The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 261 Mina: Am I your safe haven?

Inside YG's recording studio, the four members of BLACKPINK stood somewhat nervously. Behind a glass partition sat producer Nim and Gong Cheng, both wearing headphones.

Yang Hyun-suk, that old fox, is quite clever. He specifically sent the company's VJ to the recording studio to film the production process. Gong Cheng was perfectly aware of YG's intentions; he was just trying to piggyback on their success...

BLACKPINK's comeback marketing was announced at the beginning of the year, but no specific date was announced, which is YG's usual practice. In addition, Kyoko's schedule was tight in the first half of the year, and the handover time for album production was agreed upon early on but was uncertain, so YG did not announce a specific comeback date.

On one hand, there's their old-fashioned "hunger marketing" strategy; on the other hand, there's Gong Cheng's schedule, which YG has no choice but to comply with.

Now that the four songs on the album have been officially handed over, the collaboration is almost complete. If BLACKPINK practices diligently, they should be able to make a comeback in mid-June. As a result, Yang Hyun-suk sent a VJ to film the production team's scene, so it's estimated that something will happen in the next couple of days.

Perhaps, just like last year when Psy boosted the ratings of "Knowing Bros," they'll release a huge poster proclaiming, "Tarot personally produced BLACKPINK's first mini-album, a blockbuster release!"

Kim Jisoo wore a black baseball cap, the brim concealing her dark circles. She nervously glanced at Gong Cheng behind the glass, at his calm and composed face. Despite disliking him in private, she always felt uneasy when facing him at work.

She knew her singing and dancing skills weren't as good as the other members in the group, but that made her even more determined to do better. The boy in front of her was incredibly strict at work, almost like he had poison in his mouth, but he was very professional. She hoped to hear something better than the last time he said things like, "It's okay, there's auto-tuning..."—something like, "You're amazing, Jisoo..."

"There should be some improvement, right?" Kim Jisoo hesitated for a moment, pulled the microphone forward, took a deep breath, and the intro to "SEE U LATER" hit her ears like a heavy hammer, instantly breaking the silence in her headphones.

The crisp and rhythmic drumbeats, "thump, thump, thump," each short and powerful, are typical of Tarot's arrangement style, much like the violent beating of a heart under the influence of resentment, carrying an uncontrollable restlessness and determination...

The more the four people in the recording studio heard Gong Cheng's arrangement, the more they realized how amazing this producer was. The heart-pounding drumbeats and the restless, resolute emotions directly established the cool and dashing tone of BLACKPINK's song. The grand intro was like a victory float parading around the road...

"There's nothing to regret~"

"We've done everything we could."

"I don't care whether you're here or not~" Kim Jisoo opened the song with her incredibly clear and cool voice, followed by Lisa's part. After she finished singing, she looked up at Gong Cheng through the glass and noticed that his expression remained calm, showing absolutely no sign of appreciating her improvement...

Don't know the goods!
"They always go back on their word..."

"And it's also very fickle~"

"..."

……

After a simple recording of a song, Gong Cheng called Jennie Kim, Rosé, and Lisa out of the recording studio. Only Jisoo Kim was left alone, pulling down the brim of her baseball cap and standing in the studio, with an oblivious photographer next to her, waving a camera around aimlessly.

She knew she might be criticized, so what was there to film?

"Aren't you coming out?" Gong Cheng raised his eyelids, glanced at the photographer standing in the studio, asked, and then said with a smile, "You should go out too, go to the corridor, or go back to your office area to rest after you finish work. Don't stay here and interfere with my work."

As he spoke, he spun his chair around, looking at the photographer with a beaming smile, but his tone was one of dismissal...

Kim Jisoo stared at Gong Cheng's smile, a smile that she found utterly repulsive. Surprisingly, she found it somewhat more pleasing to the eye? But she still disliked it!
The photographer, standing to the side, chuckled and closed the camera, nodded, and quickly pushed open the door to leave. He knew he couldn't afford to offend the producer sitting there; the resistance and indifference in his words were something a seasoned veteran of the industry could easily understand.

The recording studio door closed, and Jennie, Rosé, and the others gave Jisoo a "good luck" look. They all knew this producer's personality well; his criticisms at work were blunt and sometimes hurtful. They had all been criticized by him before.

Judging from the current situation, it seems Jisoo unnie is in trouble...

