People on the Peninsula: I Became a Lucky Koi

"Are you two dating?"

Park Jin-young stared intently at Bae Suzy.

The latter shook his head, looking completely innocent: "We're in contact."

Bae Suzy leaned closer to the computer and looked at the photos and videos in her email: "They're quite nice."

"Is the issue now whether the filming is good or not?" Park Jin-young said with dissatisfaction.

Bae Suzy laughed and said, "He said he wouldn't pay the thief."

Upon hearing this...

Park Jin-young had a feeling about what was going on, but his expression quickly turned strange.

If Kim Chan's previous statement about riding in Kim Tae-yeon's Mercedes was just a gimmick, then the photos released by Dispatch will make the "prize pool" continue to accumulate.

"You really aren't dating?" Park Jin-young asked again.

Bae Suzy smiled helplessly: "No."

"But it should be soon, we're very compatible..." she added as a precaution.

Bae Suzy isn't one of those newcomers in the company; her career focus has shifted entirely to acting. Her love life will definitely lose her some fans, but it won't shake her core fanbase.

"Arasso." Park Jin-young nodded.

...

...

After talking with Lee Soo-man, Kim Chan went to a coffee shop through the back door of SM Entertainment.

The place Kim Tae-yeon chose.

She glanced at the sunlight streaming into the alleyway below the balcony and smiled, "This is where many of the company's trainees and artists come from."

"I can see that. There are really a lot of photos of celebrities on the walls on the first floor." Jin Can nodded.

Kim Tae-yeon held a cup of coffee, took a sip, and said, "So, what did you want to see me about?"

"I want to collaborate with you, senior." Jin Can went straight to the point.

The way she was addressed as a senior made Kim Tae-yeon feel a little awkward and uncomfortable, but she got used to it.

Her tone was gentle, with a hint of expectation in her eyes: "You want me to feature?"

"Ani." Kim Chan shook his head and chuckled, "The songs for our debut album have already been recorded. As for featuring, perhaps we'll have to wait until later..."

Kim Tae-yeon was even more puzzled. She raised an eyebrow: "If it's not a feature, then what is it?"

"Popularity stunt."

"One photo..." Kim Chan thought there was nothing wrong with saying this, and the decision was in Kim Tae-yeon's hands.

She can refuse.

So, under Kim Tae-yeon's puzzled gaze, he explained his thoughts: "..."

Mercedes, passenger seat, paparazzi, photos, public opinion.

The combination of these words caused Kim Tae-yeon's smile to freeze completely, and the meaning became clear.

That initial expectation turned into some annoyance and disappointment.

"Popularity stunt?"

"Mm." Jin Can smiled apologetically.

Kim Tae-yeon was speechless: "..."

Her keen perception, amplified by her "younger man radar," made her acutely aware that Jin Can's words were frighteningly sincere.

But the more sincere she was, the more uneasy she felt inside…

Kim Tae-yeon bit her lip and asked, "...Why did you do that?"

"Big Bang's return is making a big splash." Kim Chan explained frankly, "I don't want my debut to be completely unnoticed."

Kim Tae-yeon interrupted him, retorting, "Lee Soo-man won't agree."

She moved out of the company.

"He's already preparing a press release for you." Kim Chan took a sip of his coffee, and as Kim Taeyeon looked on in surprise, he added, "Of course, it's just a draft; Taeyeon-sunbae can refuse it..."

"After all, you and Baekhyun are dating."

As he said this, Jin Can, the user of the [Sheep Treasure], gave a bitter laugh.

But in Kim Tae-yeon's eyes, that smile subtly revealed a hint of sadness.

When Byun Baekhyun was mentioned, she said in a low voice, "Byun Baekhyun and I have already broken up."

It's a unilateral separation, but Byun Baekhyun is still occasionally sending signals that he wants to reconcile.

"Have you broken up?"

Jin Can looked surprised. "Because of the public opinion?"

"Ani~" Kim Tae-yeon shook her head and sighed, "It's a relationship problem."

She stared intently at Jin Can and asked a question that puzzled her:

"Actually, you didn't have to tell me any of this. You could have just made a phone call, had me pick you up in my car, and had your company's VJ take photos... that would have achieved your goal."

"Why not do that?"

Kim Tae-yeon's perspective is unique, and her line of thinking is sound.

Even after the news broke, she would hardly have imagined that it was this younger man who arranged it…

"Why would I do that?" Jin Can retorted. "In your eyes, am I such a terrible person?"

Upon hearing this answer, Kim Tae-yeon decisively shook her head: "You're not like that."

Why would an insincere person lay out such a plan in the open?

"I just didn't expect that the only time you took the initiative to contact me would be for something like this." Kim Tae-yeon chuckled, wrapping her arms around the teddy bear, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

[A Treasure Tool Against Sheep] Jin Can, seeing the change in her expression, had already implicitly accepted that this plan was a no-go.

But then he remembered the password that Hwang Mi-young had revealed in the bar.

Kim Chan pursed his lips and chuckled softly, "Mi-nee, noona."

"I feel ashamed of my intrusion..."

After saying that, he gave a genuine smile.

"You don't need to feel guilty, I'm the one who should feel guilty." Kim Tae-yeon brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and shook her head.

In a love triangle, the younger man on the other end is always the one who gets hurt the most.

Uh... wait a minute.

Kim Tae-yeon's mind went blank for a second, as if she had been struck by lightning.

She abruptly looked up, stared at Jin Can who had already stood up to leave, and asked, "What did you just call me?"

"Noona?"

"What's wrong..." Kim Chan glanced at the petite Kim Tae-yeon.

Kim Tae-yeon opened her mouth slightly and touched her chin with her small hand. "Sit down!"

She waved.

"What's wrong?" Jin Can asked in surprise. Was this password really that effective?

Kim Tae-yeon raised the corners of her mouth: "I didn't say I refused."

It wasn't because of the younger man's title; her disappointment stemmed from the fact that the younger man had come to her for this kind of reason.

In addition, she also admires Jin Can's honesty and courage to take responsibility... these are rare and valuable qualities.

Returning to the hype plan, the company agreed.

Kim Tae-yeon just heard about the subsequent PR reversal arrangements, which were almost flawless. If there had been any oversights, the company wouldn't have agreed so readily.

"So, does that mean Nuna agrees?" Kim Chan called out Nuna smoothly.

Kim Tae-yeon countered, "Do you want me to agree?"

"I don't want to." Jin Can chuckled, then gave his reason: "I'd get a lot of flak."

"Are you in a difficult position too?"

"It's a difficult situation."

"But you still came to find me."

"Give it a try."

Upon hearing this, Kim Tae-yeon smiled happily: "I'll give you one more time."

As she spoke, she gave Jin Can the middle finger, meaning that they were even over that matter.

"It doesn't matter if you owe a friend or not, as long as you pay them back." Jin Can shrugged helplessly.

The two then stopped mentioning the "hype" incident, which was awkward.

Kim Tae-yeon changed the subject, frowning slightly: "Are you learning acting from Yoona?"

"Yes." Jin Can nodded, feeling somewhat annoyed.

His initial intention was to discuss acting with Im Yoon-ah, subtly suggesting that she improve her acting skills and take some time to hone them so that she wouldn't always hold him back.

But now it seems the effect is minimal.

On the contrary, this woman is always so smug...

Kim Tae-yeon commented: "You're crazy."

"Perhaps..." Jin Can wholeheartedly agreed.

He then remembered something else and asked, "Is Noona going to go solo this year?"