The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 267 Joo-hyun, your mouth is so sweet!

"Waaaaah~ Woof woof woof~"

In the evening in Seoul, TWICE finished their day's work and returned to their dorm. Mina took a shower, changed into a onesie nightgown, and then, with penguin-like steps, went to the rooftop.

In the past, when Gong Cheng was around, she would go; when he wasn't, she would go even more.

I play games a lot, but more importantly, it's quiet and relaxing to sit there alone.

But Mina had something more important to do tonight. She entered the combination lock, went into the living room, and opened the refrigerator with practiced ease. She looked at the refrigerator, which had been empty for the past two days after the drinks were taken away, and now it was full again.

She felt somewhat helpless, and her concern for Gong Cheng's alcoholism grew stronger.

Makoto~ You're really sick!
With her slender, pale hands, she cleared out all sorts of alcohol from the refrigerator and placed them in a cardboard box she had found. When she returned to the dorm, she planned to collect the alcohol and distribute it to her drinking buddies...

"..."

A dozen minutes later, Mina stepped onto the duplex staircase and arrived at Makoto Miyamoto's master bedroom on the second floor.

The curtains of the French windows were pulled closed by Gong Cheng when he went out. The orange-red neon lights of the night view of Jiangdong District flickered and flowed on the bustling streets. Ming Jingnan nodded. The little thief's dormitory environment was really comfortable.

So, she effortlessly sprawled on Gong Cheng's soft bed, a bed she had secretly calculated could fit four or five of herself.

A black nightgown lay on the black sheets and neatly laid duvet cover. Minami nestled her face against the pillow, the faint scent of detergent pleasant. She snuggled into bed for a while, then picked up her phone, thought for a moment, and dialed her family's number.

Her mother answered the phone; her clear and intelligent voice made Mina smile gently. "Mom, where's Dad?"

"What's wrong with him in the living room? I told him to answer the phone..."

Mina listened to the conversation on the other end of the phone as she pondered how to bring it up with her parents. Her father was a renowned orthopedic professor in Japan, and since they were both in the medical field, she figured he must know many prominent experts in psychology as well…

She greeted her father first, then asked, "Dad, are there any great psychologists?"

"What's wrong? Has something happened, Mina?" Mina's father's usually calm and deep voice was tinged with anxiety. "Are you working too hard? Is the pressure too much...?"

“It wasn’t me, it was a friend of mine, he might…” Mina quickly denied it. She briefly explained Miyako’s situation, and as she recounted the process, it was like a recap. Her voice became increasingly soft and distressed. “He’s already showing signs of alcoholism.”

"Yes, he's very good at pretending..."

"..."

On the other end of the phone, Mina's father, having learned the whole story, pondered for a moment, "They don't sound like your members?"

"It's not the members, so it needs to be kept secret. I think the psychologist will also keep it secret, right?" Mina was a little uneasy, her hand gripping the corner of the blanket tightly, her small, fair hands clenching together.

"Doctors keep patient information confidential... Is it a very famous celebrity?"

"Yes, very famous."

"boy?"

"……Um……"

“I’ll help you get in touch, Minami. Can you tell me who he is now? Actually, I think I have a guess, but I’m not sure.” Minami’s father’s cheerful voice came through the receiver. After realizing that it wasn’t his precious daughter who was in trouble, his tense heart instantly relaxed.

Mina, lying in bed, shifted her position and no longer hid, "Tarot!"

“Ah?! Such a famous and handsome boy, and he would…” Mina’s mother’s voice rang out, but she was interrupted by her husband, “The younger the artist is, the more serious this situation will be.”

"Isn't he currently active in Tokyo?"

"Yes, that child's image is on posters all over Japan..."

Mina listened to her parents' conversation, unsure of what to say. She had violated the first rule of the "Medical Alliance" set by Dahyun—not to reveal Miyako's illness to anyone.

But there was nothing she could do about it; seeing Makoto's condition made her feel like she was about to get sick herself.

She hoped Cheng-chan would get better soon so he could play games with her, and then, whenever she didn't like him, she could bully this little thief mercilessly... He was a pushover; she had leverage over him, and besides, she couldn't stand his fickle nature...

How can someone be so kind to everyone? And yet be so greedy, wanting to take it all?
So, Makoto, get well soon and let's play games...

"Minami, do you like Makoto?" After talking with her husband, Minami's mother suddenly asked. She had met the boy in Seoul. Since Minami debuted with TWICE, the parents had visited many times, and the boy was sometimes present at their gatherings.

It can be said that although TWICE debuted a year earlier than Gong Cheng, they have grown up together from 16 to now.

Such a handsome boy would leave a deep and unforgettable impression on anyone who saw him in person. Besides, even though she lived in Japan for many years, his image was ubiquitous on screens all over the country...

"Yes, I like him, so I hope he can get better." Mina said frankly, her voice, which was so soft it was almost inaudible, rose a few decibels. She didn't mind revealing some of her girlish feelings to her parents.

If you don't like Makoto, why help him so many times?

He dislikes petty thieves, but he really likes Makoto, which is why his attitude towards him often changes...

Does he like you?

"like."

