Peninsula Cicada Song Diary

Before her eyes was a blurry, yellowish light. Bae Joo-hyun blinked a few times before her vision gradually cleared.

The room was dimly lit because someone had turned on their bedside lamp. To the right was the familiar purple wallpaper of the bedroom, and a bright white cell phone screen reflected a pair of eyes with thick eyelashes.

"Xiao...yan?" She tried to open her mouth, but could only speak very softly.

"Nuna?!" Pei Xiyan looked up in surprise, sensing something was wrong. She picked up a water glass from the bedside table and handed it to her. "Are you thirsty?"

"Hmm." Her lips were very dry, as if the high temperature of her cold had evaporated all the moisture, making it difficult to speak. Bae Joo-hyun propped herself up, took the water glass, and drank it in small sips.

Perhaps the medicine she had been given earlier had taken effect, because after drinking a cup, Bae Joo-hyun felt much better. Although her head was still a little stuffy, it wasn't as bad. At least three-quarters of the cotton inside had been removed.

"Want more?" Pei Xiyan asked softly.

"No need." Bae Joo-hyun shook her head, and in the lamplight, she saw the weariness in Pei Xiyan's eyes. "...Xiaoyan, you should go back and rest."

"Is Nuna feeling sorry for me?" Pei Xiyan smiled.

"You're my brother." Bae Joo-hyun looked at him strangely. "What nonsense are you talking about? If I don't care about you, who else should I care about?"

"Yes." Pei Xiyan stared into her eyes. "I also hope that Nuna will take care of her health."

"...Mianhee." Bae Joo-hyun paused, then gave a weak, sheepish laugh. "I didn't mean to hide it from you..."

"I know," Pei Xiyan said. "Didn't I say that I support whatever Nuna wants to do, more than the whole world?"

His words were the same as his answer in 17. Bae Joo-hyun felt as if she had returned to the hospital on that day when it was snowing. She listened quietly, her eyelashes fluttering from time to time.

"Like a die-hard fan." Pei Xiyan stopped staring at her and lowered her eyes. "Being your die-hard fan would definitely be very happy. After all, my idol is not only good-looking, but also has high professional ethics. She is so dedicated that she would go on stage for us even if she had a fever. She has no scandals and no negative points... Except for being a little older, she is perfect. She is simply a chosen artist. Who doesn't like the dazzling Nuna on stage?"

"But I'm still your brother." He sighed. "So I don't want you to go on stage while you're sick, so I'm upset that you kept your illness a secret from me, so I'm angry with the company because you went to the hospital... I support you, but I feel even more sorry for you, Nuna."

"I would rather you not be so perfect on stage, I just hope you are healthy."

"Mian nai." Bae Joo-hyun lowered her head further as she listened, her heart seemingly filled with overwhelming guilt. Her voice trembled slightly, and Bae Xi-yan raised her eyes slightly.

The weather forecast says it will rain.

"Mi-nei Xiaoyan." She hugged her knees, which were bent silently, and tears streamed down her face. "I just... didn't want you to worry."

"Nuna, this only makes me more worried." Pei Xiyan took a tissue from the bedside table and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and chin. "I don't want to see you unable to even stand steadily on stage."

"It won't happen again," Bae Joo-hyun promised softly, "...I'll tell you everything from now on."

So she still had to go on stage, Pei Xiyan paused.

When it comes to matters concerning her idol, Bae Joo-hyun is as stubborn as a wildebeest that migrates long distances in Africa on schedule.

You tell the wildebeest that there are crocodiles in the river ahead, lions, tigers, and cheetahs in the forest, and even hyenas lurking in the grass, but it still goes forward without hesitation.

He didn't understand what magic the stage or the fans possessed that could make Bae Joo-hyun willingly go to such lengths.

"Is Nuna hungry?" Pei Xiyan withdrew her hand from the tissue and suddenly stood up.

