Peninsula: Please, I only want to talk about ordinary people.

Chapter 29 The Jiang Family Has a Younger Sister

Jiang Yongtai parked the car, picked up the box of steamed buns he had saved for himself from the passenger seat, and opened the car door to go upstairs when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

"Thank you for the gift, Yongtai-san."

He looked at the text message sent by Mina and leaned against the car door to type.

"We're friends, Nan-chan."

After sending the message, he put his phone in his pocket and walked into the apartment building.

He genuinely considered Mina a friend, but before that, Mina was actually his favorite member of Twice.

From personality to temperament, every aspect of her perfectly falls within his aesthetic comfort zone, a fact that even Sana Minatozaki was unaware of.

When he was dating Sana Minatozaki, he never mentioned that he liked Mina Mina. It wasn't that he was deliberately hiding it; he just didn't want to make himself uncomfortable.

Back then, Sana Minatozaki would occasionally drag him to watch Twice's performances and ask him who he thought was the prettiest. He would always say, "You're pretty."

Sana Minatozaki was obviously not satisfied with the answer. She pouted and pointed at the members on the screen one by one, insisting that he rank them. He always brushed her off with other topics.

At that time, Mina was just an artist he admired from behind a screen, and a "tool" who discovered his secret.

Later, because they both liked playing games, they naturally became gaming partners and developed a tacit understanding in the game that was no less than that between Minatozaki Sana.

After breaking up with Sana Minatozaki, Mina blocked him, but when she learned that she had returned to Japan to recuperate from anxiety, she still took the initiative to invite him to play the game.

Separated by the game, they are not really related; they are just two ordinary people who like the same game, and that's good enough for her and Jiang Yongtai.

Jiang Yongtai needs a friend like this, someone who doesn't bring anything unnecessary, and he believes that Mina is the same.

When he got home, his phone vibrated again in his pocket. He took it out and glanced at it.

"Yes, but next time you're looking for me, Mr. Yongtai, it's better to let me know in advance. I don't like surprise calls."

It was followed by a penguin emoji looking dizzy and seeing stars.

Jiang Yongtai smiled and shook his head without replying, then reached out and pressed the combination lock.

The door lock clicked open, and he opened the door to find the room light on.

He frowned, remembering that he had turned off all the lights before leaving the house.

The sound of a television came from the living room; Luffy and Kid were bickering, interspersed with a woman's familiar laughter.

Jiang Yongtai paused for a moment, then looked down at the entryway, where a pair of women's sneakers lay crookedly next to the shoe cabinet.

He sighed, knowing who had barged in without his permission.

She bent down to change into slippers, then picked up the women's sneakers on the floor and her own, placing them side by side in the shoe cabinet.

"Oppa, why are you only coming back now? I'm starving!"

A head popped out from the sofa. Jiang Huiyuan was leaning on the armrest, her hair tied up in a messy bun, wearing a loose white short-sleeved shirt and sweatpants.

Jiang Yongtai recognized these as his clothes. His blanket was covering her legs, and two open bags of snacks were scattered on the coffee table. She had clearly made herself at home.

"Huiyuan, did I tell you to tell me before you came?"

Jiang Huiyuan tilted her head as if thinking, and rolled her eyes upwards.

"Really? I don't remember."

After saying that, he turned his head back, laughed at the TV, and Luffy just happened to knock Kid away.

Jiang Yongtai knew she was faking it. Last year, when she snatched the apartment key from him, she said, "If Oppa goes on a business trip, I'll clean for you."

As a result, the refrigerator was cleaned very few times, but the drinks and snacks in it kept disappearing.

He walked over, placed the box of Jeju Island steamed buns on the coffee table, sat down around the sofa, glanced at One Piece on the TV screen, and then looked at her.

"Aren't you usually very busy? What brings you here?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huiyuan shifted her gaze from the television to him, put down the potato chips, sat up straight, patted her knees twice, and then put her hands on her hips.

"Oppa, why didn't you tell me you left KBS!"

"If I hadn't asked Chengyu oppa, I wouldn't have known about this. Do you even still care about me as your little sister?!"