Are you two dating?

“No…” Mina sighed softly to herself…

……

"May, time for milk!"

In the dorm of the food group line, Kim Dahyun sat cross-legged on the sofa, gulping down goat milk powder. Then she got up and went to where a dog was jumping and playing happily on the balcony, and fed May milk. "You can grow up quickly, so that when oppa comes back, you can scare him!"

She had originally planned to buy some clothes for the puppy, but after thinking about it, she decided to wait. After all, the puppy is growing very fast these days, and if she bought clothes, it would only be a few days before it needed a larger size.

"Whoa, whoa..."

After finishing her work, Kim Da-hyun carried May to Tzuyu's dorm and put the puppy on her bed. "Tzuyu, you play with the puppy, I'm going to look at the script~" she said, her fair face lightening slightly...

The movie "Parasite" needs to be made well.

Because of her connection to "Parasite" and the General, the company has been giving her the green light, adjusting some unnecessary schedules for her. Tomorrow she's going to the film crew in Gangnam District for a script reading...

"Don't worry, Dahyun, stay strong! You have to do a good job. Take good care of May for me and Chaeyoung." Tzuyu knelt down on the edge of the bed with a smile and picked up May, a fluffy little ball. Chaeyoung would occasionally reach out and poke its bottom with her little hand. "Call me Mama~ Waaa~"

"Why is it called 'Baby Waa'?" Chou Tzu-yu blinked curiously. Then, the puppy in her arms seemed to hear the call of "Baby." May was still a puppy and couldn't even say "Woof woof" properly, so the indistinct barking turned into, "Eek~ Waa, woof woof..."

"..."

Kim Da-hyun entered the living room, picked up the script on the table, and began to study it seriously.

Kim Ki-taek's family makes a living by folding takeout boxes for a pizza shop. The eldest son, Kim Ki-woo, is the hope for the family's livelihood, but he has failed the college entrance exam multiple times.

Before his classmate went abroad to study, he asked Ki-woo to take over his job tutoring English to a wealthy young lady—the Park family. After Ki-woo successfully landed the job, he discovered through conversations with Mrs. Park that she was kind and naive, and very doting on her youngest son. Seeing this as an opportunity, he fabricated a persona as an art tutor, attempting to introduce his sister to the job as an art teacher.

This family invaded the Park family's home: the son was an English teacher, the daughter an art teacher, the father drove for the male head of the household, President Park, and the mother took over the position of the former housekeeper...

"It looks very interesting." Kim Da-hyun glanced at the core content of the story outline and nodded in approval!
The role I'll be playing is that of the young lady in Mr. Park's family, who is also the student of Kim Ki-woo (played by Gong Cheng), and the girl who gets tutored in English, Park Da-hye.

"That's true! The role may be small, but it's a very important part!"

Kim Da-hyun lay on the sofa with some surprise, using the script paper to block out the slightly glaring light, and watched intently as the plot of [Park Da-hye] unfolded. The whole story revolved around the Kim Ki-taek family and the Park family.

The film "Parasite" is a clash between the slums of the lower class and high society, hence the title "Parasite Upper Class." As the name suggests, it's about parasitizing the upper class, not "parasites," but "people"...

But after about ten minutes, Kim Da-hyun suddenly sat up on the sofa, rubbed her single-eyelid eyes, and her smile became stiff...

Why are there kissing scenes?

And it wasn't just one segment...

"Bang bang bang!"

A knock came at the door...

Kim Da-hyun quickly hid the script in her hand. After all, she was an actress!
She is willing to dedicate herself to art, but the person she kisses is a great general!

She was certain that, given the general's character, his wives would never know about the kissing scene!
She dared not let her sisters-in-law know!

dying……

Reaching the shoe cabinet, Kim Da-hyun took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her fair face. She opened the door, but upon seeing it was Mina unnie, her smile remained forced.
"What's wrong, unnie...?"

"Where are Tzuyu and Chaeyoung?" Mina, dressed in a black nightgown and slippers, walked in, holding a phone in her small hand. "I need to talk to you about something."

Kim Da-hyun quickly pointed to Tzuyu's room, "She's playing with May."

In my line of sight, Mina walked in with a smile. The style and design of her nightgown featured a half-naked, bony back, with shoulder straps hanging on both sides of her fair shoulders, making her look both aloof and sexy.

But you can only see the back...

"..." Kim Da-hyun nervously tucked the script away from under the sofa cushion. What should she do?

I feel like I'm going to die after filming this kissing scene!
Besides, judging from the looks of it, the company doesn't object! She thought to herself, troubled, and couldn't help but flip through the script in her hand, turning straight to the end, wondering if the character she was playing would have a happy ending with the character played by the Great Marshal.
It absolutely can't be too melodramatic...

She doesn't like bad endings—oh my god! What am I thinking? What am I expecting?!
"Come in quickly, Dahyun!" Mina poked her head out of the bedroom, waved, and smiled gently... After the "Medical Alliance" members were all seated in the bedroom, Mina told the alliance's observers about contacting the doctor without permission...

An observer is someone who monitors Cheng-chan's condition.

