Peninsula: A Max-Level Forward's Leisurely Life

The next morning, the Munich sunlight was just beginning to stream into the living room through the gaps in the French windows.

The door to the second-floor guest room was carefully opened a crack.

With prominent dark circles under her eyes, Yoona, dressed in a conservative long-sleeved pajama that covered her up completely, peeked out half her head like a thief.

She didn't sleep well at all last night.

The repeated invitations from those top European luxury brands were already enough to drive her to the brink of a nervous breakdown, but due to jet lag and excessive psychological stimulation, she had an absurd dream in the middle of the night.

The dream was vividly colored, and the male protagonist inexplicably changed to the man sitting at the dining table, casually telling jokes.

That wouldn't have been a problem in itself, but the issue was that in the dream, he dressed in a way that was extremely unconventional for men.

It was terrifying. Staring at the unfamiliar yet soft ceiling of the guest room, I was completely stunned for several seconds.

Oh no, Lim Yoona, the visual of Girls' Generation and a top-tier girl group senior, actually dreamed about her best sister's man.

What is this? A friendship crisis? A moral decline? Or is there something toxic in the air in Munich?

Yoona raised her hand and patted her still slightly flushed cheeks. She lay in the blanket for another two minutes, but in the end, she couldn't keep up the act.

She glanced down at her incredibly conservative long-sleeved pajamas, making sure there was nothing inappropriate, before slipping on her slippers and opening the door. She swallowed hard, her throat dry, and tiptoed down the stairs to the open kitchen on the first floor, intending to find some ice water to cool down.

She tried to walk quietly as she prepared to go downstairs to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

Just around the corner of the bar.

"ah--"

She swallowed a short gasp and stood frozen in place.

At the edge of the stage in front, Li Chixun was holding a bottle of mineral water in one hand and tilting his head back to drink it.

The man had clearly just come up from a high-intensity morning workout at the underground gym; his hair was slightly damp, and he was casually wearing a pair of loose gray athletic shorts, leaving his muscular upper body completely exposed to the air.

Those smooth, well-defined muscle lines, with sweat still wet from being wiped away, slid down his muscular chest and eventually disappeared into the depths of his V-line.

It completely overlapped with my dream, and even the fraudulent version in the dream was more conservative compared to reality.

Is this reasonable? Absolutely not.

Yoona felt her heart, which she had finally managed to calm down, suddenly surge back into her throat.

The lingering, enchanting images from last night's dream miraculously overlapped with the overly perfect body before me, even more absurd than those in my dream.

She hurriedly looked away, not daring to look down any further, her hands unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes.

Lee Chi-hoon also saw her, and his expression was quite natural. He wiped his neck with a towel while casually greeting her.

"morning."

"Good morning..."

Im Yoona was a beat slow to react, and almost bit her tongue when she spoke. She instinctively wanted to maintain her senior's dignity, but her eyes kept glancing down.

"I...I'll go get some water."

Stuttering out this greeting, Lin Yoona didn't even care whether the other person heard her clearly. She quickly walked to the double-door refrigerator on the other side, randomly pulled out a bottle of sparkling water, unscrewed the cap, and took a big gulp.

After drinking cold water, the burning sensation in my body was finally reduced somewhat.

Li Chixun looked down at himself as she fled in a panic.

It's not like I'm not wearing pants. Why such a big reaction?

He casually wiped the water off his chin, glancing at the strangely behaving girl group member with a somewhat nonchalant look.

"Your agent contacted you last night, didn't they?"

A sentence without any beginning or end.

……

"cough--"

Im Yoon-ah almost choked on the water.

She turned around, her beautiful doe eyes looking somewhat bewildered at the man a few steps away.

All the speculations were finally confirmed by the other party himself: those incredibly expensive global luxury brand endorsements were indeed obtained by this man in front of him with ease.

She stood there blankly, not saying a word.

Li Chixun not only didn't feel offended, but also found the woman's completely malfunctioning state quite interesting.

He simply remained silent, resting one hand on the marble countertop, his deep eyes filled with a knowing smile as he stared intently at her.

After being locked in by that aggressive gaze for a while, Lim Yoona finally came back to her senses from the shock.

She awkwardly raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, trying to make her voice sound steady, but her earlobe was already noticeably red when her fingertips brushed against it.

Why do you do so much for me?

She was not related to them, but only got a late-night snack thanks to her best friend. This unexpected windfall made her feel a little uneasy.