She had everything planned out when she went to KBS to record "Immortal Songs" with the members of IZ*ONE a few days ago.

This is the first time she has formally introduced her brother to the members. Apart from Choi Ye-na, who had already met Kang Young-tae, everyone else should know that she has a close male friend who is a PD at KBS, so she can give Kang Young-tae a surprise.

She wandered around the KBS building several times but couldn't find him. She called Kang Young-tae but no one answered, so she had to call Kim Sung-woo.

Under her coercion and enticement—in exchange for Young-ja's autographed photo—Kim Sung-woo finally stammered out that Kang Young-tae had resigned from KBS and gone to tvN.

"Why should I tell you? Who told me, 'Yongtai-xi, I'm about to debut, and to prevent Yongtai-xi from using my name to brag to others, you're not allowed to tell anyone I'm your sister'?"

Jiang Yongtai glanced at her indifferently, reached out and opened the box on the coffee table, revealing red bean buns inside.

Jiang Huiyuan swallowed hard when he saw the food, ignoring the old grudges Jiang Yongtai had brought up, and reached out to grab it, only to have his hand slapped away by Jiang Yongtai.

"Have you washed your hands?"

Jiang Huiyuan winced in pain and withdrew her hand, glaring at him.

"Ugh! I'm going to tell Mom! Not only did you not tell me anything, but you also won't let me eat!"

"Huh? Oh? Jiang Huiyuan, you said 'oh'?"

Jiang Yongtai raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a half-smile.

Seeing his expression, Jiang Huiyuan instantly cleared her mind and immediately switched to a coquettish tone, snuggling closer to him in a fawning manner.

"Oppa~ You misheard me, I didn't say anything, I'm going to wash my hands!"

After saying that, she stood up and ran into the kitchen to wash her hands.

Jiang Yongtai watched her retreating figure and sighed. Who would have thought that Jiang Huiyuan, who appeared aloof to her fans, would be like this in private?

Despite her family's objections, she ran away from her hometown of Liangshan to Seoul to become a trainee at the age of fifteen.

Fortunately, Kang Young-tae was also studying at a university in Seoul at the time and was able to take care of her. Her parents finally relented after her repeated pleas and transferred her to Hanlim Arts High School.

In 18, at the age of 19, she voluntarily signed up for "PRODUCE 48". However, she had only practiced for nine months and was practically a blank slate. As expected, she only received an F in the first evaluation.

Later, he mustered up the courage to challenge himself with rap and surprisingly became a "pure rapper" who made a comeback and ultimately won a debut spot in IZ*ONE with the eighth place.

Jiang Huiyuan ran back with water still dripping from her hands, went up to Jiang Yongtai, and smiled at him.

"Oppa, can we eat now?"

Jiang Yongtai grabbed her hand and carefully dried it with a tissue.

"You're such a grown-up, how come you're still so impulsive? I always see you taking good care of the girls in IZ*ONE's variety shows, don't you?"

Jiang Huiyuan felt a little embarrassed watching him wipe her hands just like he did when they were little, but she nodded vigorously in agreement when she heard what he said.

"Yes, I did take good care of them. I only act like that in front of Oppa!"

"Alright, eat up."

Jiang Yongtai glanced at her and released his grip.

Jiang Huiyuan immediately grabbed a steamed bun and stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out roundly. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she mumbled an indistinct exclamation:

"Delicious! Oppa, is this from that famous steamed bun place in Jeju Island?"

"Kim Sung-woo told you?"

She nodded as she chewed.

"Sungwoo oppa told me you went to Jeju Island to film, otherwise I would have come to see you a couple of days ago."

Jiang Yongtai shook his head. "Jin Chengyu tells you everything."

"Sungwoo oppa is a fan of IZ*ONE, but his favorite is Youngja, not me!"

She wrinkled her nose.

Jiang Yongtai chuckled, "You know him too well. He knows what you're like. How could he possibly like you?"

Jiang Huiyuan rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to argue, and focused all her attention back on the steamed bun in her hand.

Seeing how she was eating, Jiang Yongtai knew she was really hungry, so he stood up, went to the kitchen, grabbed a drink, and placed it in front of her.

"Eat slowly. Are you going back to your dorm later? I'll take you."

