Chapter 26: The Peerless Twins

“Lunhou! Wake up! We’ve arrived at the transfer point!”

Awakened gently, Che Lunhou glanced around, pulled out his phone, and saw he had slept for three or four hours. His last meal was from the previous night, and since he wasn’t accustomed to eating late-night snacks, he suddenly felt quite hungry.

Dubai time was five hours behind South Korea’s. It was just before midnight there, while it had been midnight when he boarded in South Korea. It felt like a disjointed passage of time—five hours had passed, yet it felt as if no time had elapsed at all.

“Let’s go get something to eat! We’ll be stuck here for ten hours during the layover. If we don’t adjust properly now, we’ll be completely exhausted when we reach our destination.”

Long journeys like this were the hardest to endure. The production crew had been generous enough to arrange business class for the main team, but there was no chance for hotel rest during the more than ten-hour wait at the airport. Expenses were high when traveling, especially in an expensive tourist city like Angel. Filming schedules would be tight, leaving no time for the crew to properly adjust their internal clocks.

So, to maintain good spirits, Sooji planned to rest well in the lounge during the layover. The crew strictly forbade anyone from wandering around; if someone missed the flight or encountered unexpected issues and couldn’t return on time, it would cause huge losses to the schedule. Che Lunhou, having no interest in sightseeing, quietly sat not far from the women, his brows still furrowed deeply.

“Are you really going to that Veterans Association? Doesn’t it sound more prestigious to be a civil servant at the National Commendation Office? How about Gwangju? No, forget it. That rural backwater isn’t much better than Gimje.”

Sooji’s regional bias was unmistakable, criticizing two places in a row. Though Che Lunhou knew it was true, Gwangju had a dense population and significant political status. It was a symbol of progressivism, rivaling the conservative stronghold of Daegu. Both cities were roughly equal in size, but Gwangju’s population was fifteen times that of Gimje.

“Well, maybe it’s good that way. If I went to the Commendation Office, I might even have to relocate to Sejong Special City. The Veterans Association keeps me in Seoul. Honestly, I’m a bit reluctant to leave, but having such a hero by my side as a bodyguard is truly a waste of his talent.”

Sooji’s words were pleasant to hear. Somi really should be taken to learn from her—expressing a desire to maintain friendship while subtly flattering. But such things depended on natural talent. Somi’s carefree nature, indifferent to others’ opinions, was probably impossible to change in this lifetime.

“The official news should come out soon, right? Will you resign once you return? Lunhou, you’ll cherish our friendship, won’t you?”

He wasn’t sure what the young man’s future held or what the Veterans Association would entail. But then he scolded himself silently—why worry about someone else’s future when you’re not even close?

“Probably. But Sooji’s contract is about to expire too, right? I heard it’s with Soop?”

The actress didn’t hide her intention to leave. After ten years with JYP, her career there was nearing its end. Both she and the company knew it. Having made a name in film and television, staying with JYP, whose focus was shifting, was no longer a good choice.

But Pei Tuzi herself was confused. Taking this step was tough. Here, she was a respected senior and a major contributor. At Soop, she’d have to start from scratch. Although there were only about ten artists there, the roster included the Cannes Best Actress awardee Jeon Do-yeon, as well as well-known names like Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi. As an idol-turned-actor, she didn’t stand out among them.

“Make sure you walk the path of flowers! Sooji will definitely become the best actress.”

Though she said this with a smile, she herself didn’t quite believe it. The beautiful boss’s acting was mediocre at best. She and her idol, Lim Yoon-ah, were considered a remarkable pair—like Northern Qiao Feng and Southern Murong. Who was which depended on personal opinion.

Many people wearing white headscarves filled the airport. From afar, the scent of petroleum was unmistakable. This airport was considered the largest in the world. The weary faces of travelers made Che Lunhou both expectant and anxious about his own future as a corporate drone.

Having spent years in military school and the army, discipline was ingrained in him. Though his time since leaving the military had been freewheeling—working night shifts and as a bodyguard—he hadn’t been completely corrupted.

“Where did you pick up that trendy phrase? ‘Walk the path of flowers’? Do you watch talent shows? It doesn’t quite fit your serious demeanor.”

After a few hours of sleep, he couldn’t fall back asleep. The sky in Saudi Arabia was beginning to brighten. The crew had prepared some breakfast, and a group of people were passing time playing on their phones inside the airport.

The next transfer would be in Barcelona, Spain—a renowned vacation spot with sun and beaches that attracted tourists worldwide. Including Che Lunhou, a country bumpkin who had never left the country before. He had once told Shizheng they could travel together someday, though he had no idea when that would be.

Feeling somewhat bored, Che Lunhou put on headphones and watched Woody Allen’s film *Vicky Cristina Barcelona*. Pei Tuzi called softly several times but received no response. She turned her head puzzled, only to see the bodyguard intently watching the movie, oblivious to the world—no doubt, if someone tried to abduct their important charge, he wouldn’t even notice.

“Between Scarlett Johansson and Penélope Cruz, who’s sexier? Which one do you like best, Lunhou?”

In this movie, the Spanish rose, through exquisite acting, deeply moving dialogue, and a rich character, overshadowed Scarlett Johansson, who played the supposed lead, the Black Widow.

Sooji reached out and took off one of the man’s headphones. Her cool fingers brushed against Che Lunhou’s earlobe, which twitched involuntarily. This amused her greatly. His earlobes were long and large—a sign of good fortune. She wanted to pinch and savor them.

“Of course Penélope Cruz. She’s a genuine sex goddess with her 168 centimeters of height. Scarlett is… also a sex goddess.”

Suddenly recalling that Shizheng wasn’t much taller than the Black Widow, the thought changed as it escaped his lips. Still, Sooji seemed oddly pleased and declared that she too was 168 centimeters tall.

Thinking about these two women, there were some similarities—both prone to trouble and gossip. Many friends had expressed concern about her. For someone as renowned in the entertainment industry as Sooji, their interest might be fleeting curiosity, but for her, that could easily lead to trouble. No matter how much she explained they had no relationship, no one would believe it.

The beautiful boss was kind-hearted and wealthy, with countless endorsements making her one of the richest in the circle. How could he be so lucky? He shouldn’t entertain such frivolous thoughts, spending the money she earned.

“They’re all far worse than you. These Western horses aren’t worth looking at closely—their skin’s no good, and they age fast.”

He didn’t know how Somi, that little Western horse, would turn out. Hopefully, she combined the best of East and West. At least, that was how it seemed for now. But why was he thinking about this female singer at a time like this?

“Really? Lunhou, do you really think I’m more beautiful than Scarlett and Penélope?”

The woman wrapped in a blanket, her hair messy and face bare of makeup, looked less refined than usual but had regained the “Nation’s First Love” look etched in Che Lunhou’s memory.