"Jisoo, let's do it again, just sing your part." Gong Cheng turned around, put his headphones back on, and nodded to Kim Jisoo in the studio. During the first recording, he felt that Kim Jisoo's singing sounded strange and unnatural.

Kim Jisoo was a little surprised. Had this guy changed his ways? He didn't even take the opportunity to make a sarcastic remark about her? Wasn't that what he loved to do? But she still cleared her throat, tapped her feet to the beat, and hummed her part, "There's nothing to regret~"

"We've done everything we could."

As soon as the song ended, Gong Cheng interrupted him abruptly, "Start over! Don't add any nasal sounds, sing with your natural voice..."

"There's nothing to regret..."

"I'll say it again, don't use YG's nasal singing style. Just sing with your natural voice, otherwise it'll sound awful." Gong Cheng sighed, rubbing his temples. What kind of crooked singing style is this? It's even crooked than JYP's semi-air singing style...

Besides the different styles of managing their own groups, the three major entertainment companies also have different dance styles, singing methods, and vocal techniques. JYP's semi-air singing style is quite famous, but from a professional point of view, it is suitable for some people but not for others, and it is not conducive to expanding vocal range.

SM Entertainment's vocal technique is considered one of the most scientific. SM vocalists sing with their throats open, which helps with pronunciation and doesn't damage their voices. Interestingly, SM groups didn't initially have any truly outstanding vocalists. However, through continuous training, more and more vocalists emerged, and their skills became increasingly impressive. Examples include Kyuhyun with Super Junior, Taeyeon with Girls' Generation, Luna with f(x), and Wendy with Red Velvet…

So there's always been a saying about SM Entertainment: Lee Soo-man's model for debuting groups is basically this: just find a lead vocalist who can belt out high notes, then find a bunch of pretty kids, and ok, they can debut...

Gradually, SM Entertainment also became known for its top vocalists...

As for YG, they are the type that amazes you the moment they open their mouths, but their singing style is the most unscientific and damaging to the voice. For so many years, they have followed the same path, suppressing their voices in their throats and making their voices nasal, creating the so-called honey voice. However, the voices of several of YG's current main singers have already shown obvious problems to varying degrees.

The singing style that Kim Jisoo just used is YG's usual vocal technique. Regardless of whether it damages her voice, it's not suitable for her.

"There's nothing to regret..."

"..."

Kim Jisoo nervously swallowed, staring at Gong Cheng's helpless expression outside the glass. She then followed his advice, abandoned her nasal singing style, sang two lines, and then stopped.

Suddenly, she heard a surprised voice from outside, "Continue? Did I tell you to stop? Hold on, just like that."

"..."

"Actually, overall, compared to when you recorded 'DDU-DU DDU-DU,' there has been progress, it's not bad, the feeling is right." Gong Cheng laughed. In this mini album produced for BLACKPINK, "FOREVER YOUNG" is a good match for Kim Jisoo's voice.

As for songs like "Jisoo Bar," "It's Suitable," and "Popular with its bright drumbeats and hip-hop rhythms," even a superb, clear, and cool voice can shine if performed well. After thinking for a while, he picked up the lyrics sheet, glanced at it, and said, "Goodbye baby~ Let's do this part again."

Kim Jisoo breathed a sigh of relief. It was really hard to hear a compliment from this person. Adjusting her rhythm, she listened to the arrangement that Gong Cheng had switched to for her and softly said, "Goodbye baby~"

"Be nice to me when I'm around."

“Why you wanna go and do that do that why~”

“Okay, for this part, widen your vocal range a bit more.” Gong Cheng said with a smile, then took off his headphones and baseball cap. “As long as you stop worrying about your nasal singing technique, you’ll be fine after a few more practice sessions.”

A vocal range can make some songs unsuitable for singing, but the four songs on this album, "SQUARE UP," actually suit Jisoo quite well. The album's concept and style, as well as the four girls in the recording studio, are a good match and well-balanced.

Each of them found their own suitable place, and the different voices of the four blended well, which were all highlights. This album itself was made by Gong Cheng to establish their style, and it can be said to be tailor-made for the four of them, so it fits perfectly.

It was precisely for this reason that Gong Cheng, who almost never interfered with the part distribution of songs on the album, specifically pointed out who would be better at singing a particular part when he saw that the parts of the four members of BLACKPINK were not well-matched.