Lee Chi-hoon withdrew his gaze, turned around and picked out a few eggs from the storage basket on the island. His previously teasing look softened slightly.

He wasn't used to such solemn occasions. Being too serious could easily turn something that was originally very simple into something like a gift from fate.

"Those brands have always had deep asset partnerships with my dad's company. Choosing a spokesperson is just a matter of saying a few words."

"Since you're Momoko's unnie, consider this a small favor I'm giving you. Or, you can simply consider it hush money for keeping Momoko company at the stadium yesterday."

Lee Ji-hoon shrugged. "If you've taken the benefits, don't go around telling everyone in Seoul. After all, it'll be troublesome for me if word gets out about the family VIP box."

Yoona, holding her water glass, was speechless at those words.

However, his casual tone, tinged with a mischievous grin, instantly dispelled the heavy feelings of gratitude and pressure.

Lee Chi-hoon didn't have any special intentions in doing this; he just did it on a whim.

But he was completely unaware of just how fatally attractive this nonchalant attitude of someone in a position of power, coupled with his deceptive face and personal charm, was to any female star in the world of fame and fortune.

Seoul, thousands of miles away.

The atmosphere in the top-floor conference room of SM Entertainment's headquarters in Cheongdam-dong was nothing like the relaxed atmosphere in Munich.

These profit-driven shareholders and Lee Soo-man were sitting together, their eyes gleaming as they studied the cooperation agreement that Lim Yoon-a had sent back overnight.

the reason is simple.

Lin Yoona's collaborations with several top European luxury brands, which had been stalled at the negotiating table, were all suddenly approved overnight. Not only were they approved, but the terms were also ridiculously generous: the highest level in the Asia-Pacific region, additional invitations to global events, and preferential allocation of international promotional resources from the brands.

This level is beyond what ordinary K-pop female stars should achieve.

Everyone was stunned by this windfall and was intensely discussing how to add additional clauses to the contract to squeeze the remaining value out of this prominent figure.

At the conference table, a director flipped through documents, his eyes brimming with excitement. "If all these collaborations come to fruition, Yoona's future commercial value will be reassessed."

The person next to him immediately chimed in, "The schedule can be rearranged; we can package together movies, GG, and overseas events."

"Yes, there are also group activities, which can also leverage this popularity to further boost the event."

"Shouldn't we renegotiate the revenue sharing part of the contract? The company provided the platform, and now that she has these resources, she should naturally give back more to the company."

After just a few words, the smell of greed was almost overflowing from the meeting room.

Lee Soo-man sat in the main seat, his expression calmer than the others.

He could certainly see that something was wrong. It was impossible for top European luxury brands to suddenly go crazy. There must be a powerful force behind these brands changing their attitudes overnight.

Just as a shareholder was about to propose a more aggressive resource bundling plan, Lee Soo-man's personal cell phone, which was on the table, suddenly vibrated.

There was no note on the screen, only a string of unfamiliar numbers.

The meeting room quieted down a bit. Lee Soo-man looked at the number, his brow furrowing slightly, but finally answered.

The person on the other end of the phone was very polite, but the more polite they were, the more chilling it became.

"Mr. Li, we hope your company will handle Ms. Lim Yoon-a's recent European brand collaborations according to normal procedures."

"Do not exploit others, do not modify contracts at the last minute, and do not create any travel burdens in any way."

"She's a normal artist, not a consumable that can be overdrawn at will."

The other party paused for a moment, then continued, "This is a friendly reminder. I hope your company won't misunderstand it as a negotiation."

After the phone call ended, no one in the conference room dared to speak immediately.

Lee Soo-man put his phone back on the table, his expression turning completely somber. He glanced at the shareholders who had just been beaming with excitement.

"For Yoona's collaboration, we will follow the brand's requirements and not add any extra schedules."

"Don't change the profit sharing, and don't let anyone approach her privately to discuss so-called company interests."

The director, who had been scheming just moments before, paused for a moment, "But..."

"No buts." Lee Soo-man interrupted him directly, his voice not loud, but enough to silence everyone in the conference room.

All the shareholders looked at each other in bewilderment.

We can't afford to mess with them.

This was the only thought that popped into everyone's mind after they understood the hidden warning behind it, and they were all secretly glad that the bloodsucking plans hadn't been put into action yet.

……

Let's turn our attention back to Munich.

Three poles in the sun.

The door to the master bedroom on the second floor was finally pushed open.

