Peninsula: My cheat code is unscientific

Chapter 152 Jessica Reappears
Jiang Che was the last to finish washing up. He walked out of the bathroom while drying his hair with a towel.

Standing in the center of the living room, his gaze swept over the several closed doors, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly—who would have thought that he, an unregistered person who had transmigrated from another era, was...
Not only did they gain a foothold here, but they were also able to bring together several members of Girls' Generation, plus the maknae of f(x), to spend the night under the same roof.

'I can't be complacent yet,' he reminded himself.
'This is just the beginning; I need to keep working hard.' Thinking this, he turned and walked towards his room.

Early in the morning, Jiang Che was the first to wake up again. After washing up, he turned and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for everyone. As the aroma of fried eggs mixed with the caramelized smell of toasted bread filled the air, the bedroom doors opened one after another.

The first one to come out, rubbing her eyes, was Sunny. She had slightly messy hair and was yawning, looking like a cat that hadn't woken up yet.

"Mmm...smells so good..." She sniffed and followed the scent to the dining table, staring longingly at the spatula in Jiang Che's hand.

Next, Taeyeon came out as well. When she saw Sunny, she habitually puffed out her cheeks, but was quickly drawn in by the aroma of the food.

Sulli and Yoona also came out together—Sulli looked like she had rested well, with a fresh smile on her face, and greeted everyone with great energy:
Good morning, unnies! Good morning, oppa!

Everyone greeted each other, and after the two of them finished washing up and sat around the dining table, what should have been a relaxed and pleasant breakfast atmosphere turned into something else entirely, until Jiang Che seemed to remember something...
He pulled out a folded sheet of music from the side and handed it to Taeyeon, which caused a change.

"Here, it's for you."

"What?" Taeyeon took the paper with a puzzled look, unfolded it, and saw the song title at the top—"Rain".

She subconsciously began to hum along softly to the sheet music, the melody carrying a touch of melancholy and ethereal quality. Halfway through, her eyes began to sparkle; as a professional singer, she immediately realized this was yet another high-quality piece.

"Wow...this melody..." She looked at Jiang Che with surprise, but after carefully appreciating the lyrics, her brows furrowed slightly:
"Wait... these lyrics... seem to describe a breakup, right?"

in the Rain
Depicting the beautiful you in the rain

You, who became a ray of sunshine for me in this black and white world.

She couldn't help but raise her head, looking at Jiang Che with curiosity and doubt, thinking to herself:
'Why would he suddenly write a song on this theme? Could it be... something he wrote inspired by his time with Yoona?' Thinking this, his gaze involuntarily drifted to Yoona beside him.

Jiang Che was drinking milk when he heard this and almost choked. He quickly laughed it off.

"Huh? Oh! I just wrote it casually. When inspiration strikes, I can't stop it. I didn't think much about it at all!"

In his mind, he was furiously complaining: 'I'm just a heartless copyist, how could I think of all this? This song was exactly like this in the original world!'

At this moment, Yoona's curiosity was also piqued. She reached out and took the sheet music, carefully looked at the lyrics, and the more she looked, the more strange a feeling arose in her heart.

The feelings described in these lyrics... how come they feel so much like how Jiang Che felt when he went to Sunny's house and was alone in the empty apartment?

She couldn't help but look up, her gaze complex as she looked at Jiang Che, pondering:
'Could it be that... he wasn't having an easy time either back then?'

Sunny, with a piece of bread in her mouth, glanced back and forth between Taeyeon, Yoona, and Kang Cheol, her inner calculations clicking away:

'Jiang Che eats my food and lives in my house, and he only started the live stream in its initial stages before I really stopped managing it.'
Now I've even written another great song for Taeyeon... Should I find a variety show for him to fill in for me? As the saying goes, if you don't have the conditions, you have to create them!

Shirley sensed the atmosphere at the table suddenly quiet down, becoming strangely subdued. Although she didn't quite understand the reason, she instinctively spoke up, immediately becoming a champion of flattery:
"Oppa is so amazing! He can write such a great song so easily!"

Jiang Che smiled, waved his hand, and said, "It's nothing special."

Breakfast ended amidst the various thoughts and feelings of these individuals.

After dinner, everyone packed their things and prepared to leave. Downstairs at the apartment building, Taeyeon and Yoona exchanged a glance.

