice, pretending to be serious.
"Ahem, you call other people 'Oppa,' so why doesn't it work for me?"

Taeyeon glared at him: "How can that be the same!"

"You're not going to call me? Fine then, I'll just play with you for three days in Yoona's form, that'll save some energy." He then deliberately imitated Yoona's voice.
"Taeyeon unnie, let's go jellyfish catching together!"

"Ugh! What kind of energy do you need to transform?! And catching jellyfish? Do you think I've never seen SpongeBob SquarePants before?!"

Taeyeon was furious with Kang Cheol, but seeing his shameless "I won't change unless you call me" attitude, she knew she couldn't get past this hurdle.

She took a deep breath and spent a long time mentally preparing herself. In the end, her longing for the real Jiang Che overcame her shame.

She turned slightly to the side and mumbled something quickly, almost in her throat:
"Oppa..."

"Huh? Didn't you hear me?" Jiang Che deliberately turned his ear to the side, his lips already uncontrollably curving upwards.

Taeyeon closed her eyes, decided to go all out, and raised her voice slightly:

"Kang Cheol Oppa! Are you done yet? Change back quickly!"

Seeing her face turn completely red, Jiang Che laughed triumphantly and decided to stop while he was ahead.
"Alright, I'll let you off the hook since you're so sincere."

He pulled the car over and focused his mind. A few seconds later, Taeyeon in the passenger seat saw that Kang Cheol had transformed into the black-haired boy.

Taeyeon looked at Kang Cheol, who had returned to normal. Although her face was still flushed, a big smile instantly bloomed on her face, and the awkwardness she felt before vanished completely.

"That's more like it! Get out of the car and switch places, I'll drive!"

The two switched seats, with Taeyeon getting into the driver's seat. She adjusted the seat and mirrors, fastened her seatbelt, and gripped the steering wheel tightly, looking both nervous and excited. Although she was initially a little clumsy with right-hand drive and left-hand traffic...

But after getting used to it, she started to drive quite well. Jiang Che leaned back leisurely in the passenger seat, watching her serious profile and occasionally giving her some pointers. The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.

The three-hour drive flew by amidst laughter and conversation. As the car arrived in the Lake Tekapo region, the milky-blue lake and majestic snow-capped mountains came into view.
After Taeyeon brought the car to a stop, she couldn't help but lean on the steering wheel, gazing out the window in awe.

"Wow...it's so beautiful."

“Yes, she’s really beautiful,” Jiang Che replied, his gaze gently falling on Taeyeon’s profile.

"Hey! Where are you looking!" Taeyeon noticed the direction of his gaze, her ears burning slightly, and she lightly patted him shyly.

Jiang Che just chuckled and looked at the scenery for a while. After transforming into Yoona, he followed the navigation to give directions to Taeyeon and found a unique hotel with a great location and a huge viewing balcony that he had booked in advance.

After the two entered the lobby, the receptionist greeted them with a smile:
"Welcome! Do you have a reservation?"

“Yes, her name is Lin Run’e,” Jiang Che answered fluently in English.

When checking in, the front desk handed him two room keys. Just as Jiang Che was about to take them, he felt Taeyeon gently tug at his sleeve.

He turned his head in confusion, only to see Taeyeon with her head slightly lowered, the tips of her ears visibly red, her eyes darting around and avoiding his gaze, her voice barely audible:

"Let's move out of the room... We're unfamiliar with this place, so staying together... will allow us to look out for each other."

Jiang Che paused for a moment, then realized what was happening, and an involuntary smile crept onto his face. He suppressed the flutter in his heart and handed a room key back to the front desk.

"Could you please cancel one room reservation? Thank you."

"Okay, have a pleasant stay!"

Holding her room key and dragging her suitcase toward her room, Taeyeon walked ahead with her head down, her steps quick as if a wolf was chasing her. Kang Cheol followed at a leisurely pace, looking at her bright red ears and finding it both amusing and adorable.

Pushing open the door, the room was even better than expected—spacious and clean. The best part was the large open-air balcony, facing Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook in the distance. At that moment, the golden afterglow bathed the lake and the snow-capped peaks, making the whole scene breathtakingly beautiful.

"That's amazing!" Taeyeon instantly forgot her shyness, ran to the balcony, opened her arms, and breathed in the fresh air with relish.

After putting down their luggage and resting briefly, the two began their real "Lake Tekapo rendezvous." Like any ordinary tourist, they strolled leisurely along the lakeside.

They took photos in front of the Church of the Good Shepherd and enjoyed a simple dinner at a lakeside restaurant. Taeyeon held onto Kang Cheol's arm tightly the whole time, her face beaming with a happy smile.

The only slight drawback is that Kang Cheol still looks like Yoona, but this doesn't detract from the overall beauty. There are no fans crowding around, no cameras chasing after him, just an unfamiliar environment and friendly locals.

With her favorite person by her side, this unprecedented freedom and relaxation made her feel like she was dreaming, and the smile on her lips never faded.

