Peninsula: My e-sports dream shattered, I chose to become an actor.

"Krystal, do you know Kim Heechul?"

During a break at noon, Li Mingye, carrying a tray, naturally sat down next to Zheng Xiujing.

Jung Soo-jung, who was taking small bites of seaweed rice rolls, paused upon hearing this. A hint of surprise flashed in her signature cool eyes, as if she hadn't expected him to suddenly bring up this name.

She swallowed the food in her mouth, pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth, and then said, "Yes, I know him. He's a senior colleague at the company. What does Mingye need him for?"

"It's nothing. Didn't that guy recently get discharged from the military? I've always liked him and wanted to get to know him."

Li Mingye smiled, his eyes clear, looking like an ambitious newcomer eager to expand his network.

Today is August 28th. According to the crew's schedule, everyone will have two days of rest after filming ends tomorrow, and then they will fly to the United States for a month of location shooting.

Krystal waved her hand, as if to indicate that it was no problem, but hesitated for a moment before saying:

"Then let me ask for you."

Li Mingye nodded: "Then I'll trouble you."

Not long after, Krystal Jung's phone vibrated.

"Heechul hyung said it's no problem, I've sent you his Kakao ID."

Kim Heechul is known in the industry as a "social butterfly," so he naturally wouldn't refuse a newcomer with obvious potential who takes the initiative to befriend him, and might even enjoy it.

Li Mingye took out his phone and, sure enough, saw the business card sent by Zheng Xiujing.

"Thank you." Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Li Mingye smiled and thanked Zheng Xiujing, revealing a set of bright white teeth.

"Not at all, Mingye has helped me a lot on set too," Krystal replied with a smile, her tone carrying a rare air of closeness.

Although she debuted much earlier than Li Mingye and is older, making her a true senior, during her time on set, it was actually this younger colleague who often took care of her and even gave her a lot of inspiration in terms of acting.

"I'm clearly older, so why do I always feel like he's the senior?" Jung Soo-jung looked at the young and handsome Lee Myung-yeop and couldn't help but feel a little confused.

On the other side, Li Mingye had already added Kim Heechul on Kakao. After a brief greeting, the phone rang soon afterward.

"Hey! Li Mingye-xi!"

Kim Heechul's signature enthusiastic voice came through the receiver, sounding as familiar as if they had been friends for years. He was quite interested in this suddenly appearing newcomer, and his words conveyed a sense of "I have high hopes for you."

This can be considered an investment made in advance.

Li Mingye naturally picked up on the conversation, chatting about acting and variety shows, and the initial awkwardness disappeared within minutes. Finally, Kim Heechul extended an invitation.

"Tomorrow night is my discharge party in Jeju Island. Why don't you come too, Mingyeop?"

"Is this alright? Won't it be too much of a bother?" Li Mingye asked, feigning modesty.

"Aigoo, it's okay! Lots of people will be coming, including Soojung. You can meet other people and relax a bit."

"Thank you so much, brother. I'll definitely be there."

After hanging up the phone, Li Mingye put down his phone in a good mood. When he looked up, he met Zheng Xiujing's probing eyes.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Li Mingye touched his face, somewhat puzzled.

Krystal frowned slightly and said bluntly, "Why do I feel like you have such a strong sense of purpose?"

Li Mingye's lips twitched.

Girl, you really are outspoken.

He sighed helplessly and said irritably:

"You can just think those things in your mind, why do you say them out loud? Aren't you afraid of embarrassing me?"

She has a strong sense of right and wrong and is not good at hiding her emotions, often saying things that make him feel ashamed.

However, after spending more time with her, Li Mingye actually quite liked her straightforward personality. So he treated Zheng Xiujing the same way, saying whatever came to mind.

The main theme is mutual harm.

"So you really have some purpose?" Jung Soo-jung was even more surprised when she heard that Lee Ming-yeop didn't deny it directly, after all, she had just asked casually based on her intuition.

"Eat your food."