After the song that had triggered their associations that morning, their eyes met with a complex mix of emotions, but they didn't say much. They simply nodded in tacit agreement and got into their respective cars.

Taeyeon arrived at the company's practice room and had only been warming up for a short while when her manager called her out.

"Taeyeon, there's a high-end fashion party tonight. Lots of brands and fashion industry people will be there." The manager lowered her voice, her face filled with anticipation.

"Your solo performance this time is really impressive. Take this opportunity to show your face and become more well-known. You might just land a few brand endorsements or collaborations! This is a great chance to expand your personal influence!"

Upon hearing this, Taeyeon's face immediately fell. She was not naturally the type to enjoy socializing and instinctively resisted occasions that required wearing a social mask and saying polite things.
"Oppa, do we really have to go?"

"I suggest you go anyway, it's a rare opportunity," the agent said confidently.

"Oppa, you know I'm not very good at this..." Taeyeon was about to make an excuse when a thought suddenly flashed through her mind—that's right! I'm not good at it, but someone else is! We can have Kang Cheol do it for me!
The moment the thought crossed her mind, her face brightened instantly, and she nodded hastily.
"Yes! Arasso! Oppa, I'll be there on time!"

The agent was a little confused by her sudden change in attitude, but still smiled with relief.

"That's right, get ready."

As soon as her manager left, Taeyeon immediately took out her phone, hid in a corner of the corridor, and tagged Kang Cheol in the "Girls' Generation and Temporary Workers" group chat.

[Taeyeon: Kang Cheol! There's a fashion party tonight, can you go with me?]

Jiang Che, on the other end of the phone, received the message, raised an eyebrow, and replied:
[A cocktail party?]

[Taeyeon: It's just eating and drinking, and maybe I can say a few words to the brand representatives and build a good relationship! Please, please! Poor thing.jpg]

Jiang Che looked at her phone, and images of herself wearing an awkward dress, high heels, holding a wine glass, and forcing a smile began to appear in her mind. She couldn't help but shiver.

[Jiang Che: ...Do I need to wear a specific dress or high heels or anything?]

Taeyeon, seeing an opportunity, quickly made a promise:

No, no! It's just a formal occasion, so dressing appropriately is fine. A dress isn't necessary! Really!

Jiang Che thought for a moment and realized that he didn't really have any plans for today, so he replied:

Okay, then it'll be the same old way. Could you pick me up on the way? I'll go to your place to find some... um, clothes that fit.

Taeyeon: OK! (^▽^)

"Done!" Taeyeon put away her phone with satisfaction, a relieved smile on her face, and walked briskly back to the practice room.

As soon as I entered, I ran into Sunny and Pani, who were about to sneak off to get coffee.

"Taegu, what does your manager want with you?" Tiffany asked casually.

"Oh, it's nothing, there's a trendy cocktail party tonight, and they want me to attend."

"Ugh, those kinds of occasions are so boring." Pani immediately lost interest, waved her hand, and said, "I'd better go find my caffeine." Then she turned and left.

Sunny, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and gave a meaningful wink:

"Oh? A cocktail party..."

Taeyeon immediately understood and winked playfully at Sunny, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

In the afternoon, Taeyeon, unusually, left the company early and drove quickly to Sunny's apartment to pick her up. As soon as the door opened, Kang Cheol looked at Taeyeon, who seemed a little too eager, and glanced at the time with a puzzled expression.

"Go now? Isn't that a bit too early?"

Taeyeon's eyes darted around for a moment, then she mumbled:
"Oh dear, you should get ready sooner! Come on, let's go to my place and find you a nice outfit!"

Jiang Che was somewhat skeptical as Taeyeon pulled him into the car, and they drove all the way to her house. As soon as they entered, he was about to go to Taeyeon's walk-in closet to pick out some clothes when Taeyeon grabbed his arm.

"Oh dear, there's no rush for clothes," Taeyeon said with a hint of coquettishness, naturally leading him towards the living room sofa.
"It's still early, let's watch some TV and relax for a bit!"

After saying that, she pressed Jiang Che down on the sofa, and then, like a lazy cat, she nestled precisely into his arms, rubbing against him to find a more comfortable position.

Jiang Che was taken aback at first, then looked down at the fluffy little head in his arms and couldn't help but chuckle. The doubt in his heart was instantly replaced by doting affection—so that's why he insisted on coming earlier.