"Kang Cheol, if only time could stand still at this moment!" Taeyeon rested her head on Kang Cheol's shoulder, watching the sunset slowly disappear behind the mountains, and said softly.

Hearing Taeyeon's words, Kang Cheol was slightly taken aback. He turned his head to look at Taeyeon, who was leaning on his shoulder. She was bathed in the gentle sunset, and the ends of her hair were tinged with a warm light.

Jiang Che's gaze softened involuntarily. He remained silent for two or three seconds before speaking softly:

"Taeyeon, time will not stop forever, but I will always be by your side."

Upon hearing this, Taeyeon looked up, gazed into his eyes, and after a long while, said seriously:
"Yes, I'll remember that. If you lie to me, I'll hate you for the rest of my life."

Jiang Che nodded, a gentle smile appearing on his lips: "Yes, yes."

He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"Let's go, it's time to go back."

As night fell completely, the two returned to their hotel room. Jiang Che, watching Taeyeon take off her coat, casually asked:
"Should you wash first, or should I?"

"Huh?" Taeyeon's ear tips turned red again in an instant, her eyes started to dart around, and she didn't know where to put her hands and feet.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Che deliberately moved a little closer and teased her:
"What? You've been out all day and you're not going to take a shower?"

"Oh! Of course I want to wash! It's just...it's just..."

Seeing her stammering, Jiang Che decided to unleash his ultimate move:
"What's there to be embarrassed about? Don't forget, I've already seen you all over, okay?"

"Hey! Jiang Che!" Taeyeon was so embarrassed that she raised her fist to punch him, but he dodged it with a smile.

She glared at him angrily, but finally gave in, grabbed her pajamas, and stormed into the bedroom, leaving behind the words:
"I...I'll wash first!"

Jiang Che listened to the sound of running water coming from the bathroom, lost in thought.
After a while, the bathroom door clicked open. Taeyeon dawdled out, wearing a set of cartoon-patterned pajamas that covered her up completely.

Her hair was wet and draped over her shoulders, and her face was flushed from the heat, like a fresh peach.

Jiang Che looked up and couldn't help but chuckle. Her pajama style, combined with her face that looked especially youthful after her shower, made her look exactly like a middle school student.

Taeyeon, who was initially a little shy, became annoyed and embarrassed by his smile, and walked over to lightly pat his arm.
"What are you laughing at! Stop laughing! Go wash yourself, and change back to normal!"

"Yes, yes, yes, our Taeyeon is the cutest." Kang Cheol stopped laughing, picked up the hotel's men's bathrobe, and went into the bathroom.

When Jiang Che finished washing up and came out in his bathrobe, the main light in the room was off, leaving only a dim nightlight on the bedside table. Taeyeon was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the night view outside the balcony. Hearing the noise, she turned her head and said softly:

"Let's...go to the balcony and look at the stars."

Jiang Che glanced at the slightly dimly lit room, his gaze falling on the thick wool blanket on the sofa. He walked over, picked up the blanket, and naturally took Taeyeon's hand:

"Let's go."

The balcony was spacious and private, with two lounge chairs placed side by side. In the clear night sky of the Southern Hemisphere, the Milky Way stretched out vast and the stars shone brightly, seemingly within reach.

The two sat down on the deck chairs, and the cool night air followed. Jiang Che unfolded a blanket and carefully covered Taeyeon, wrapping her up tightly.

Taeyeon obediently let him do as he pleased, then turned to the side and naturally spread out most of the blanket, covering Kang Cheol as well, before snuggling into his arms.

"The starry sky here is just as beautiful as you described..." Taeyeon murmured to herself, tilting her head back, her eyes reflecting the countless twinkling stars.
Then she turned her head, looked at Jiang Che's profile in the dim starlight, and whispered:
"Jiang Che, thank you for appearing in my world."

Jiang Che put his arm around her shoulder, looked down at her and smiled:
"Taeyeon, you've said thank you so many times already. But like I said, we're like family."

As Taeyeon gazed at Kang Cheol's exceptionally soft silhouette under the starlight, her heart began to race. An indescribable impulse surged within her. She slowly closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering, and tilted her head back, as if offering a silent invitation.

Jiang Che's heart skipped a beat. He looked at the face so close to his, so inviting, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he slowly lowered his head to approach those slightly parted lips.

What began as a gentle probing quickly escalated into a passionate and urgent affair, like a wildfire. Jiang Che tightened his arms, pulling Taeyeon even closer into his embrace.
Taeyeon responded awkwardly but passionately, her arms unconsciously wrapping around Kang Cheol's neck.

The next moment, Jiang Che picked her up and carried her into the room. The soft bed sank into him, and his kiss landed on her again, taking away all of Taeyeon's breath.

Wherever his hand touched, Taeyeon felt her whole body tremble, and her little hands unconsciously caressed his strong back.

In a daze of passion, Jiang Che's kisses traveled down her neck, and Taeyeon felt her reason being slowly eroded, a strong electric current coursing through her body.