Wearing a loose white nightgown, Choi Sulli yawned as she sauntered out of the master bedroom, rubbing her eyes as she walked down the stairs.

As soon as I turned the corner of the living room, I saw Lim Yoon-a, who had already changed her clothes and was leaning against the sofa, looking at her phone and drinking coffee.

After a morning of mental preparation, she finally managed to get back to a relatively normal state.

The girl immediately perked up and pounced on her like a little animal, completely ignoring the cup that Yoona was still holding. She buried her head directly in Yoona's chest and even deliberately rubbed against her twice.

"Daebak, unnie is so soft and smells so good~"

"ah!"

Yoona almost spilled her coffee.

She quickly raised her cup high, and with her other hand, she unceremoniously poked Choi Sulli's forehead, pushing this impolite little pervert away.

"You brat, I wonder what kind of dirty nonsense is going on in your head all day long."

Sulli tilted her head back after being poked, still grinning. "No, I was just expressing my affection for you, unnie."

Yoona rolled her eyes and squinted at her. "I remember my cute and innocent little peach wasn't like this at all. Did your man corrupt you? Listen to me, don't learn these hooligan behaviors." She glanced at the kitchen intentionally or unintentionally.

Instead of feeling ashamed, Choi Sulli waved her hand.

"No, unnie, hehe~"

With that, she abandoned Unnie without any principles, turned around and ran to the kitchen, where she hugged the busy man from behind.

Her little face pressed against that firm back groove.

Good morning, oppa.

She rubbed her face against the man's back, squinted her eyes contentedly, and muttered softly, "Ah, that feels so good!"

Lim Yoona stood not far away, looking at the man behind the stage, who was wearing a loose knit sweater and patiently frying eggs in a frying pan, with a very complicated expression.

The shock of receiving overseas invitations from top brands on my phone last night is still fresh in my mind.

At this moment, this powerful Buddha, who wielded immense authority, casually turned and asked her a question.

How well-done do you want your fried egg?

This huge shift in identity left Yoona feeling somewhat flattered.

She immediately stood up straight, waved her hands repeatedly, and even instinctively added a polite phrase, "Whatever, it's fine. I'm not picky. Thank you."

As soon as she said it, she wanted to facepalm.

Why is it like this again? She had clearly decided last night to treat him as a normal male friend. It's just that this man's background is too powerful.

His tense and reserved demeanor immediately drew merciless criticism and disdain from Choi Sulli, who was still rubbing her eyes: "Unnie, you're pretending to be polite again. I've already said we're all family, really."

"If you want a runny egg, just say runny; if you want it well-done, just say well-done. Oppa won't throw you out over a fried egg."

Im Yoona felt her ears burn when she was criticized by her.

"Oh, Choi Jin-ri."

That's just how it is.

Choi Sulli continued muttering, while tightening her grip on Lee Ji-hoon's arm, "And oppa's runny omelets are the best."

Lee Chi-hoon looked down at the two hands wrapped around his waist.

"If you keep holding me like that, the eggs in my pot are going to burn."

"Even if it's burnt, I'll still eat it."

"You're being stubborn. Who was it that complained about the beef being cooked for ten seconds too long last night?"

That's because you could have done better.

"Okay, you're pretty strict."

Lim Yoona sat down at the dining table and couldn't help but smile as she listened to the two bickering back and forth.

Before long, three breakfasts were served.

Fried eggs, toast, avocado, smoked salmon, and a small pot of hot Korean soup.

Lee Chi-hoon pushed the plates in front of the two men respectively.

Yoona looked down at her runny fried egg and suddenly didn't know what to say.

She clearly said anything was fine, but he still made the lava cake. He probably heard Choi Sulli say it was the best, so he made one for her too.

These details aren't ambiguous, but they're very relaxing.

Yoona picked up her knife and fork and whispered, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Lee Chi-hoon sat down opposite her and handed a glass of warm water to Choi Sulli. "Eat slowly, don't choke again."

Choi Sulli had already taken a bite of toast and made two muffled humming sounds.

Looking at her carefree demeanor, Lee Ji-hoon's smile faded slightly, but his tone remained casual. He simply pulled out a high stool, sat down, picked up a piece of toast, took a bite, and turned his gaze to Choi Sulli, who was still eating a fried egg next to him.

He took a sip of coffee and said, "Peach, once you're back in Korea, do whatever you want. Don't worry about so much."

"Come find me if the sky falls. In South Korea, no one dares to force you to do anything now."

