Peninsula Cicada Song Diary

Late at night, a plane heading towards Jeju Island flew over thick clouds and darkness, slowly landing at Gimpo Airport.

Surrounded by staff, Bae Joo-hyun, wearing a black hoodie, walked out of the airport with her fellow members, her face expressionless.

Reporters, practically on call 24/7, followed with cameras in hand, their blinding flashes and the constant clicking of shutters only stopping when the van's brown windows and sturdy body blocked them out.

The car was dark, the environment perfect for resting. Bae Joo-hyun was a little tired from the journey, so she leaned against the window, closed her eyes, and listened quietly as the manager in the passenger seat talked about the group's upcoming schedule:

"The members will have three days off. Seungwan will be hosting a radio show on SBS on the 8th, Seulgi and Sooyoung will be recording a program on KBS on the 11th, and after participating in SMTown Culture Day on the 13th, we'll start preparing to move to the new dorm..."

The new dormitory is still located in Cheongdam-dong, not far from the company. It is much more spacious than the old dormitory, and everyone has their own room.

The new dorm is nice, but Bae Joo-hyun's mind is filled with thoughts of her soft bed at home in Hannam-dong.

She hasn't been back for almost three weeks.

After explaining the schedule, Jung Soo-yeon looked at Bae Joo-hyun, who was leaning against the window, and asked softly, "Irene, are you going home?"

Bae Joo-hyun opened her eyes and smiled slightly. "Yes, thank you for your help."

Upon hearing this, the other members exchanged knowing glances, their eyes reflecting the joy of "the sea is wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky is high enough for birds to fly."

Does the fact that Unnie isn't in the dorm mean she can do whatever she wants?

Kim Ye-rin, sitting in the back row, immediately nudged Kang Seul-gi's arm and made a wine glass shape with her hand to her mouth. Kang Seul-gi smiled and quietly gave her an OK sign.

To avoid arousing Bae Joo-hyun's suspicion, Park Soo-young, sitting in the front seat, turned her head to the other side of the car window, pretending to look at the scenery outside, but actually not wanting the smile on her lips to be seen.

Son Seungwan then held Bae Joo-hyun's hand, as if cherishing the warmth before parting.

"I'll check the fridge when I get back. Don't drink too much, okay? Don't order too much late-night snack, don't stay up late, and don't eat instant noodles for every meal just to save time..." Bae Joo-hyun knew exactly what her sisters were thinking, and at this moment she was just like an old mother giving her children all sorts of instructions before going on a long trip.

"Don't worry, unnie." Son Seungwan clenched her fists slightly, speaking with conviction, "I'll keep them under control."

Bae Joo-hyun glanced at her. "You'd better keep your hands on her."

"We'll be good," Kim Ye-rin responded loudly.

Bae Joo-hyun turned around, "You're the most disobedient one."

On my way back to my dormitory in Gangnam District from Jiangxi District, I had to pass through Yongsan District, where Hannamdong is located.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the residential complex, Bae Joo-hyun got out of the car with her bag. "I'm leaving now."

"Goodbye, unnie!"

The items redeemed with points were piled up in the trunk of the van. Bae Joo-hyun didn't take them out; they were all daily necessities that Bae Xi-yan didn't need. She told Sun Seung-wan and the others to take them back to their dorms.

Watching the van disappear into the night, Bae Joo-hyun took out her access card from her bag and swiped it to enter the residential area.

Following the marble-paved path, the trees and shrubs along the way were trimmed as if greeting everyone who passed by. After passing several artistic and twisted sculptures, she saw the villa nestled among the trees.

The lights inside the villa were still on, their brightness similar to that of the nearby streetlights, but only the lighthouse guided the small fishing boats safely back to the harbor.

Bae Joo-hyun smiled slightly, walked briskly to the door, entered the password, and gently pushed the door open.

"I'm back."

"Welcome home." Having known the flight information and estimated the time, Pei Xiyan was already waiting in the entrance hall.

He smiled and walked up to her, took the bag from her hand, and gently hugged her small body. "Nuna seems to have lost weight again."

"Really?" Bae Joo-hyun's smile spread across her face.

"Yes." Taking off her hat, Pei Xiyan smoothed her hair. "You've worked hard."

"Kenchana~" She suddenly felt all the fatigue in her body disappear.

......

Pei Xiyan had changed the bed sheets in the bedroom, and they were covered in her favorite detergent scent.

After taking a relaxing hot shower, changing into new pink pajamas, and getting a massage, Bae Joo-hyun went downstairs in her slippers and stood on the electronic scale in the corner of the living room.

The numbers showed that she had indeed lost another kilogram.

Feeling rather cheerful, she turned off the living room light, hummed a song, and pattered her way back upstairs to the second floor.

Through the crack in the door, Bae Joo-hyun saw that the lights in the recording studio were still on. She quietly pushed the door open, and Bae Hsi-yan, who was wearing headphones, was completely unaware.

When Pei Xiyan is focused, he seems to lose all perception of the outside world unless someone touches his body.

Bae Joo-hyun tiptoed up behind him; the computer screen displayed things she couldn't understand.

"How much longer are you going to be busy? It's almost 1 a.m.." She pinched Pei Xiyan's neck, interrupting his serious mode.

"Okay, it's done." Realizing what was happening, Pei Xiyan took off her headphones, turned back and smiled at her, "Nuna, do you want to listen?"

"Sure." Knowing that he had been working on a new song recently, Bae Joo-hyun readily agreed.

"Wait a moment." Pei Xiyan switched the audio output mode to speaker and clicked the play button.

The light and cheerful prelude begins,

"이제야목적지를정했지만,

Although the destination has only been decided now

가려한날막아서네난갈길이먼데,

The red light is blocking my way, but I still have a long way to go...

The catchy melody, combined with Pei Xiyan's clear voice, gives Pei Zhuxuan the feeling of going on a picnic with her family on a sunny day, and she is in a very good mood.

"It's a very nice song." After the song finished playing, Bae Joo-hyun nodded and ruffled his hair. "It's a song that's perfect for spring."

"It's called 'Traffic Light,' right?"

"Yes." Pei Xiyan renamed the song to "pop181105tl" and used the mouse to throw the song that had been bothering her for almost a month into the folder.

"Will it be released?" Bae Joo-hyun asked, watching his movements.

"Maybe?" Pei Xiyan shrugged.

"Let's release it." Bae Joo-hyun pinched his earlobe. "Noona wants to hear you sing."

"Besides, releasing a song doesn't necessarily require making public appearances. You can just post it online and let it spread naturally. It's better than letting it gather dust in a folder."

"I......"

"Don't wait any longer." Fearing he might say something ambiguous again, Bae Joo-hyun decisively ordered, "Move aside, I'll do it."

Pei Xiyan hesitated for a moment, but still got up. He knew that Pei Zhuxuan was a computer illiterate and only knew the most basic operations. She definitely wouldn't know anything about releasing songs.

He watched as Bae Joo-hyun sat down in her office chair, dragged the song out of the folder again, and instead of opening any webpage, opened her email and dragged the song onto the profile picture labeled "Teacher Yeon-jung".

Pei Xiyan knew what Pei Zhuxuan wanted to do.

She doesn't need to know it, because someone else does.

"Nuna, Chaga..." He tried to stop it, but the recording studio's fast internet speed had already transmitted the song.

He suddenly regretted getting such a high-speed internet connection for his home.