In the past, they would release one song or one album and then divide the roles however they wanted. After all, each group has different main members and different makeup and styling for each comeback. Whether they are eye-catching or not, and whether they can withstand the test of time, can be seen from their makeup, styling, and part division. The premise is that Yoona and Noona, who are of the highest level of purity, are not included in this case. That can be considered as the management company protecting them.

But you can't just go and try that nasal singing technique halfway through. Some parts were originally designed for your amazing, clear, and cool voice, and then you go and play with that bullshit "honey voice"? Is that appropriate?

“Jennie, overall you’re fine, but these few parts, you need to…” Gong Cheng swiveled his chair, glanced at Jennie and the others who had come close, picked up a pen, circled a few sections, and pointed out some minor issues. “Chaeyoung, in this part, raise the pitch a bit higher, go higher…”

"Lisa, this rap shouldn't be too fast. The important thing here is the rhythm..."

……

An hour later, Gong Cheng sat on the sofa in BLACKPINK's practice room and looked at the choreography for their title track "DDU-DU DDU-DU". Then, Park Chaeyoung and Kim Jisoo returned from the coffee shop downstairs, carrying several drinks.

Kim Jisoo expertly handed Gong Cheng a glass of orange juice, then sat cross-legged on the floor.

Jennie sipped her coffee and exclaimed, "Aigoo! This album is amazing! I feel like we're about to ascend to godhood!"

"Yes." Park Chaeyoung and Lisa nodded in agreement.

As for Kim Ji-soo, she couldn't bring herself to compliment Gong Cheng...

"Feibei, if you really hit the jackpot, buy me a drink. See you in Jiangnan." Gong Cheng smiled and took a sip of orange juice through a straw. "But you guys really did a great job digesting these songs. If you're making a comeback next month, it seems like the companies aren't making any moves."

Generally, groups promote and hype their comebacks in advance. However, the real battle for group dominance in the first half of this year took place last month, in April, with groups like EXID, Pentagon, Oh My Girl, Winner, TWICE, EXO-CBX, Super Junior, Lovelyz, Hyolyn, Snuper, and GFriend...

Last month saw a flurry of activity as groups and solo artists, both big and small, made their comebacks and promoted their music.

As for next month, June, no agencies have released any information yet, except that BLACKPINK has plans to release a mini-album, "Square Up".

August featured iKON, BTOB Blue, Stray Kids, Red Velvet, (G)I-DLE...

These are the publicly released details of the return...

"Don't worry, oppa, you can choose any nightclub in Gangnam. The only problem is you might not show up." Jennie smugly chimed in, but then pointed out the crux of the matter. However, she didn't dwell on it, continuing to indulge in her fantasies of soaring success. "There aren't any group comebacks next month, it really feels like the heavens are helping me..."

Park Chae-young, sitting to the side, suddenly seemed to remember something and asked with some surprise, "What if we run into a thick fog?"

"Big fog? How many big fogs are there in K-pop? Only Bombardment Meteor..." Jennie Kim suddenly realized, oh no! She then remembered that the group next to her had been on an Asian tour for the past two months, and their mini-album had already been announced to be released after the tour.

Bombardment Meteor will be heading to Japan in the middle of the month, so the Japan station will end in June? That can't be such a coincidence, can it?

"Jennie, will you be happy after ascending?" Gong Cheng chuckled lightly, sitting calmly on the sofa, tilting his head to look at the four people sitting on the floor.

Jennie was speechless, her smile frozen on her face. She had always felt that BLACKPINK's career had actually been pretty good since their debut, but the strange thing was that every comeback seemed to be fraught with uncertainty, and that uncertainty was right in front of them...

It happens almost every time! It's outrageous!

Kim Jisoo rolled her eyes. She had never met anyone more shameless than Gong Cheng. She remembered the first time they bumped into each other when they first debuted. This guy was so arrogant on a music show stage. After winning first place, he asked her and Joohyun unnie, "Will winning first place make you happy?"

"You... you crashed again?" Park Chaeyoung asked helplessly, her words stammering slightly.

Honestly, even if TWICE, currently the top girl group, were to compete with them, they wouldn't be worried. But "Tarot" and "Bombardment Meteor"... Before they won the Grammys, they were completely outmatched. Now, they have the Grammys and all that in their hands...

It can only be said that whoever hits the other dies...

Gong Cheng glanced at the time on his phone. He was almost done with his work at YG. Seeing the expressions on the faces of the others, he burst into laughter, laughing heartily. "Ani, the Bombardment Meteor album won't be released until the end of June or July at the latest. But that's all it will be."