Jiang Huiyuan quickly shook her head, swallowed the food in her mouth, and then spoke.

"I'm not going back. I've already told my manager that I'll stay at Oppa's house tonight and go back tomorrow."

Jiang Yongtai nodded. "Okay, then you can sleep in my room."

Jiang Huiyuan looked up at him and asked in confusion.

"I'll sleep in Oppa's room, but where will Oppa sleep? Isn't there an empty room? I can sleep there."

She was speaking when her brows suddenly furrowed and her voice became lower.

"Oppa, you didn't... there's still something left untidyed in that room, did you?"

Jiang Yongtai's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't reply.

"Hey! Oppa! You're still thinking about that woman?!"

Jiang Huiyuan understood everything when she saw his reaction.

When Jiang Yongtai was dating Minatozaki Sana, she met that senior a few times and always felt that he was not a good match for her oppa from head to toe!

Later, when she learned that it was Jiang Yongtai who initiated the breakup, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that her oppa had finally seen through that woman's true colors and dumped Minatozaki Sana.

But I never expected Jiang Yongtai to be so sentimental; he still kept all of Minatozaki Sana's things!

"No, don't worry about adult matters. I'll go get you a new blanket."

Jiang Yongtai replied indifferently and turned to walk towards his room.

"Oppa, I saw it when I went to your room to shower. That box in the corner was full of her things. You still like her!"

Jiang Yongtai paused, turned around, and his face remained expressionless.

"Did you touch my things?"

"N-no... I just accidentally kicked it!"

Jiang Huiyuan shrank back a little because of his gaze, but still finished speaking with her neck stiff.

Jiang Yongtai simply nodded and responded.

"Well, since you don't want to sleep in the bed, then you can sleep on the sofa. I'll go get you a blanket."

"Ah—Oppa! No!"

Jiang Huiyuan let out a wail, but Jiang Yongtai had already walked into the bedroom without looking back.

She angrily punched the sofa and sank into the cushions in a mournful manner.

What the hell? You two-faced oppa! You were the one who broke up with me, and two years later you still haven't sorted out your feelings!

I really don't know what's so good about that woman...

Jiang Huiyuan turned and looked around the living room. Jiang Yongtai's apartment was as tidy as ever, which was quite good for a single man, except...

She clicked her tongue.

She just doesn't have much of a life of her own. Oppa can't forget Minatozaki Sana, it must be because he hasn't been in a relationship for too long. He should start a new one!

But given his personality, getting him to take the initiative to date is harder than getting Choi Ye-na to go to a haunted house!

Unless...I introduce him to someone myself!

Her eyes sparkled with the unique light of a four-dimensional girl.

Good idea, but who should we introduce? Zhang Yuanying? No, Yingzi isn't an adult yet!

Sakura unnie? No way, Japanese people are automatically excluded!

Choi Ye-na...

Thinking of her friend who always pouts and acts cute, she twitched her lips.

This friend is even less likely!

Although when she was at Hanlim Arts High School, Kang Young-tae once came to pick her up from school to go out, and the first time Choi Ye-na saw him, she tugged at her sleeve, her eyes shining, and said, "Hye-won, your oppa is my ideal type!"

But the thought of having to call Choi Ye-na "sister-in-law" one day made Kang Hye-won shudder, causing a strong sense of physical aversion.

Who else is there...?

Suddenly, a figure with a great figure appeared in her mind, and a smile slowly appeared on her lips.

That unnie seems pretty good, she has a great figure and is very interesting. Oppa will probably like her, so it's the one, Eunbi unnie!

Jiang Huiyuan was secretly pleased with her choice of a sister-in-law, completely unaware that Jiang Yongtai was already standing by the sofa, looking down at her.

"What are you thinking about? Why are you grinning like an idiot?"

A blanket was thrown down on his head, and Jiang Huiyuan let out a muffled groan as she was pressed down. She hurriedly pulled the blanket off her face and looked up at him with a wronged expression.

"Oppa~ How can you bear to let your cutest little sister sleep on the sofa~"

Jiang Yongtai glanced at her. "I have a younger brother, so losing a younger sister won't make a difference."

