Peninsula: A Max-Level Forward's Leisurely Life

The two of them ended up having a great time buying things.

The shopping cart was so crammed that it was deformed, and even the wheels were protesting.

Sulli even insisted on taking two packs of mints from the cashier, with a particularly convincing reason—

"I'll need it on the road in Germany."

Li Chixun glanced at the receipt but remained silent.

This amount of money was nothing to him, but moving these things from the garage to the third-floor bedroom was the real problem.

……

On the floor of the villa's bedroom, two huge suitcases lay open, the light shining on the metal zippers, making one's eyes sting.

Sulli was wearing his oversized black T-shirt, sitting cross-legged in the center of the carpet, her hair tied in a loose bun.

I'm so busy, I'm like a hamster storing food.

"I need to bring this, and this too," she muttered, stuffing a bag of face towels into the corner of the suitcase and then using her knee to push it in, trying to create more space.

Lee Chi-hoon stood at the door, still holding the last two shopping bags in his hands.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, his T-shirt clung to his back, and the bag had left shallow marks on his arm muscles. He didn't look relaxed at all.

"Choi Jin-ri, when you bought these things, did you ever consider that I am also a human being?"

Sulli looked up at him and blinked. "Isn't Oppa a physical monster?"

Li Chixun was speechless by her words and almost laughed in anger.

-

The passive skill that the system rewarded him with was supposed to be used to cope with the busy schedule of the season.

As a result, it's now being used for moving luggage, which is ridiculously practical.

He put the bag against the wall, pulled off his soaking wet T-shirt, and turned to go into the bathroom.

"You'd better stop putting weird things in there."

"Okay, okay."

Sulli agreed verbally, but her hands didn't stop moving at all.

She heard the sound of water running in the bathroom and immediately peeked through the crack in the door. Confirming that the man couldn't come out for the time being, she moved even faster.

She carefully stuffed two jars of Seoul's specialty hot sauce into the dust bag next to her suit.

Several boxes of pink strawberry face masks were tucked under my basketball socks.

The most outrageous thing was that incredibly ugly couple's plush keychain—

A peach is hugging a soccer ball, its expression so silly it's unbearable to look at.

Choi Sulli held the pendant and looked at it for a long time, becoming more and more satisfied with it.

"Perfect."

The sound of water stopped.

Lee Chi-hoon emerged from the bathroom wearing a dark gray bath towel, his hair still dripping wet. The muscles in his upper body were clean and well-defined.

Sulli was still clutching that ugly pendant in her hand. She froze, but her eyes betrayed her, tracing her gaze down his collarbone, almost forgetting to blink.

Lee Chi-hoon dried his hair with a towel and walked to his suitcase.

The next second, he saw it—

My own bespoke suit.

Professional sneakers.

Hot sauce.

Strawberry face mask.

And that ugly yet stylish couple keychain.

He stood there, silent for a few seconds.

"Hello, Miss Cui."

Lee Chi-hoon pointed at the suitcase, his tone full of amusement born from exasperation.

"I'm going to play in the Bundesliga, not to go on a spring outing to the Alps."

"You might as well pack yourself up and stuff yourself in there too."

Upon hearing this, Choi Sulli's eyes lit up instantly. "Is that okay?"

Li Chixun's brow twitched.

-

This girl wasn't listening to the lecture at all.

She did exactly as he said, got up, hugged the ugly keychain, and bent down to lie down in the half-empty suitcase.

Her long legs even curled up quite consciously.

"Oppa, drag me along."

She lay in the box, a smug smile on her face. "I don't take up much space, really."

Lee Chi-hoon looked down at her.

A tall, nearly 1.7-meter-tall person, curled up in a suitcase, claimed he didn't take up much space.

Their shamelessness has exceeded the normal range for girl group idols.

He crouched down and reached out to pinch her cheek.

"Doesn't this take up space?"

"I'm very light."

"I wasn't this gentle when I held you last night."

Choi Sulli's face flushed instantly.

She raised her foot to kick the person, but the person was still lying in the box, limiting her movements. She thrashed around twice but only kicked at air.

Lee Chi-hoon laughed so hard his shoulders were shaking.

"Don't move, or I'll really zip it up."

"You dare!"

"What wouldn't I dare to do?" He pretended to touch the zipper.

Sulli immediately reached out and grabbed the edge of the box, acting like a little animal guarding its food, while still refusing to admit defeat.

"When I get to Germany, I'll call the police and report that a Bayern Munich player is trafficking a female idol across borders."

"The police are asking for evidence?"

"The evidence is myself."

Lee Chi-hoon was so amused by her twisted logic that he simply grabbed her waist with both hands and pulled her out of the box.

Her black T-shirt was too big, and he lifted her up as soon as he picked her up.

Choi Sulli quickly pressed down on her clothes and glared at him fiercely.

"rogue."

"You're the one who lay down in my suitcase."

"That's what you told me to put in there."

"I told you to stuff something in."

"I'm yours too."

The bedroom fell silent as soon as he said that.

Sulli belatedly realized what she had said, and her face flushed red all the way to her ears.