"We haven't performed on music shows for a long time. When we say it's a comeback, we actually already came back during our tour..."

Hearing this, the members of BLACKPINK finally breathed a sigh of relief...

……

In the afternoon, Gong Cheng and Jin Dayu went to the recording site of PRODUCE 48 to film an important segment of the next episode.

After the first performance at the end of last month, the first comprehensive evaluation ranking results will be announced soon (1st to 58th place will advance) and the rest will be eliminated. This is why Li Huanzhi asked Gong Cheng about his schedule.

Such an important segment requires the presence of a representative of the national producers.

“Somi, Chungha.” Gong Cheng arrived at the recording room carrying a shoulder bag and happened to see Kim Chungha and Jeon Somi, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time. Somi was fine, but he hadn’t seen Kim Chungha much since IOI disbanded in 17.

Both of them were members of IOI who debuted in the first season of "Produce 101". They were specially invited by the production team to participate in the recording of this episode as special MCs.

"Senior." The two, dressed in striking black and white short skirts and holding microphones, greeted Gong Cheng immediately upon seeing him. They had been hailed by the media in 2016 as the two brightest stars in the music industry that year, each representing a separate limited-time group.

Bombardment Meteor and IOI, but the results were quite different. One shed its limited-time status, expanded from 4 to 7 members, and went on to compete in the Grammys, breaking the ceiling for top-ranking groups. It is arguably the most successful group in K-pop history.

IOI officially disbanded in January of last year, with members pursuing individual careers and debuting separately. After leaving IOI, Kim Chungha made her solo debut last summer and released her second mini-album, "OFFSET," on January 17th of this year.

Therefore, in Kim Chung-ha's eyes, this senior who is no different from before is a towering figure that is difficult for others to surpass, whether in K-pop groups or in the solo arena.

"Alright, don't be so polite. We're from roughly the same cohort, there's no need for that." Gong Cheng smiled, exchanging greetings after so long, but there wasn't much to talk about. He waved at the camera, then pushed open the door at the end of the corridor and went inside.

In the large classroom, which resembled a public lecture hall, the atmosphere among the trainees in the front row was somewhat somber. The girls all knew that after the first performance, some would be eliminated, and in large numbers at that. An atmosphere of anxiety permeated the air.

“Representative nim…”

More than ninety trainees stood up and bowed to greet him. Gong Cheng stood tall and straight, wearing a blue and white crew neck sweatshirt, looking very comfortable. His white sneakers made him look almost 190cm tall... When he came to the microphone on the stage, he smiled and said, "I'm not here to eliminate you today, so there's no need to be so nervous."

The production team's program schedule is as follows: the elimination list will be revealed tomorrow, and today's recording is a public lesson, where Gong Cheng will give the trainees a pep talk, followed by Zhao You leading the trainees in physical fitness exercises, then a dance competition, and finally the announcement of the first overall evaluation ranking results...

Hearing Miyako's words, the trainees present relaxed a little... Miyawaki Sakura sat in the front row, looking left and right, but didn't see the trainees who had come with the representative last time. The rehearsal that day had spread among the trainees...

Everyone is amazed by the strength of JYP's trainees; they look like they're about to debut, the kind of people who would be a failure if they didn't.

But what Miyawaki Sakura was more concerned about was the treatment they received as "favorite daughters"—it was too extravagant, practically like royalty following behind the representatives on stage. If only... she could have that kind of treatment...

"Tomorrow, some people will be eliminated, and some will advance and stay here. Hwanji asked me to come and comfort you guys, but to be honest, I don't think there's anything to comfort you about..." Gong Cheng smiled frankly, looking at the trainees in front of him. For something like giving them a pep talk, he should have asked Park Jin-young to do it!
"However, as the representative of the national producers and as your teacher, I should have taught all ninety-plus trainees except those who have withdrawn from the competition, right? So it would be rather unreasonable not to say anything. Trainees who have taken my class, please stand up."

He asked with a light laugh, his warm smile and face revealing no trace of coldness.

In the production team's shots, more than ninety trainees stood up in unison from their seats. Their youthful faces crowded into the frame. All the trainees, even those wearing different colored practice clothes for different rankings, left their seats and stood in place.