It made her feel as if she were floating on warm clouds, and just as they were about to take it a step further—

"Ugh... wait, wait a minute!" Taeyeon suddenly woke up, as if she remembered something, and pressed her hand against Kang Cheol's chest, her voice filled with panting and a hint of panic, "No... no!"

Jiang Che froze, raised his head, and his eyes still held lingering desire:
"Taeyeon?"

Taeyeon's cheeks were flushed, her eyes darted around, and she couldn't look Kang Cheol in the eye at all.
"Miannei... Jiang Che, not yet..."

She took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady:
"Let's... talk about it when we get back, okay?"

Yoona's words echoed in her mind like a wake-up call; her momentary infatuation had almost made her forget her promise to Yoona. But at the last moment, that guilt she felt towards Yoona...

And her own promise to "be mindful of boundaries and not cross the line" brought her to a screeching halt.

Jiang Che was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then realized that the "three-way meeting" after returning was indeed a showdown. Fortunately, he had invited Sunny along, hoping that she could play a role.

So he didn't insist, but very considerately let go of her hand and carefully helped Taeyeon straighten her disheveled top, covering her exposed skin, his tone gentle:

"It's okay, I understand, no need to apologize."

His understanding only made Taeyeon feel more guilty. She leaned closer, hugged Kang Cheol's waist, buried her face in his chest, and said in a muffled voice:

“Jiang Che… No matter what happens when we go back, I will not leave you… I just don’t want to complicate things before then, it wouldn’t be fair to Yoon-ah.”

Jiang Che hugged her back, gently stroking her back with his hand, and said earnestly:
"I will never leave you."

Hearing Jiang Che's words, Taeyeon's emotions gradually calmed down. After a while, as if remembering something, she asked in a voice barely audible:

"Are you... are you feeling unwell?" Although she didn't have much experience, she could still sense certain changes from being so close, plus the random bits of information Sunny had previously "explained" to her...

"Huh?" Jiang Che didn't react for a moment.

Taeyeon's voice became even softer:

"Well... Sunny showed me some... information... I can help you..."

Before she could finish speaking, she buried her face in Jiang Che's bathrobe in embarrassment, becoming an ostrich.

"Ah... Kim Tae-yeon!" Kang Che finally understood, feeling both touched and amused, while also giving Lee Soon-kyu a profound moral condemnation.

He ruffled Taeyeon's hair vigorously, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"Stop learning all that nonsense from Lee Soon-kyu! Do you hear me?"

Taeyeon snuggled against him, her voice muffled:

"Arasso, but I... I really can help you... Anyway... it's not like it's a stranger..."

The last sentence, "It's not just anyone," gently struck Jiang Che's heart. He took a deep breath and hugged Taeyeon even tighter.

“Really, no need.

He paused, then added:

"Let's talk about this after I've completely resolved the issues between the three of us. As my beloved concubine, you don't need to try to please me in this way."

"Ah!" Taeyeon was still touched when she heard this, so she gently patted his chest and then snuggled back into his arms, feeling the warmth of his chest and his strong heartbeat.

After a while, Taeyeon whispered, "Kang Cheol..."

"Ok?"

"Good night."

"Good night."

A moment later
“Jiang Che…”

"what happened?"

"Today... I'm very happy."

"Me too."

Finally, the two embraced and drifted off to sleep.

For the next two days, the two remained close, but tacitly guarded the last line of defense, mostly holding hands and hugging. On the plane back home, Taeyeon fell asleep leaning on Kang Cheol-yoon's shoulder.

Jiang Che gazed at the sea of ​​clouds outside the window, his heart heavy: 'Sigh, I've fulfilled my promise to Taeyeon, but a Damocles' sword still hangs over the peninsula.'

The flight landed smoothly at the Peninsula Airport. Taeyeon had to go to the company, so the two had to part ways. As they parted, Taeyeon waved vigorously at Kang Cheol.

Jiang Che nodded and watched her leave before dragging his suitcase back to Yoon-ah's apartment with a nervous heart. He unlocked the door with his key, and the apartment was quiet.

He changed his shoes and walked into the living room, where he found Yoona curled up on the sofa, seemingly lost in thought.

"I'm back," Jiang Che greeted.

Yoona snapped out of her daze, looked up at him, and spoke in a calm voice, almost too calm:

"You're back? Did the trip go well?"

"Yeah, it went pretty smoothly." Jiang Che put down his luggage and sat down next to her, unsure of how to start a conversation.

"That's good." Yoona nodded, then changed the subject:
"I've already made arrangements with Taeyeon unnie. She'll come over tonight, and the three of us will have a good talk."

Jiang Che's heart skipped a beat. What was bound to happen had finally arrived. Although he had been mentally prepared, he still couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine when the moment actually came, yet he still tried his best to remain calm.

"Oh, okay... It's only right to talk. I'll go back to my room to put my luggage away first."

After saying that, he picked up his luggage and hurried back to his room. As soon as he entered, he pulled out his phone and quickly sent a message:
[Tonight, at Yoona's house, exact time unknown, a three-way meeting is about to begin!]

The reply came almost instantly: "Hey! Couldn't you have asked for the exact time?"

(End of this chapter)