"What makes Junhao better than me?"

"He's more sensible than you; he won't rummage through other people's things."

"Oppa isn't just anyone!"

"He won't just come over without my permission."

"That's because he doesn't have Oppa's key. If he did, he'd come and bother you every week!"

"Yes, you're right."

Jiang Yongtai opened his palm to her, "Give me back the key I gave you."

"No!"

Jiang Huiyuan clutched her pocket and shrank into the blanket, leaving only her wary eyes staring at him.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Yongtai didn't really intend to take the key back, and turned around to sit back on the other side of the sofa.

"Alright, go to sleep. Aren't we supposed to be back in the dorm first thing tomorrow morning?"

Jiang Huiyuan peeked out from under the covers. Seeing that his expression didn't seem to indicate he wanted to continue investigating the rummaging through things, she became bolder again.

"Oppa, what's your ideal type?"

Jiang Yongtai picked up his water glass, took a sip, glanced at her indifferently, and didn't reply.

Undeterred, Jiang Huiyuan changed her position, lying face down on the sofa with her hands supporting her chin.

"For example, someone with a good figure? An outgoing personality? Someone who can cook? Or someone with a good sense of humor?"

"What are you planning to do now?"

"I didn't do anything, just wanted to check on Oppa~"

She blinked and smiled innocently.

Jiang Yongtai knew she was definitely plotting something, but he didn't intend to ask further, since he wouldn't get the truth out of her anyway.

He put down his water glass and said to her, "Go to sleep early."

"No, please..."

Jiang Huiyuan rubbed her stomach, her lips pursed, "I'm still so hungry, I only ate two steamed buns..."

Jiang Yongtai sighed upon hearing this, "Aren't you an idol? Eating so much at night will make your face swollen the next day."

Jiang Huiyuan blinked twice, her eyes quickly reddening, and she sniffed.

"Waaah, I'm going to call my mom and tell her that Oppa won't let me eat and that I'm going to sleep hungry!"

My mom promised my oppa she'd take good care of me, but now she won't even feed me!

Jiang Yongtai knew perfectly well that she was faking it, but he was still at his wit's end.

"Stop shouting, I'll give you some. Your acting is so good, you can cry on cue. You should become an actor in the future."

Jiang Huiyuan's tears stopped instantly, and her eyes lit up.

"Then I'll have strawberry cake and beef intestines!"

"No, you can only choose stir-fried rice cakes and Chinese food."

Why these two?

"Because I haven't eaten any, I only want to eat these two kinds right now."

Jiang Yongtai looked down and opened the food delivery app.

Seeing this, Jiang Huiyuan had no choice but to give up. She couldn't guarantee that if she continued to make a fuss, she wouldn't annoy Jiang Yongtai. So she simply made her a bowl of Shin Ramyun and that was the end of it.

She wrapped the blanket around herself more tightly, turned over to face the back of the sofa, took out her phone, and opened Kwon Eunbi's Kakao account from under the covers.

"Eunbi unnie, are you there?"

"What's wrong, Hye-won? Didn't you go to your oppa's house?"

"Yes, that's not important. Are you free after your schedule ends next week, unnie?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just wanted to thank you for taking care of me, so I'm planning to treat you to a meal."

"Oh? No need, it's what I should do. Please thank your oppa for my kindness."

"Okay, it's settled then. After the trip, I'll go see my oppa with my unnie~"

"?! Huiyuan, what are you talking about? I didn't agree!"

"Okay, I gotta get some rest too, unnie. I'm going to sleep now, bye~"

"..."

Kwon Eunbi sent a string of ellipses.

Jiang Huiyuan smirked smugly, shoved her phone under the cushion, stuck her feet out from under the covers, and placed them on Jiang Yongtai's lap, poking his thigh with her toes through his pants.

"Oppa, my feet are so tired, can you massage them for me?"

Jiang Yongtai made a disgusted expression and pushed her foot aside with his finger.

"Okay, then I'll order you another pig's trotter."

Jiang Huiyuan hates pig's trotters the most, so she kicked one of them.

"Ugh! I won't eat it!"

Jiang Yongtai smiled but didn't actually order anything.