He adjusted his position to make her more comfortable, his arm naturally encircling her. Neither of them paid much attention to what was playing on TV; a quiet and intimate atmosphere filled the air.

Taeyeon seemed to enjoy this tenderness, occasionally looking up to whisper a few words to Kang Cheol, or unconsciously tracing the texture of his clothes with her fingers.

Jiang Che was happy to cooperate, occasionally bowing his head in response, the faint fragrance of her hair lingering around his nose. Some subtle intimate gestures naturally occurred between the two, until a cell phone ring broke the silence.

It was a call from Taeyeon's manager, saying the car had arrived downstairs.

Taeyeon answered the phone, trying to keep her tone calm:

"Oppa, I'll go downstairs after I change my clothes."

After hanging up the phone, she hurriedly got up from Jiang Che's embrace, her face still flushed. While tidying her slightly messy hair and clothes, she glared at Jiang Che as if accusing him of his "dishonesty" earlier.

Jiang Che found her adorable, and just as she got up to leave, he reached out and pulled her back into his arms, then leaned down and kissed her without saying a word.

He only let go reluctantly when Taeyeon gently pushed him.

"Alright, I'll go find some clothes." Jiang Che smiled and ruffled her hair before getting up and heading towards the dressing room, satisfied.

Taeyeon's cheeks flushed, and she muttered softly as she watched his retreating figure:

"Bad guy..." but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

After transforming into Taeyeon's appearance, Kang Cheol rummaged through her wardrobe and finally his eyes fell on a well-tailored black suit.

He changed into it quickly, straightened his collar in front of the mirror, and felt pretty good—the handsome "Kim Tae-yeon" was officially online.

As he walked out of the room, he looked at Taeyeon:

"How's this outfit? Is it okay?"

Taeyeon looked at her "self" in a sharp and capable black suit, her eyes lit up, and she gave a thumbs up without hesitation:

"Absolutely awesome! So cool!"

Jiang Che chuckled, momentarily unsure whether the woman was praising herself or him.

Jiang Che went downstairs, found the car his manager had brought, and got in. The manager glanced at Taeyeon's androgynous and stylish outfit in the rearview mirror.

He was clearly taken aback for a moment, opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing Jiang Che's unquestionable aura, he swallowed his words and only said dryly:

"Let's go." He silently started the car.

Upon arriving at the party venue, the agent parked the car and turned to give Jiang Che some instructions:

"Taeyeon, feel free to look around and have something to eat. If anyone talks to you, just say hello. I'm going to go and say hello to a few people in charge that I know, and get a feel for the situation. I'll come back to you later."

"Okay, Oppa, you go ahead and do your work, I'm fine." Jiang Che gave an OK sign, got out of the car, and walked alone into the brightly lit party venue.
At the party, stylishly dressed men and women gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing quietly. The air was filled with the scent of perfume and a faint aroma of wine. He looked around, his gaze quickly sweeping across the crowd.

That glance almost made him turn and leave—not far away, an actor was chatting happily with Lee Seung-ri. Jiang Che's internal alarm bells rang, and he decisively averted his gaze, avoiding any eye contact.

His gaze continued to wander, and the next moment, he saw a familiar figure—Choi Sulli. Today, she was wearing a black polka-dot strapless dress, elegant yet playful, and was talking to a girl in a white suit in a corner.

Because of the angle, Jiang Che could only see the girl's back. She was tall and slender with reddish-brown hair, and she looked... a little familiar.
Out of concern for Shirley, Jiang Che decided to go over and say hello, and also ask why this girl had come to this kind of event.

He adjusted his expression, put on Taeyeon's shy smile, and walked towards the two of them.

As she got closer, Shirley spotted him, and a delighted smile immediately lit up her face as she waved vigorously.

Taeyeon unnie!

This sound also made the girl in the white suit who had her back to Jiang Che turn around.

Eyes facing each other.

Jiang Che's breath hitched.

Jessica Jung?!

Jiang Che's mind raced, his screen practically exploding with thoughts: 'Holy crap! It's this cat queen?! I didn't see her at any events on the fan club schedule! If I'd known she was coming, I should have brought Yoona instead!!'

'What do we do now? According to what Yoona said before, even if Jessica Jung leaves the group, she and Yoona still have a good personal relationship.'

But what about Taeyeon? What's her relationship with this former teammate like? Maybe she could pretend to take a phone call and then slip away? But wouldn't that seem too deliberate?

(End of this chapter)