Peninsula: I, who was originally a camera, suddenly became an internet sensation.

Chapter 50 I believe in Oppa's character

In between recording songs for Red Velvet, there was another very important thing that Lee Won needed to do.

8 month 31 day.

This day is not only the day that twelve girls joined IZ*ONE and officially formed the group, but also Ahn Yu-jin's birthday.

He had made preparations well in advance to celebrate Ahn Yoo-jin's birthday.

However, they have a lot to do today.

The live broadcast of the group's formation night started in the evening, and they had to arrive at the venue early to prepare, which took five or six hours in total.

So, I guess I'll have to wait until 1 or 2 a.m. to celebrate my birthday.

The gift I bought so long ago is finally coming in handy—although I haven't given Son Seung-wan the squirrel yet.

Li Yuan had already discussed it with the production team in advance, and he could "join in" when they celebrated Ahn Yoo-jin's birthday.

So, when I think about it this way, my trip back to South Korea is kind of like the drama "The Return of the Dragon King after Three Years".

Every company has acquaintances; so many company directors and staff know me, and I'm always greeted with respect and deference wherever I go.

But thinking about it, it's normal.

Isn't it normal for a genius producer like myself, a hit song generator, to be pampered by these companies?

After all, which family doesn't have a girl group? Who doesn't want to have a few hit singles? It would be abnormal if they ignored us or even treated us maliciously.

Ultimately, Li Yuan was just a producer, not the president of a rival company.

Moreover, his background is also extraordinary.

Li Yuan also watched the live broadcast of the group's formation night, which was exactly the same as in his previous life.

Li Yuan had spoken to several companies about the ranking issue in private, but it was to no avail.

This kind of thing can't be decided by him or one or two companies. The deal involved is the result of a joint game between multiple companies, and even the companies of the trainees who were eliminated benefited.

The only ones who are truly pitiful are those girls who should have been chosen but were notified that they were rejected.

Honestly, if it weren't for all the messy things that followed, someone might not have brought this up again, or it might not have had that kind of impact.

Although Lee Won couldn't stop the issue of seated tickets, he could at least try to avoid the shocking incident that followed in South Korea.

After all, even the person in question has been exposed.

After finishing class, Li Yuan went straight to the venue where they were live streaming, carrying the gift box.

It's quite a coincidence that the group's formation night and Ahn Yu-jin's birthday fell on the same day, and it happened to be Friday night. After watching the live broadcast, I can rest tomorrow, Saturday.

Of course, this only applies to those born in the Year of the Ox or Year of the Horse who have two weekends off. For those born in the Year of the Ox or Year of the Horse who don't have two weekends off, it's a problem. They have to stay up all night to watch the live stream, but they still have to get up early to go to work the next day.

In addition to the gifts, Li Yuan also prepared a 14-inch three-tiered chocolate ice cream cake.

The reason for preparing such a large portion is twofold: firstly, because there are many people, and secondly, because one of them is a "cake killer".

You agree, right, Jiang Guangbei?

Of course, no one calls him that yet; only Li Yuan knows it.

Jiang Huiyuan had asked Li Yuan why he called her that, but Li Yuan didn't explain.

During the break while waiting for the live stream to end, Li Yuan chatted with Huang Lizhi in the lounge.

Huang Lizhi originally planned to come over tonight, but something came up at home and he had to come over first thing tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, in Jeonju, at Hwang Ye-ji's home.

Huang Lizhi sighed as he held his phone, thinking about what had happened a few hours earlier.

As soon as school was over, she ran home like the wind.

The streets of Jeonju were much quieter than those of Seoul, and in the evening, the air was filled with the aroma of stew wafting from someone's kitchen.

Huang Lizhi's house is at the end of a small alley. It is an old-fashioned two-story building with some peeling white paint on the exterior walls. A few wilted, unidentified flowers grow in the corner.

As I pushed open the door, a faint aroma of food wafted through the living room.