Li Chixun looked at her, and the smile in his eyes slowly faded.

This peach is usually aggressive and unruly, but when it occasionally throws out a blunt remark, its most lethal attack comes from within.

He didn't say anything, but simply carried her to the sofa and sat down.

Choi Sulli nestled into his arms.

She was still being stubborn, muttering under her breath, "I was just saying it offhand."

"Hmm, that's a pretty good offhand remark."

Lee Chi-hoon lowered his head and approached the top of her head, smelling a faint peach scent mixed with the shampoo she had just used.

It's very clean and reassuring.

His fingers ran through her soft hair, stroking it gently and intermittently.

Choi Sulli pressed her face against his chest.

The man's heartbeat was steady and strong, transmitted through her skin, tapping against her ear one beat at a time, as if suppressing all her unease.

Things have happened too fast these past few days.

From being overwhelmed by cyberbullying to suddenly having a relaxed schedule, and then being taken by him to prepare to fly to another country.

Sometimes she was afraid it was all a dream. But his body temperature was real, and the hands holding her were real too.

Choi Sulli was quiet for a while, then circled her fingers around the droplet of water on his chest.

"Oppa".

"Um."

"I'll go to Germany to be with you, but I can only stay for a little over two weeks at most."

Lee Chi-hoon looked down at her. "Why?"

He really didn't quite understand it.

He basically controls SM now, and can adjust schedules at will. If anyone dares to obstruct her, he can make sure they lose their employee badge with just a word.

In his opinion, she could stay in Munich for a month if she wanted.

Choi Sulli understood what he meant and couldn't help but laugh.

She reached out and pinched his waist, not too hard. "Oppa, you're such a chaebol."

Lee Chi-hoon raised an eyebrow. "I'm talking about efficiency."

"That's called being willful."

Choi Sulli straightened up from his embrace, sat on his lap, and her expression became unusually serious.

"The company doesn't say anything about me, and the representative doesn't dare to control me, but I'm still a member of f(x)."

Li Chixun did not respond.

She continued, her tone softening.

"Song Ma, Xiujing, Amber, Victoria unnie, they are all still waiting for me to come back."

"Besides, I don't only have haters."

Sulli's eyes crinkled as she said this. "I still have die-hard fans waiting for my performance."

These words were spoken softly, yet they gradually rekindled the last vestiges of her stage spirit that had been almost extinguished.

Looking at her, Li Chixun suddenly lost the will to continue teasing her.

He always knew that Choi Sulli was not just a canary that needed to be kept in a safe house.

She loves the stage, loves the cheers when the lights shine on her, and loves making the audience scream with her expressions and movements.

The malice on the internet almost ruined her, but it has no right to define her.

Resting is fine, but hiding away forever is not.

This is not the Choi Jin-ri he wanted.

"Okay." Li Chixun raised his hand and tucked her messy bangs behind her ear.

"A little over half a month is fine."

Choi Sulli narrowed her eyes, as if she were interrogating someone.

"Are you really not angry?"

Why am I angry?

"Because Oppa looks like the kind of person who likes to boss others around and arrange their lives."

"You're making me sound like a villain."

"More or less."

Lee Chi-hoon was amused by her, so he reached out and grabbed the back of her head, pulling her into his arms.

Choi Sulli laughed as she struggled, her hand still patting his shoulder.

In the end, both of them were exhausted.

The suitcase was still lying on the ground.

The ugly keychain was tossed next to the suit, and Peach's silly face, clutching a soccer ball, was facing the ceiling.

Lee Chi-hoon glanced at it, but couldn't be bothered to take it out.

Forget it.

It is a bit ugly.

But she likes it.

……

Over the next few days, their lives were divided into several parts.

During the day, I handle trivial matters in Seoul, and at night, I return to the villa or bar to continue stuffing the things that haven't been packed into my suitcase.

It's very quiet at SM.

The new management acted quickly, and Choi Sulli's recovery plan was listed separately, with any announcements requiring her confirmation first.

Those staff members who used to give her attitude at the drop of a hat now smile at her with more respect than the front desk clerks.

Sulli was initially hesitant.

She adapted very quickly, and even texted Lee Ji-hoon from the company corridor.

The minister poured me water again today.

I suspect he wants to be my uncle.

Li Chixun was in his study replying to emails from New York.

After reading the message, he tapped the screen twice with his finger.

Tell him to stop dreaming.

The competition for your uncle's position is fierce.

Sulli almost burst out laughing at the company.

-

This man has a really sharp tongue, but she likes him that way.

Besides the company, the two also took a walk along the Han River.

Wearing a mask and hat, Choi Sulli looked like a student sneaking out for a stroll, and bought two servings of fish cakes from a roadside stall.

Lee Chi-hoon complained that the sauce at the stall was too sweet, and in the end, he was the one who ate the most.

Choi Sulli stood beside him and exposed him.

"Oppa, you may say you're disgusted, but your actions tell a different story."

"I'm doing this to avoid waste."

"Frugal and hardworking?"

"I learned it from you." She was so happy by those words that she kept shaking his arm on the way back.

Needless to say, it's even worse at night.

