Peninsula's Life Begins in 2016

"Can you see me?"

"Jiang Yanxi, do I look scary?"

Two voices rang out simultaneously.

One murmur flowed from Yoona's smiling lips, while another echoed in his mind.

Jiang Yan's scalp tingled, and he dared not look around. He pretended to be embarrassed and patted the back of his head. "Oh dear, senior, you misunderstood. It's probably because I've been staying up late these past few days and I'm a little calcium deficient. I'm sorry for making you laugh."

"Oh~" Lim Yoona drawled out the sound, not asking any further questions. Instead, she picked up the barbecue tongs on the table, flipped her wrist, and placed a sizzling piece of Korean beef onto the plate in front of Kang Yeon. "Then you should eat more and replenish yourself."

Tiffany, who was watching the scene with her chin in her hand, immediately chimed in when the atmosphere eased up: "Yes, yes, eat more. Xiao Yan, you were a hero today. I'd feel bad if you got exhausted."

Upon hearing this, Kim Tae-yeon first glanced at Tiffany, then looked curiously between Kang Yeon and Im Yoon-ah.

She felt that both of them were acting strangely tonight. Tiffany seemed to be paying too much attention to Jiang Yan, and the rude things Lin Yoona said earlier were something that would never have come out of her mouth before.

Jiang Yan paid no attention to Kim Tae-yeon's gaze. He first thanked Im Yoon-ah, picked up the slice of Korean beef and stuffed it into his mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, he put on a polite smile and said, "It's delicious. Thank you, senior."

In reality, his food was tasteless and unappetizing.

Because the semi-transparent phantom that was floating beside Lim Yoona was now resting its chin on its hand on the table, its face less than an arm's length away from his, tilting its head and leisurely examining him.

"Hey! Stop pretending, you coward, I know you can see me."

Jiang Yan picked up his wine glass and took a sip, using the rim of the glass to hide his twitching lips.

Who could stand this? A phantom was floating in mid-air, talking to him incessantly.

What's even more outrageous is that, despite having the face of Girls' Generation's visual center, she completely lacks the elegant temperament of Yoona. The light shining in her doe-like eyes makes her look like a little devil.

"Right now, you're thinking, 'Who could stand this?' and you're even trying to criticize me." The phantom shifted its hand from its chin to the other side. "I can hear you."

Jiang Yan's breath hitched for a moment.

"You guessed right, it's exactly as you understand it. I can hear every word you're muttering to yourself." The illusory figure casually raised a finger and pointed at him. "But don't panic, I can explain the current situation to you."

"The person sitting down here is Lim Yoona, which is me. I'm from another timeline, a time traveler. You should understand, right? She saw that you changed Tiffany's title track and heard that Kenzie unnie took you as her apprentice. These things didn't happen in her timeline, so she thinks you're a time traveler too."

After saying this, the illusory figure paused deliberately, admiring Jiang Yan's expression, and then nodded in satisfaction.

"She guessed wrong. You're not a time traveler because there's no other you inside you. But you definitely have a secret because you can see me, and right now you're listening to me while cursing me in your mind, and you're even thinking of calling the police... Hey, calling the police is going too far."

Jiang Yan silently thought to himself, "The way you suddenly appeared and then floated in mid-air to speak—anyone would want to call the police."

"How can you call this sudden?" The phantom spread its hands, looking completely innocent. "I've always been here, it's just that no one can see me or hear me."

"I've been like this for years, and you're the first person who can see me. To be honest, I'm even more shocked than you, but I'm holding back because I'm more capable."

Meanwhile, in reality, Lim Yoona placed a perfectly grilled piece of Korean beef into Kang Yeon's bowl and said with a gentle smile, "Kang Yeon-xi, don't just stand there, eat more. This is a restaurant that Tiffany unnie specially chose."

As soon as she finished speaking, the illusory figure above her head sounded simultaneously.

"Look at her, how well she pretends."

Jiang Yan almost choked on his saliva after hearing those words.

He looked down at the piece of Korean beef in his bowl, grilled to a fragrant perfection, and gave a grateful smile. "Yes, thank you, senior."

Are you two the same person? Is it really okay to say that about her?

"Who's the same person as her?" The phantom swung its legs in the air, its tone full of disdain. "She's me, but I'm not her. She took my body, threw away all my personality, and kept a bunch of shells of elegance, propriety, and the image of a national girl group to cover herself up. And me? I've been squeezed into this phantom and drifting for years, without even anyone to talk to. Finally, someone has come who can listen to me, can't I even say a few words of the truth?"

Jiang Yan paused slightly with his chopsticks, and sighed inwardly.

He probably understood.

The one floating in front of you is the real Yoona, while the one sitting there is Yoona who traveled from another timeline.

The transmigrated Lin Yoona took over this Lin Yoona's body and pushed her out.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yan suddenly felt a little sorry for that ghost. No one could see it, no one could talk to it, and it had to watch others live their lives using its body every day.

He felt suffocated just imagining this loneliness and frustration.

"Huh? What ghost! Have you ever seen such a beautiful ghost?! You…"

Just then, Kim Tae-yeon interrupted the illusory figure's rambling with a single sentence.

"Xiao Yan, how's your sister's practice at the company? Is she settling in well?"

"A younger sister?" Im Yoona put down her wine glass, her gaze shifting between Kang Yeon and Kim Tae-yeon. "Kang Yeon-ssi has a younger sister in our company?"

"Yes." Jiang Yan put down his chopsticks and politely turned to the side. "She's my neighbor from my hometown, her name is Kim Min-jung. She just officially signed a contract a couple of days ago and is now a weekend trainee."

Kim Minjung.

These three words struck Yoona like a thunderbolt.

She was very familiar with this name, and she remembered that Kim Minjung, who was the future Winter, should be studying in Yangsan at this time. He should officially join SM next year.

Damn it, yet another variable. Just how much has this guy changed?!

Im Yoona composed herself and forced a smile as she confirmed again, "Minjeong, that's a really nice name. Doesn't it sound like the Japanese word for fire?"

"Yes, senior." Jiang Yan replied politely, picked up the tongs and flipped the sizzling pork belly on the grill. He appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was ranting and raving.

Could you please stop sticking your head out when I'm picking up meat?

The illusory image of Lim Yoona stared intently at the meat on the grill. "I can't eat any, so what's wrong with just looking? You take yours, I'll just check how it's grilled."

As she spoke, she swallowed dramatically, then turned to look at Jiang Yan, "Wait, why are you in the mood to care about me? Don't you think it's strange that she suddenly asked you how to spell Min Zheng's name?"

Jiang Yan was stunned.

The illusory figure continued, "I already said she's from another time, and Kim Minjung is one of the most dazzling girl group members of the future. Do you think her growth story is mysterious? Pab, you've given yourself away."