Jiang Huiyuan stood up abruptly from the last row, her nearsighted eyes still showing that blank expression as she looked at Teacher Gong speaking on the stage…

The news that this teacher returned to China to hold a concert and mobilized over a million people in three days had already spread to the peninsula. Even though their cell phones hadn't been distributed, the production team staff talked about these things every day, and they would also go over to ask a few questions.

Even now, she still finds it somewhat surreal. Could an artist of this caliber really come and mentor them? Many of the trainees present also had this fleeting thought, and what this representative, this teacher, was teaching was all genuine…

He is insightful, and he explains things concisely and clearly; for those who are less perceptive, he breaks them down into simpler, more detailed explanations.

"Yes, it seems I remembered correctly." Gong Cheng smiled and nodded, gesturing for them to sit down. The recording of this program had been going on and off for almost a month, and he had directed each of the A, B, C, D, and F classes to varying degrees. "It's inevitable that some people will be eliminated, after all, it's a talent show."

"In my opinion, you all did a good job. At least your level has improved since I first met you. But leaving here doesn't mean you can't debut or have your dreams shattered... So whether you stay or not, as long as you still want to stand on the stage, please keep working hard."

"Clap clap clap clap~" A round of applause rang out; the students were quite accommodating.

Gong Cheng glanced at the special MCs beside him, Kim Chungha and Jeon Somi, and smiled, "Today we still have a dance competition segment where we'll choose a 'Dance Queen' from among you. The trainees whose rating corresponds to the 'Dance Queen' will receive cosmetics as a gift from the production team." "Since we're about to part ways, after much thought, I've decided to give you all a gift too. Of course, this gift isn't like the ones we get on other shows, where you have to compete to win." He held the microphone and looked at the surprised trainees, not bothering to keep them in suspense any longer.
"I will be holding a solo world tour concert in the second half of the year. I wonder if you would be interested in coming?"

"Oh mo!"

"Aigoo!"

"Wow! My God! Concert tickets?"

"..."

The trainees' seats instantly erupted into chaos, with everyone covering their mouths and screaming, staring incredulously at Gong Cheng, who was smiling lightly on stage. Tickets for this representative's concert were extremely difficult to obtain; countless fans would click on their screens in vain to snag a single ticket.

As for scalped tickets, they are ridiculously expensive, with prices that most people wouldn't even dare to dream of...

"Okay, after today's recording, please work overtime and fill in your address or email to my manager. The staff will send you tickets. After all, we've worked together..." Gong Cheng chuckled and put down the microphone. Sending a few tickets was no problem, since his tickets were indeed hard to get.

"Thank you, representative!"

"Wow! This gift is amazing!"

"Representative, I will definitely go!"

"..."

Jiang Huiyuan was overjoyed; the trip was worthwhile! Whether she could debut or not was another matter, but she got tickets to Teacher Zhang's concert, hehe!
But Zhang Yuanying, sitting in the front rows, her innocent face, which had been beaming with smiles, suddenly stiffened as she looked up at the figure on stage who had just put down the microphone and turned to leave. "Working together?" she murmured to herself, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside...

I thought there would at least be some teacher-student relationship, but why do these words sound so distant, so harsh, and so cold...?

Miyawaki Sakura, sitting not far away, shared the same thought...

Are we taught simply because of work?

teacher……

……

In the production team's meeting room, the cameras were not on. Li Huanzhi sat in a chair, smoking a cigarette. "The show will air on Mnet on the 15th of next month. We need to start increasing our promotional efforts."

"Okay, the company will cooperate." Gong Cheng nodded, glanced at the sky outside the window. Kim Daewoo was organizing the trainees to fill in the email addresses or mailing addresses for receiving tickets. They would have to go back to Seoul later. As for the promotion of PRODUCE 48, it was already planned, and the company's publicity department would cooperate with the production team.

"Xiao Cheng, are you going back to school in a couple of days?" Li Huanzhi asked with a smile.

"Oh dear, yes, you want me to give a speech? Senior, what am I supposed to talk about when I haven't even graduated yet? Seriously..." Gong Cheng took a sip of water helplessly. He was still quite troubled by the speech. "But how did you know that it was only recently decided, senior?"

"The school has been promoting it like crazy, and it was known immediately on the campus forum and among alumni..." Li Huanzhi explained somewhat speechlessly, "But seriously, don't you pay any attention to trending topics or the campus forums?"

"Do you want me to wake up every day to a barrage of trending topics about me and some female celebrity having one-night stands? As for the campus forum, I haven't logged in in ages." Gong Cheng opened his mouth to retort, "Seriously, all this entertainment gossip is making my mom and dad call and scold me every now and then..."