The topic changed abruptly. Bae Joo-hyun, tears streaming down her face, looked at him and touched her stomach before she could even stop crying.

Indeed, "...a little."

She didn't eat much yesterday, and now her stomach is empty, with only water sloshing around inside.

"I'll make you a bowl of noodles." Pei Xiyan turned and left. "Don't ask why it's not stir-fried rice cakes, because the doctor said you can't eat spicy food right now..."

"Rice cakes can be sweet too," Bae Joo-hyun retorted softly as he walked away.

Pei Xiyan couldn't hear it.

When she could no longer hear Pei Xiyan's voice, she fell backward onto the soft bedding.

The room fell silent again. Bae Joo-hyun didn't like quiet, but she didn't want to turn on the TV even though there was one in the room. The whole world suddenly felt like it was dead, completely silent.

Bae Joo-hyun rolled over and noticed the bag on the beanbag chair. She walked over in her slippers, took out her phone, and saw that it was 4:28 a.m. with several unread messages from her fellow members.

Bae Joo-hyun didn't check the message; instead, she opened the camera app.

Pei Xiyan removed her makeup as usual, and her face appeared in the front camera. Her long hair was messy and disheveled, her face was pale, and her lips were dry. She had lost all her glamorous stage presence.

"So ugly." Bae Joo-hyun wrinkled her nose at the screen. "...And so stubborn."

"You're so stubborn, Bae Joo-hyun."

A dozen minutes later, footsteps came from outside, and Pei Xiyan came in carrying a bowl of noodles.

A simple bowl of clear soup noodles, garnished with scallions, tomatoes, and a sunny-side-up egg, is light and refreshing.

His cooking skills were as good as ever; the noodles tasted delicious. Bae Joo-hyun ate them happily, taking small bites, her brows furrowing occasionally. Bae Xi-yan watched quietly, without saying a word.

The portion size was just right; any more would have been too much, and any less would have been a shame since we hadn't had enough.

"Phew." Bae Joo-hyun put down her chopsticks and let out a satisfied breath. The steam from her mouth warmed her up, and her cheeks regained some of their normal color.

It felt like taking a hot bath.

Taking the tissue Pei Xiyan thoughtfully offered, Pei Zhuxuan gestured with her chin at him, "Go to sleep now."

"Is Nuna going to throw this away after I'm done with it?" Pei Xiyan teased.

"Okay." Bae Joo-hyun wiped her mouth, frowning and looking fierce. "You know that's good. Go to sleep!"

"Nuna's tone is like when I was a kid and she called me away to sleep so she could monopolize the TV," Pei Xiyan said.

"It's because I go to bed early, otherwise how do you think I could grow so tall?" Bae Joo-hyun said confidently, gesturing above her head, "186cm! 186cm!"

He's a full 28 centimeters taller than her! When they go out together, people often mistake her for a middle school student on a school trip with her brother just by looking at her from behind!

"Also." Pei Xiyan made a move to clear the dishes before leaving, but was forcefully stopped by her. "I can do it myself."

"Okay." Pei Xiyan added as a final reminder, "Nuna, remember to get some rest."

"Okay." Bae Joo-hyun waved gently. "Goodnight."

He quickly disappeared through the doorway, and moments later, his footsteps also faded into the corridor.

"That's a good girl." Bae Joo-hyun muttered as she put on her slippers, took the bowl, and went down to the kitchen.

There was only one bowl, so she didn't need the dishwasher. After washing it quickly, she took her pajamas to the bathroom and gave herself a real hot shower.

It was almost 6 o'clock when I got back to the bedroom.

At 6 a.m. this month, it's still dark outside. I turn off the bedside lamp, and the bedroom is plunged into darkness as well.

Patients need to rest more, so Bae Joo-hyun snuggled comfortably into the blankets and closed her eyes again.

Before falling asleep, she vaguely thought about last night.

She felt just as comfortable in Pei Xiyan's arms.

It felt safe and comfortable from all sides.