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

Chapter 48 Are you interested in our Shuai'er?

After the signing was completed, Pei Zhenlu's parents sat in their chairs, their pens still in their hands, their eyes fixed on the closed contract, their expressions somewhat dazed.

From entering the building to signing their names, the whole process was as fast as a movie on fast-forward—before they could even react, everything was settled.

"Once the contract is signed, you can start practicing normally." Li Yuan pushed the contract to the middle of the table so that the new talent development team could easily collect it. "However, the practice place isn't here, but at the JYP Training Center not far away. That's specifically for trainees; the environment is quieter than here, and the facilities are complete."

The wealthy Park Jin-young separated the trainee system from the artist system.

Li Yuan also invested money in this area, or rather, his family invested money.

"That's it?" Pei Zhenlu's father looked incredulous.

They thought there would be many complicated procedures to go through.

"It's not complicated at all, we're just trainees." Li Yuan leaned back in his chair. "It's not like we're debuting, so the procedures aren't that complicated. Filling out a form, signing something, submitting some documents, that's basically it."

He paused, as if remembering something: "If possible, it would be best if Zhenlu transferred to a nearby school."

"Xiao Yuan, do you have any recommendations?" After spending some time together, Pei Zhenlu's mother had begun to trust the young man in front of her.

His speech, behavior, and attitude towards Pei Zhenlu did not suggest that he had any ill intentions.

Bae Jin-sol is such a kind person, she must have grown up in a harmonious and loving family, so her parents are actually the kind of people who easily trust others - they are willing to believe in kindness and are willing to reciprocate kindness.

After spending some time with him, they could tell that Li Yuan was genuinely trying to help them; there was no scheming in his eyes, and no ulterior motives in his smile.

"Of course I recommend Hanlin Arts High School." Li Yuan said the name almost without thinking. "It's more convenient to become a trainee or idol there. The course schedule is flexible, it's easy to take leave, and it's close to major companies."

He has said this to more than one person, and more than once.

"Hanlin Academy of Arts, it must be hard to get in, right?" Pei Zhenlu's father rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat conflicted.

He was just the owner of a small restaurant in Liangshan, and he didn't have the ability to send his daughter to Hanlin Art Academy.

Thinking of this, he looked at Li Yuan.

Since he said that, it means...

"The company will make the necessary arrangements," Li Yuan explained. "This is also for the convenience of both the trainees and the company."

This isn't the first time a large company has "collaborated" with Hanlin Arts High School. Every year, trainees enter the school through the company's channels; the process is already well-established.

After all, once an idol becomes famous, people will see that they graduated from Hanlin Arts High School, which is very beneficial to the school's reputation.

With a good reputation, the school will have no shortage of students and funding. It's a win-win-win situation for all three parties.

"Then thank you to the company." Pei Zhenlu's father nodded with a sigh of relief.

The four of them completed the final procedures at the company and then came out of the building.

Li Yuan touched his stomach, and his stomach made a slight protesting sound.

He has only eaten one seaweed rice roll since morning, and that little bit of energy has long been used up during his running around.

"Have you had lunch?" he asked, turning his head to the side.

"No." Bae Jin-sul's father shook his head.

They left home early in the morning and drove for more than four hours to get here, so they definitely didn't have time for lunch.

"Then I'll treat you," Li Yuan said.

"How can that be?" Pei Zhenlu's father immediately waved his hand. "We should be the ones inviting you. You've been such a big help..."

"It's okay," Li Yuan interrupted him. "After Jinsol debuts, I'll have her treat us to a big meal. I won't hold back then."

If you're treating, you can order whatever you like to eat.

"So what are we going to eat?" Pei Zhenlu remembered this question.

"How about hot pot?" Li Yuan suggested.

"Okay." Bae Jin-sul's father nodded, and no one else objected.

"Will it be very spicy?" Bae Jin-sul subconsciously shrank his neck.

"It's okay, we have a hot pot with two broths."

Li Yuan led them to a hot pot restaurant he had visited before.

It's worth mentioning that the owner of this shop is Chinese.

This was a place that Li Yuan discovered by chance when he came to check on the construction progress of the company building last time.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Li Yuan asked the owner to bring out a hot pot with two broths, and ordered a bunch of side dishes.

Pei Zhenlu said he needed to use the restroom and then left his seat.

Only three people remained at the table.

Pei Zhenshuai's father picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, put it down, picked it up again, and took another sip.

"Li Yuanxi..." he finally spoke, his voice not loud, "I have a question for you, please don't mind."

"Please speak," Li Yuan said, leaning back in his chair with a calm expression.

"Are you interested in our Shuai'er...?" He paused, as if searching for a less direct way to express it, "?

Because Li Yuan was being way too nice to her, even though they were strangers just a few days ago.

Li Yuan paused for a moment, then he smiled.

"Uncle, you're overthinking it." He shook his head. "I saw potential in Zhen Shu. She is indeed a promising talent, and it would be a loss for the company not to nurture her."

"I've scouted trainees for the company before, and one of them is about to debut." Li Yuan glanced at Bae Jin-sol's empty seat. "And she's still young."

Even if I were to fall in love, it wouldn't be now.

"He's not young anymore, Shuai'er is already 15 years old."

In South Korea, there is no early dating, so they don't place as much importance on the age of starting a romantic relationship.

Some couples even start dating in elementary school, although their relationship usually involves going to school together or eating snacks together.

So when Bae Jin-sol's father asked that question, he didn't have any preconceived notion that "my daughter is too young to be in a relationship." He simply wanted to confirm Lee Won's thoughts.

Li Yuan shook his head again.

Fifteen years old. Just thinking about that age makes me feel guilty.

"I'm back!" Pei Zhenlu returned from the restroom, sat down in her seat, picked up her chopsticks, and glanced at the boiling pot.

Pei Zhenlu looked curiously at the half-pot of bright red soup base. It didn't look that scary—it was just a little red and a little oily, right? How spicy could it be?

"Let me try it." She reached out her chopsticks, aiming for a piece of tofu in the spicy hot pot.

"Don't eat it, it's quite spicy," Li Yuan said.

At Pei Zhenlu's house, neither she nor her mother can eat spicy food, so the spicy hot pot is eaten by Li Yuan and her father.

"Just a small bite." Pei Zhenlu ignored the advice, steadily picked up the piece of tofu with her chopsticks, and put it in her mouth.

What happened next was something Li Yuan would never forget for the rest of his life:

Bae Jin-sol's expression went through a three-stage leap in a fraction of a second, from "expectation" to "confusion" to "horror".

Her eyes widened suddenly, her pupils dilated, her mouth opened, and she didn't know whether to retract or extend her tongue.

She started jumping around, twisting and turning in the chair, her face turning red from her neck down to her forehead, and tears welling up in her eyes.

"Water! Water!" She reached for the water glass on the table, her fingers trembling violently.

Li Yuan handed her a glass of milk.

"I'm never eating spicy hot pot again!"

Pei Zhen's father couldn't help but laugh when he saw his daughter looking like this.

Li Yuan laughed as he scooped the shrimp paste out of the pot and placed it in Pei Zhenshu's bowl.

"Eat this, it's not spicy."

After the meal, Li Yuan said goodbye to them.

"Then we'll be going now." Pei Zhenlu's father extended his hand and shook hands with Li Yuan.

They're going back to Liangshan; their next visit will be when Pei Zhenshu transfers schools.

"Okay, be careful on the road." Li Yuan nodded.

I'm going to watch the live broadcast myself.