"Aigoo, especially with the 'Daily Scandal' that came out in the last two months, it's caused Girls' Generation to fall apart all because of me... Heh, I'm truly a sinner against Girls' Generation..."

Li Huanzhi listened to his junior's complaints with a smile, then suddenly stubbed out his cigarette and said seriously, "Junior, I actually think you and Yoona are quite a good match. Your looks complement each other, but in terms of height, to be honest, there aren't many female celebrities in the industry who can match your height..."

"Don't make trouble..."

……

At 11 PM, the daily gossip column was updated: "[Attached photos] The evidence is irrefutable! Tarot recently returned to Seoul and was seen at the Qpi bar in Gangnam with Yoona and Taeyeon, who had just finished filming. It seems that..."

"Damn it, are these media outlets blind?" In a private room at the bar, Lee Soon-kyu was so angry that she almost smashed her phone. She was right next to Gong Cheng, Lim Yoon-ah, and Kim Tae-yeon, but the media wouldn't give her a single shot or report. Who do they think they are?

All I can say is that the recent love triangle rumors involving Gong Cheng, Lim Yoon-ah, and Kim Tae-yeon are quite popular among the people of the Korean Peninsula. Everyone is treating it as a source of amusement and is thoroughly enjoying it. As for whether it's true or not, nobody really cares.

"The rumors about Sung Yoon-yeon and the other two are just really going strong lately. A few days ago, Gong Sung and Lee Sung-kyung were seen having coffee alone. Many fans of the drama 'Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo' came back to life and started discussing it. They said that the dead couple was attacking them and they started shipping them again."

Just as this buzz started, Gong Cheng's rumored relationship with Bae Joo-hyun resurfaced. This afternoon, the "best CP" pairing of him and Kim Ji-soo reignited its popularity. Right now, anyone in the industry who is popular, good-looking, and hasn't had a rumored relationship with Gong Cheng is considered a rare breed...

"Maybe you're not popular enough. Calm down, Nuna, let's finish the drinks we owe you first. Are you trying to raise fish?" Gong Cheng patted Lee Soon-kyu on the back, who was wearing a tank top, and warned her, suspecting that she was using this as an excuse to skip drinking...

The largest private room in the bar was divided into several tables, and the atmosphere was quite lively.

The group consisted of the older women from Girls' Generation, along with the members from Bombardment Meteor who were based in Seoul. Jackson Wang and Lay Zhang, on the other hand, were still traveling and working in China.

After supervising Lee Soon-kyu to finish his drink, Park Jae-beom and the others squeezed over, and the group started playing drinking games.

The Gangnam Style dance kings and the remaining members of Girls' Generation often dined and drank together, and they all knew they had a good time. So, Kim Tae-yeon, barefoot and cross-legged on the sofa, asked with a smug look, "Have you dated more than three people and been drinking..."

Kim Hyoyeon, Kwon Yuri, Oh Sehun, Park Chanyeol, Park Jaebeom, Lim Young-woong, drinking.

Kim Tae-yeon and Im Yoon-a opened their mouths, somewhat speechless, "Ugh, you guys are really a group of prostitutes... Even though Lay and Jackson aren't here, they're definitely not out of the running..."

"Hey buddy, what are you waiting for if you're not drinking, Gong Cheng!" Lee Soon-kyu glared at Gong Cheng, annoyed. Why is he still pretending to be innocent? It seems like he's the person I socialize with the most at the entire Bombardment Meteor...

Of the group, only Kim Tae-yeon, Lee Soon-kyu, and Im Yoon-ah didn't drink, and there was also Gong Cheng who denied it.

"Aigoo, let's drink, maknae." Sehun was dumbfounded, amazed by the maknae's shamelessness. How many people have you dated? How can you not drink?

Gong Cheng had no choice but to accept his predicament. After hesitating for a while, he could only pick up his wine glass, which led to a misunderstanding.

He was dating me at the same time, so how can you call it dating? But I couldn't say that out loud, so I just kept drinking in silence...

"Drinking together during the New Year..."

"Drinking together during the New Year..."

"Having drunk with celebrities in the industry..."

The Girls' Generation members, who were on Kim Tae-yeon's team, stared in disbelief at the Bombardment Meteor members opposite them. From the start of the game, they hadn't stopped drinking; they were drinking way too fast...