"Fine, I won't say it then, it's none of my business..." Jung Soo-jung turned her head away, muttering, but her hand was stabbing hard at the radish pieces in the plate, as if they were Lee Myung-yeop's face.

Li Mingye had intended to end the topic, but when he caught a glimpse of her puffed-up profile, he suddenly felt like teasing her.

"Who said it has nothing to do with you?" Li Mingye said, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Huh?" Krystal Jung immediately turned her head, her curiosity instantly piqued. "What's going on? What does it have to do with me?"

"Hmm..." Li Mingye pretended to be deep in thought, and after a long while, he slowly said, "Never mind, it's not good for you to know."

Before he could even see her expression after being teased, a hand grabbed his waist.

"You actually made fun of me." Jung Soo-jung's eyes flashed with "murderous intent," and she slowly increased the pressure on her fingers, but her face still maintained that cold expression. This contrast made Li Mingye laugh.

Although Li Mingye wasn't in any pain, he still grimaced and pretended to be in pain.

"Gently, gently!"

"And another thing," she suddenly changed the subject, as if she had finally found an opportunity to ask, "I'm clearly older than you and your senior, so why do you never call me 'Nuna'?"

Hearing her incoherent questions, Li Mingye was completely bewildered and looked at her strangely, asking:

"Is this something really that important? You're only a year older than me, aren't you?"

Then, Li Mingye looked her up and down again and added:

"Besides, aren't you American? Why are you concerned about this?"

Krystal's eyes widened slightly, a blush rising to her fair cheeks, unsure how to retort. After a long pause, she finally said with a touch of arrogance:

"I don't care, just say it once."

She wasn't sure why she was so fixated on this. Maybe it was because Li Mingye, despite being so young, wasn't naive at all, and always took care of and teased her. So she really wanted to see the contrast in his helpless expression as he called out "Nuna."

"Oh dear," Li Mingye sighed helplessly, as if he couldn't persuade her otherwise. "It's not a difficult thing. You should have said so earlier if you wanted to hear it."

Krystal loosened her grip, her eyes revealing anticipation.

Then, Li Mingye took a deep breath, then exhaled, and stood up.

"The director wants to see me about something."

He turned and ran away in small steps, his movements fluid and graceful.

Krystal Jung stood there stunned for several seconds, staring blankly at his back. When she came to her senses, her face turned bright red.

From afar came Krystal Jung's furious roar.

"Hey! You brat!"

Hearing the energetic cursing behind him, Li Mingye revealed a mischievous grin that seemed to find amusing.

"Those emotions that are so obvious are the most interesting to tease."

……

August 30, Aewol-eup, Jeju Island.

Lee Myung-yeop arrived at the venue for Kim Hee-chul's discharge party on time. It was a very private restaurant located by the sea, brightly lit, with the faint sound of laughter coming from inside.

"Wow, he looks even more handsome in person."

Kim Heechul had just seen a group of guests in when he saw Lee Myung-yeop and enthusiastically patted him on the shoulder. His face was beaming with the excitement of regaining his freedom, and he was practically glowing.

"Yes, congratulations on your discharge from the military." Li Mingye smiled and handed over the prepared gift, his tone sincere.

"Yeah, we're finally out! The air even tastes sweet!"

Kim Heechul sighed, then warmly invited, "You go in first, don't be shy. I'll go outside to greet the others. Soojung is already inside, just sit with her."

At this point, Kim Heechul leaned closer, raised an eyebrow mischievously, and said in a low voice, "Take good care of our maknae."

"What's this guy thinking?"

Li Mingye thought to himself with a hint of helplessness, but still smiled and nodded as he walked into the banquet hall.

Upon entering, Li Mingye's gaze swept across the bustling banquet hall, and he quickly spotted Zheng Xiujing on a sofa in the corner.

She was swinging her legs listlessly, holding a glass of juice in her hand. Across from her sat a girl with fair skin and a pure, innocent look.

It's Choi Sulli.