Sulli blinked, her previously relaxed expression now showing a hint of reluctance. "Oppa..."

"Don't make that face." Li Chixun glanced at her. "It's not like I'm sending you to jail."

"But I won't be able to see you after I go back."

"Are video calls just for show?"

"That's different." Choi Sulli poked at the fried egg on her plate, her voice lowered. "I can't hug or kiss him."

Yoona paused, holding her fork, when she suddenly felt a bit of dryness in her mouth from the toast.

Should she avoid it? But standing up now seems too deliberate.

Lee Ji-hoon didn't let the atmosphere get too emotional. He reached out and smoothed Peach's messy hair. "There'll be a short break after the season ends. I'll come back to Seoul to be with you then."

After he finished speaking, he turned his head and glanced at Lim Yoon-ah across from him.

"Yoona-ssi, if you encounter any trouble that even you can't handle when you get back, I hope you can lend a hand to my Peach."

Yoona nodded, this time answering very seriously. "Don't worry, I'll take care of her."

Sulli immediately went over and hugged Yoona's arm.

"Our Yoona unnie is the best."

Stop flattering me.

"Is it true?"

"When you're being sincere, it can also sound like you're lying."

"Unnie!"

The two girls were making a ruckus.

As Lee Chi-hoon looked at them, a thought of complaining involuntarily popped into his mind. The image of Im Yoon-ah he had seen on screen in his previous life always seemed to be that of a beautiful, lively, and highly capable national icon.

But now that you actually get to know this little deer, it gets flustered and shy, which is nice because it's so down-to-earth.

Joyful and leisurely days always seem extremely short.

Due to scheduling conflicts and commitments, the countdown to Sulli's return to Korea has been completed, and Yoona is also scheduled to take the same flight back to Seoul as her.

Lee Ji-hoon himself needs to stay in Munich to continue his journey on the European football pitch.

However, it wasn't too long.

The season is long, but during the long break after the next international match day, he will have plenty of time to go to Seoul and spend some quality time with this peach.

……

3 PM, Munich International Airport.

After quickly packing their luggage, the three of them took a car to Munich International Airport.

Sulli spoke very casually about parting ways. But when she actually reached the entrance to the first-class cabin, she couldn't hold back her emotions.

The announcements in the waiting hall are playing flight information in three languages ​​on a loop.

The farewell scene didn't have any of the sentimental scenes of life and death.

Lee Ji-hoon escorted the two women to the exclusive security checkpoint for first class. Choi Sulli dragged her feet, her eyes already red and swollen, and she was sniffling.

She hugged Li Chixun tightly around the waist, buried her face in the lapel of his coat, and refused to let go.

Li Chixun sighed helplessly, covered her soft, long hair with his large hand, and gently rubbed her reluctant little face.

He casually pulled out a pure black custom-made privilege card from the inside pocket of her coat and slipped it into her coat pocket.

Choi Sulli paused for a moment, then reached out to touch him.

Lee Ji-hoon held her hand down and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "When you get back to Seoul and encounter any idiots, just slap them in the face with this thing."

Peach sniffed, the tears in her eyes turning into a carefree smile. She nodded her little head repeatedly, insisting on hooking her little finger with Li Chixun's, like a kindergarten child making a pinky promise.

Yoona stood to the side, dragging her suitcase, watching the two of them tug at each other intimately, completely disregarding the occasion. She silently raised her hand and pulled down her sunglasses.

"We're about to take off. If you carry it off any longer, the plane won't wait for us," she reminded him at the right moment.

Sulli reluctantly let go of Lee Ji-hoon's hand, then made a pinky promise. "Oppa, you have to go back to Seoul after the season ends, don't forget."

"I won't forget it, don't worry."

"They have to message me every day."

"You've got quite a few demands, girl."

"I'm your girlfriend."

"Okay, okay, my girlfriend is the most important."

Sulli finally smiled, waved vigorously, and, holding Yoona's arm, walked into the security checkpoint, turning back every few steps.

Yoona followed beside her, and as they were about to turn the corner of the boarding gate, she turned her back to the tall, mixed-race man and raised her hand slightly but sincerely to wave.

Through her brown-tinted glasses, her eyes appeared somewhat deep.

Recalling the terrifying power I had witnessed in this man over the past two days.

She even felt a rare pang of sympathy for the high-ranking officials and investors in the South Korean entertainment industry who were about to face this storm but were completely unaware of it.