Oh my god~
These two are definitely cut from the same cloth...

"Hehe, you guys are really... quite an eye-opener..."

"Tsk tsk..."

"You guys really do live up to your reputation... your nicknames are definitely well-deserved..."

Lee Soon-kyu glanced at the embarrassed Gong Cheng and the others. He knew they weren't exactly honest people, but this was just too much! Were you guys so busy? How did you even start dating...?

"Drinking with actors I've dated..."

"Drinking with artists who were previously involved with artists from the same company..."

Bombardment Meteor and the others didn't tolerate this, and instead went straight for Kim Tae-yeon and the others' sore spots.

Gong Cheng, drinking his wine, kicked Wu Sehun and Park Jaebeom in annoyance, saying, "Are you guys messing with me?"
"Same company? Momo-chan?" Kim Tae-yeon nudged Gong Cheng's shoulder curiously, recalling the incident at the bar before, and asked. The most obvious connection between the younger man next to her and the company's employee was Hirai Momo, otherwise she wouldn't have come over and cleared up Kim Heechul's matter that time.

Gong Cheng put down his wine glass. "Don't pry into the affairs of young people..."

"You're dead, Gong Cheng!" Kim Tae-yeon opened her mouth, then sneered twice! She looked Gong Cheng up and down, "Come on, drink if your name has two characters..."

"Let Kim Tae-yeon drink..." Gong Cheng scoffed.

"Ugh, could you be any more direct?" Kim Tae-yeon gritted her teeth and kicked Gong Cheng. "The most handsome one drinks..."

Park Chanyeol and Oh Sehun cheerfully raised their glasses to volunteer, but Kim Tae-yeon immediately adopted a senior-like attitude, saying, "You two have some shame, put them down!!"

"They're crazy! They're crazy!" Lee Soon-kyu shook his head and called to Lim Yoon-ah, Park Jae-beom, and the others, "Let's play by ourselves and ignore these two lunatics."

"Everyone in the state is drinking."

"Chinese people drink alcohol."

"People born on March 9, 1989, who drink alcohol..."

"Height 187cm, weight...drinking..."

"160cm, 45kg, drinks alcohol..." Gong Cheng said casually, then looked at Kim Tae-yeon with surprise, "Aigoo, you didn't exaggerate, did you..."

"Damn you, Gong Cheng!" Kim Tae-yeon stood up from the sofa and kicked Gong Cheng's leg with her bare foot. Then she picked up her wine glass and drank it down in one gulp. She had to drink; 160cm was her last shred of dignity, and she had to protect it. "March 24th, Aries, drink!"

"..."

Bombardment Meteor and the rest of Girls' Generation were sitting at a table next to each other, but the more they listened, the more something seemed off.
No, are you two flirting? You know each other so well?

Park Jae-beom and Lee Soon-kyu looked at each other in bewilderment...

"You seem to know me quite well..." Kim Tae-yeon poured herself a glass of wine, feeling a little dizzy, and glanced at Gong Cheng's still unchanging expression...

Gong Cheng nodded matter-of-factly, smiling, "After all, it's Nuna. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated..." As he spoke, he subtly closed the search engine, looking up information about Kim Tae-yeon (Taeyeon) on the encyclopedia...

……

The following day, Gong Cheng went to Gyeonggi Province. Amidst the sad and reluctant atmosphere among the trainees, he eliminated the trainees ranked 58th and below. Then, in the afternoon, there were some unimportant recordings. He and Kim Daewoo looked at several villa properties in Itaewon, north of the Han River.

One of the houses belonged to Rain, who has owned the most properties in the industry over the years. As the homeowner, Gong Cheng met this senior and his wife, Kim Tae-hee. He and Rain had met before at Park Jin-young's house.

Park Jin-young and Rain are a well-known mentor and apprentice, so their relationship is naturally close. After chatting for a while, Gong Cheng learned that in the past two years, in addition to buying real estate, this guy was planning to set aside some money to start a brand. He needed money, so he decided to sell one of his properties, which is the car they were looking at now.

"..."

After looking around twice, Gong Cheng said goodbye and left first, as it wasn't appropriate; the villa, including the courtyard, was rather small.

……

At night, when Gong Cheng returned to his dormitory, he saw a familiar figure standing in front of the TV screen, pressing the controller as soon as he entered the room.

"What's wrong with him? Wearing a hat so late at night..."