A family photo of the four of them hangs on the wall. It was taken several years ago. Huang Lizhi was still a primary school student in the photo, and his smile was much more innocent than it is now.

Their family was originally considered wealthy; both parents worked hard, and they lived a fairly comfortable life.

However, a serious illness when she was young caused the family to spend all their savings. My sensible older sister started helping the family at a very young age and never asked the family for pocket money.

At that time, Huang Lizhi only knew that she had fallen ill, and then the whole family became "busy". She was often the only one at home playing or eating.

The TV is on from morning till night, with the volume blasting, as if that would make the house feel less lonely.

As time went by, she gradually came to understand all of this and developed a self-reliant character.

Later, she met Li Yuan and started dating him, and they've been together ever since.

"Mom, I'm home." Huang Lizhi changed his shoes in the entryway, threw his schoolbag on the sofa, and prepared to run to his small bedroom.

"Yezhi," Huang Yezhi's mother called out as she poked her head out of the kitchen.

"Yes." Huang Lizhi obediently turned around and sat down on the sofa next to his mother.

"Are we going to Seoul today?" Hwang Ye-ji's mother's voice sounded even gentler than usual.

"Yes!" Huang Lizhi nodded excitedly.

She longed to fly to Seoul immediately, to be by that person's side, even if it was just to sit on the same sofa and do her own thing.

"But I heard that Li Yuanxi has already gone back to live there, right?" Huang Lizhi's mother's gaze fell on her daughter's face. "Isn't it inappropriate for you to still be living there?"

She's heard the term "Oppa" from Hwang Ye-ji far too often this week.

To be honest, it even made her a little "jealous".

"What's wrong?" Huang Lizhi didn't react for a moment, blinked, and looked blank.

"It's not very convenient, after all. How about renting a small apartment in Seoul?"

"That's such a waste of money..." For some reason, Hwang Yee-ji subconsciously retorted.

"I think the company has dormitories for trainees, right?" Huang Lizhi's mother said.

Although there aren't many dorm rooms available and applications are required, Huang Lizhi should be able to get one easily given his performance.

"It's not very convenient, is it?" Huang Lizhi said somewhat awkwardly, his gaze shifting to the window.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the glass window, casting a faint orange hue on the white curtains.

Huang Lizhi's mother looked quietly at her daughter's face, then sighed softly.

"Lizhi..." she paused, "What exactly are your feelings for that boy, Li Yuan?"

Huang Lizhi was stunned.

The television in the living room was still on, the announcer's voice booming, which was getting a little annoying to her.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again.

"I like him," she said.

She seemed to understand what her mother meant earlier.

Huang Lizhi's mother's eyes flickered slightly, and her lips moved, but she didn't have time to say anything.

Huang Lizhi continued, "But not now."

She looked up into her mother's eyes, and there was no hesitation or evasion in those fox-like eyes, only a firmness that seemed out of place for her age.

"Our group is about to debut. I'll soon be able to support my family. I can't let my personal matters hold back so many people's hard work."

"Oppa...wouldn't want me to be like this."

Hearing her daughter's words, Huang Lizhi's mother reached out and gently put her arm around Huang Lizhi's shoulder.

"That's not what I'm worried about," her voice came down close to his head. "As long as you're happy, it's not a problem even if we support you indefinitely. I'm afraid..."

"I'm afraid that his feelings for you are just... a passing fancy."

She knew her daughter all too well. Huang Lizhi seemed strong and independent, able to handle everything on her own, but deep down she was a very meticulous person. Once she made up her mind, nothing could sway her.

What she feared was that Li Yuan was just playing around with her and would leave once the novelty wore off. What would happen to her daughter then?

"No, it won't happen." Hwang Ye-ji peeked out from her mother's arms. "Mom, I believe in Oppa's character."

……

"Oppa wouldn't do that." Lying in bed, looking at the moonlight outside, Hwang Ye-ji murmured.