When adult couples have just confirmed their relationship and are about to separate, the little bit of warmth in the air is simply impossible to suppress.

Sulli had said she needed to rest and recharge the day before, but the next day she took the initiative to run into his room with a pillow.

He said he was afraid of the dark.

Before the lights were even off, she had already snuggled into his arms.

Li Chixun watched as she pretended to be stupid.

"Afraid of the dark?"

"Um."

"The bedroom light is on."

"I'm afraid of the light."

"Choi Jin-ri, your logic is quite free."

She simply covered her face with the blanket.

"Stop talking nonsense and hug me."

Lee Chi-hoon naturally hugged her.

Not hugging is foolish.

……

The days just flew by.

On the morning of our departure, before it was fully light in Seoul, cars were already parked in front of the villa.

The assistant had already packed the luggage into the trunk.

The large suitcase that almost fit Sulli herself was eventually filled with all sorts of strange little items.

She was wearing a light-colored sweatshirt and jeans, with her hat pulled low.

I was so excited, like I was going on a school trip.

Lee Ji-hoon dressed simply—black trousers, a gray hoodie, and a light jacket over them.

He held his passport in one hand and his bag in the other.

Choi Sulli was standing by the car when she suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm a little nervous."

She looked up at him, her eyes shining.

"When I used to go to Europe, I was always rushing from one event to another – backstage, hotel, airport, it was like a battleground everywhere."

Li Chixun looked at her.

"And this time?"

"This time it's like eloping." She laughed as soon as she finished speaking, and her ears turned red.

Lee Chi-hoon reached out and pressed down on the brim of her hat.

"Then your elopement partner must be quite expensive."

"It's alright, I do odd jobs."

This time, it was Li Chixun's turn to choke.

Choi Sulli covered her mouth and laughed, clearly still remembering the time he tricked Im Yoona.

The two got into the car.

As the car drove away from the Gangnam villa district, the morning light of Seoul shone through the high-rise buildings, casting a pale golden glow on the glass curtain walls.

Choi Sulli leaned against the car window, watching the familiar street recede into the distance.

She suddenly no longer felt the suffocating feeling she had when she left South Korea.

The city is still noisy, still cold, and still harbors many unpleasant people and things.

This time, however, she wasn't being pushed around by her schedule.

She chose to set off on her own.

……

Upon arrival at the airport, the VIP lounge was unusually quiet.

The staff member politely accepted the documents and couldn't help but glance at Li Jixun a few more times while checking the itinerary.

A Bayern Munich player, with mixed-race features, was accompanied by a girl who was completely covered up.

This combination looks like it has great news value, but unfortunately no one dares to take pictures here.

Choi Sulli sat on the sofa in the waiting room, holding a hot cocoa, swinging her legs back and forth.

"Oppa, does it really snow in Munich?"

"It's still early."

"What about the scarf I bought?"

"Hanging."

"What a waste."

"Aren't you known for being thrifty and good at managing the household?"

"Being thrifty and managing a household well should also involve a sense of ritual."

Li Chixun couldn't help but chuckle as he watched her ramble on with such seriousness.

His phone vibrated at that moment, and he glanced at the screen.

It's a new email from Bayern Munich—reminding the team to resume training this afternoon, and Guardiola has asked all returning players to undergo individual fitness assessments before their physical tests.

Below the email was a message from the team's group chat.

Müller posted an exaggerated emoji.

[Leon, if you don't come back soon, the coach is going to eat the clipboard.]

Ram's message followed immediately.

Don't be late.

Lee Chi-hoon looked at the screen, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

The long-lost atmosphere of the green field came rushing in.

The sweet daily life in Seoul is still around him, but the grass and the smell of sweat in Munich are already urging him to return to the team.

He glanced down at his right wrist, at the ugly yet meaningful wristband he wore under his cuff.

Choi Sulli followed his movement and looked over, smiling smugly.

"Are you still wearing it?"

"Um."

"Aren't you ashamed?"

"The embarrassment only extends to Germany."

"Hey!" She raised her hand and patted him.

The boarding announcement came on.

Staff came over to remind them that they could board the plane.

Lee Chi-hoon stood up, took her cup and threw it into the trash can, then pulled her hat brim down a little.

Choi Sulli offered him her hand, which he habitually grasped tightly, and the two walked side by side toward the boarding gate.

Outside the glass window, the flight bound for Munich had stopped at the end of the jet bridge, its fuselage gleaming a cold white in the morning light.

Choi Sulli suddenly squeezed his hand hard.

"Oppa".

"explain."

"When you get to Germany, you have to play well."

Lee Chi-hoon turned his head to look at her.

Her eyes were curved, but her voice was very serious.

"I want to see you shine on the court."

Lee Chi-hoon paused for a moment, a smile slowly spreading from the depths of his eyes.

"Okay." He took her hand and walked forward.

"Then I'll let you sit in the best seat to watch."

The boarding gate closed behind me.

Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away in Munich, the grass at the Seberner Straße training ground had just been watered.

A cool morning breeze swept across the empty stadium.

The whistle for the new season is already waiting for him.