Peninsula's Life Begins in 2016

Chapter 35 The 1.58-meter-tall little guy

"fine."

Jiang reached out and tucked a few strands of hair stuck together by sweat behind her ear, then straightened her ponytail, which had fallen to one side. "Practicing this late on the first day, what's wrong with your knees?"

Kim Minjung glanced down at his left leg, then waved it off nonchalantly: "It's nothing, it's nothing. I just lost my balance while practicing the spin and bumped into something. The skin isn't even broken!"

"Be more careful next time." Jiang Yan didn't intend to lecture her. A girl this age already has self-esteem, especially with Liu Zhimin standing there.

Kim Minjung chuckled and turned to Yoo Jimin: "Unnie, how are you getting back?"

"I'm taking the subway; there's still one last train at this time." Yoo Jimin took out her transit card from her bag, waved it, and waved to the two of them. "See you tomorrow, Minjung. Goodbye, Kang Yeon oppa."

"Wait a minute." Jiang Yan called out to her, "It's so late, it's not safe for you to go to the subway station alone. Min Zheng and I will take you to the subway station."

Liu Zhimin quickly waved her hand: "No need, no need, the subway station is only a few minutes away, I can walk by myself."

"Let's go, it's on our way." Jiang Yan said with a smile, then turned and walked towards the door first.

Seeing this, Liu Zhimin first thanked him, and then reached out to take Jin Minzheng's arm.

Kim Minjung paused for a moment, then obediently followed.

As soon as he stepped out of the revolving door, Kim Minjung was hit by a gust of cold wind and shivered, instinctively hunching his shoulders.

Jiang Yan glanced at her, then took off his denim jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Kim Minjung visibly stiffened, his eyes darting to the side before he quickly waved his hand, saying, "Oppa, you put it on yourself, I'm not cold!"

"Clothing".

Kim Minjung pouted and obediently put his arm into his sleeve.

The clothes were too big, the sleeves were so long they covered her entire hand. She grabbed the overly long cuffs and shook them, only her fingertips peeking out, and a secret smile crept onto her lips.

Jiang Yan walked on the outside, while the two girls walked on the inside. The streetlights of Apgujeong cast their shadows, making them appear to grow longer and shorter.

Upon arriving at the subway station, Jiang Yan watched Liu Zhimin walk towards the stairs and reminded her again, "Message Minzheng when you get home." He turned around only after the other person disappeared from sight.

Kim Minjung stood behind him, wrapped in his oversized denim jacket, the sleeves so long you couldn't see his fingers, and tapped the ground with the tips of his shoes.

She was all smiles in front of Liu Zhimin just now, but now that Liu Zhimin is gone, the little bit of spirit she had been putting on has vanished. Her left leg unconsciously bent slightly, and her weight was all on her right leg.

Jiang Yan's gaze lingered on her knees for a second, then he raised his hand and hailed a passing taxi.

"Oppa, aren't we supposed to take the subway?" Kim Minjung was taken aback.

"I'll take a taxi today." Jiang Yan opened the back door and stepped aside to make room. "With your legs like this, why squeeze onto the subway? Get in."

Kim Minjung opened her mouth as if to say no, but Kang Yeon had already grabbed her by the collar with one hand and was using the other hand to protect her from behind, leaving no room for negotiation.

She had no choice but to obediently climb into the back seat. As soon as she settled in, she heard Jiang Yan give the driver the address and then walk around to the other side of the car.

The taxi had the heater on, and Cheng Shijing's old songs were playing on the radio. The driver was an elderly man with gray hair. He glanced at the two young people in the back seat through the rearview mirror and silently turned the heater up a notch.

Kim Minjung leaned back in his seat, finally freeing his left leg from strain, and the dull pain in his knee lessened considerably.

She stole a glance at Jiang Yan beside her. He was fastening his seatbelt, his profile illuminated by the neon lights flashing past the window, making it impossible to discern his expression.

But Kim Minjung knew that he must have figured it out.

She had tried her best to act as if nothing was wrong while walking, and even Liu Zhimin hadn't noticed, but she still couldn't hide it from him.

The car turned out of Apgujeong and drove west along the main road by the Han River.

The Ferris wheel on the opposite bank of the river rotates slowly, its lights reflected on the river surface, breaking into a flowing golden expanse.

Kim Minjung pressed his face against the car window, looked for a moment, and then suddenly turned his head away.

"Oppa".

"Um?"

"Are you preoccupied today?"

Jiang Yan was scrolling through work messages on his phone when he heard this, and his fingertips paused slightly.

He turned his head, meeting the little girl's bright eyes, paused for a moment, then locked his phone screen. "Why did you ask that?"

"Because you've been unusually quiet today." Kim Minjung counted on his fingers. "Normally, you should have asked me what I practiced, what I ate, and whether I was bullied by any seniors, but you didn't ask anything. It's like you're thinking about something else."

She paused, tilting her head to look at him, a hint of uncertainty in her voice: "Did I practice too late and make you worry? Or...?"

"You're such a little devil." Jiang reached out and ruffled her hair, effectively silencing her.

"I'm not a brat!" Kim Minjung protested, covering his hair and puffing out his cheeks. "I'm fifteen! I'll be an adult in three more years!"

"Yes, yes, yes, a fifteen-year-old adult." Jiang Yan withdrew his hand and leaned back in his chair.

The car went over a speed bump, and the car bumped slightly. He saw Kim Minjung subconsciously frown and pull his left leg inward again.

He looked away, his tone softening slightly: "Something did happen today, but it's nothing bad."

"What is it?"

"I met someone I hadn't seen in a long time."

Kim Minjung blinked, keenly noticing something different in his tone. She thought for a moment, then didn't press him to tell her who it was, simply saying softly, "Oh, that's good."

Jiang Yan turned to look at her, but the girl had already turned her face back. He looked at the top of Jin Minzheng's head.

The bright, pale yellow mist still floated there, clean and pure, dotted with tiny golden specks.

That's the color a fifteen-year-old should have, the color of a child who has been well protected and hasn't yet been hurt by the world.

He hoped that this light would never change.

"Oppa, what are you looking at?" Kim Minjung suddenly turned around.

"It's nothing." Jiang Yan looked away, swallowing back the emotions that were rising in his throat. "I was just thinking about heating up some milk for you when we get home."

"I'm not a child anymore, I don't need to drink milk every day."

"Who said that? You're still growing."

"I'm already 1.58 meters tall!"

"Oh, he's still a little dwarf."

"Dear! How could you say that, Oppa!"

The two bickered and unknowingly arrived at the apartment building.

Jiang Yan paid the fare and got out of the car first, then went around to the other side to help Jin Minzheng get out.

Kim Minjung limped again as he went upstairs, gritting his teeth and enduring it, while Kang Yeon pretended not to see it.

Once inside, he first took the first-aid kit out of the cabinet and placed it on the coffee table, then turned and went into the kitchen.

"First, apply a hot towel to your knee, and I'll apply the medicine after you shower."

Kim Minjung sat on the sofa, looking at the open medicine box on the coffee table, and suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

"Yes, thank you, Oppa."