He changed into slippers, glanced at the penguin slippers still lying stupidly on the shoe cabinet, picked them up, and threw them onto the edge of the carpet next to the TV screen in the living room.

Mina turned her head with a grin and glanced at him. "I learned it from you." Perhaps it was from spending so much time together, but both she and Miyako had developed a fondness for wearing various kinds of baseball caps and flat caps...

"Haha, I haven't settled accounts with you yet." Gong Cheng threw down his slippers, turned around, and went to the refrigerator to grab a can of beer. "Why didn't you smile at me more brightly the day I came back, and say those kinds of things..." He took a sip of his beer, chatting casually. He said he wanted to settle accounts with Mina, but there really wasn't anything to settle...

However, the little penguin changes its attitude very quickly, sometimes being all smiles and sometimes giving you the cold shoulder.

Gong Cheng knew this process all too well; how could someone who was dating so many women at the same time not understand it? He just couldn't be bothered to point it out...

Whom are they trying to manipulate?

"I'm going to cook something, do you want some?" Gong Cheng stretched his neck and asked casually. He then pulled out two packs of ramen and a piece of frozen beef from the refrigerator, added a few eggs, and since he was eating alone, he wasn't in the mood to cook any other dishes, just something to eat for himself.

"Would I ever skip a meal, Makoto-chan?" Mina's smiling eyes curved into a crescent moon... She didn't know why she was smiling so happily; perhaps it was because this person in the kitchen had been bringing her slippers to her almost every day for over two years, without ever getting tired of it...

Like doing a small thing...

Mina glanced at the tall figure in the kitchen, opened a ramen bag, lit the stove to boil water, picked up a cleaver and started cutting beef, grumbling, "Come on, Mina-chan, don't call me Makoto-chan, it gives me the creeps every time you call me that..."

"Is it because 'Makoto,' 'Little Thief,' and 'Oppa' are different nicknames that represent different feelings? Ugh, I feel like a punching bag..."

Hearing this, Mina sat cross-legged on the carpet, blushed, and shouted, "Shouldn't I be the one who gets bullied? It's one thing for you to bully me, but Sana-chan is bullying me too..."

"Is that so?" Gong Cheng smiled, turning to look at her slightly furrowed brows. "Then we really are a perfect match, two pushovers, one big and one small..." As he spoke, he turned back to steadily slice the beef with his knife...

"No, I'm upset because of you. You're upset because of yourself, Nayeon unnie, Sana-chan, Chaeyoung, and your ex-girlfriend who disappeared for two and a half years and then resurfaced. She's debuted..." Mina mercilessly exposed Miyako's words, seemingly unaware that the character she was controlling on the screen had reached Game Over.

Gong Cheng put the ramen noodles into the boiling pot. "I know, I celebrated with her."

The more Mina listened to the amused tone, the more uncomfortable she became. She threw down the controller, shifted her position cross-legged, and turned to face the figure disappearing into the kitchen, angrily saying, "Are you not going to act anymore? Do you dare say that in front of Nayeon unnie and Sana-chan?"

Why can you act flawlessly in front of others, but not when it comes to yourself... You can at least fool me... you little thief!
"Of course I wouldn't dare." Gong Cheng was quite frank. He stirred the ramen in the pot with his chopsticks, then patted the steaming hot pot in front of him, took a sip of beer, and said something completely unrelated, "Even movie stars need rest... and you just happen to know everything..."

Mina paused, her previously angry and hardened heart softening again. She asked softly, "A safe haven?"

"Tch, you talk like you're my mom..." Miyako laughed, though softly, sounding quite pleased. "But it's pretty much the same, Mina-chan. I have no secrets from you anymore, so I can be very open and relaxed..."

"Let's eat..."

He served Mina a small bowl of ramen and took it out. Mina then got up, slipping on her slippers. Miyako took a sip of beer and teased, "So you know how to wear shoes now? Why are you always..."

“Because there’s always a lackey following me around.” Mina said, turning her head with a penguin-like gait, picking up her chopsticks and taking small bites of beef. “What did you do today? You seem tired and lacking energy.”

"It's alright..." Before Gong Cheng could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Mingan, "If you're tired, you're tired. What do you mean 'alright'?" As she spoke, she frowned at him, picked up two more mouthfuls of ramen from her bowl and stuffed them into Gong Cheng's bowl, "I can't finish it..."

"I recorded a TV show, then went to Itaewon and looked at a few properties."

(End of this chapter)