Kim Da-hyun's vision blurred! Who gave you permission to call a doctor on your own, unnie!
If you go to see a doctor, won't I be exposed?

Mina hugged May and gave her to the members in front of her, explaining earnestly, "My dad will contact the most famous psychologist in Japan, so you can rest assured about the confidentiality..."

"Here's what I'm thinking: since Makoto is avoiding his problems, we can't just take him to see a doctor right away. He'll be touring Japan for a while, right?"

"When I have some time, I'll have my parents take the doctor to Bombardment Meteor's concert. Makoto will definitely take my parents backstage for a bit, and then the doctor can observe Makoto's condition from the side."

"What do you think?"

"..." Kim Da-hyun remained silent, unable to speak.

Zhou Ziyu thought for a moment, nodded with a slightly sad face, then glanced at the puppy in Mina's arms. She reached out and rubbed its fur, sighing with mixed feelings, "Daddy will get better, right?"

Son Chaeyoung gave Mina a deep look. Unnie, you're so cunning!

I feel like my unnie is paying unusual attention to her boyfriend...

……

the next day……

Bombardment Meteor arrived at the Tokyo Dome for their tour in Japan. The first stop of their tour will be the Tokyo Dome, followed by Yokohama International Stadium, commonly known as Nissan Stadium.

Everyone was preparing for the site visit and rehearsal with ease.

The accompanying staff kept adjusting the equipment, while posters for the Bombardment Meteor were already hanging high in the open plaza outside the Tokyo Dome.

"I'll go first this afternoon, bro." During the break, Gong Cheng sat on the sofa, eating the takeout ordered by the staff and chatting with the members with a smile.

Park Chanyeol asked, puzzled, "Didn't we agree to go to Ginza together tonight?"

"Oh my god, we just went there last night, and you're going again?" Gong Cheng pouted and replied irritably, "You guys go ahead, I have something to do tonight."

"Irene?" Zhang Yixing asked, turning his head, a smile he couldn't hide on his face. "If I remember correctly, Ryderbabe should be arriving in Tokyo today. They're preparing to debut in Japan."

Wu Shixun and Lin Yingxiong looked over curiously, "Are you dating?"

"Ani, still in the assessment." Gong Cheng said in a cheeky way, which made Wang Jiaer and the others curse, "Pah! You passed the assessment? Tsk tsk, you're really a jerk, maknae..."

"Well, I really am not a thing." Gong Cheng chuckled. "I'm a human, bro! Are you a thing?"

"Aigoo, it's unbelievable that you're still alive, maknae." Park Jaebeom asked. He had been too busy lately to pay much attention to the maknae's love life, only knowing that his rumors with Im Yoona and Kim Tae-yeon were widely known.

"..."

……

After a day of rehearsals, Gong Cheng took a cup of coffee and was driven by Jin Dae-woo to Shinjuku, the heart of Tokyo. Shinjuku was bustling with people at night, and it could be said to be the most famous and prosperous commercial district in Tokyo and even the whole of Japan.

The colorful, shimmering light strips were reflected brilliantly on the ground...

Putting on his baseball cap, Miyako arrived at the Japanese restaurant he had booked in advance, a place recommended by his protégé, Hirai Momo.

My beloved student is undoubtedly excellent when it comes to food.

If you ask her how to get to a certain place if she gets lost in Shinjuku, she might scratch her head blankly, seemingly clueless. But if you ask her which restaurants in Japan are famous, she's very experienced and can even create a complete guide for you...

"Senjojiki" is the name of a Japanese restaurant.

Aito says the name comes from the observation deck of Amanohashidate, one of the three iconic landmarks of Japan, implying that the restaurant has a wide view and is suitable for rooftop views.

Coincidentally, this Japanese restaurant is located on the top floor of the Toki Building in Shinjuku.

Take the elevator to the top floor. The store is mainly made of wood, with dark wood floors, wooden tables and chairs, and wooden partitions, exuding a natural and warm atmosphere, and it seems to offer a good level of privacy.

Inside the private room, Japanese ukiyo-e prints hung on the walls, and delicate flower arrangements were placed in the corner. The dim lighting created a soft and tranquil atmosphere.

After ordering a bottle of sake from the waiter, Gong Cheng lay on the tatami mat and started playing on his phone. He also sent the address to Bae Joo-hyun, guessing that she had just gotten off the plane and should be back at the hotel by now.
As for this Japanese restaurant, besides being recommended by her beloved student, her student specifically mentioned that there was no need to worry about privacy issues when dining here. It has a low price but high quality, and it's located on the top floor of a building, so it seems to be specifically designed for people with disabilities. However, Hirai Momo didn't reveal any further details.

Gong Cheng snapped a few photos of the private room at the Japanese restaurant and sent them to his beloved student, saying, "We're here. The environment is indeed quite nice."

He doesn't really like eating sashimi. When he dines at Japanese restaurants, besides catering to the "Sakura Line" tastes, he mainly drinks sake, just a little bit, or orders a bowl of ramen or eats grilled eel or fried pork cutlet.

His beloved student naturally knows his tastes very well, and this time the Japanese restaurant recommendation seems like an attempt to forcefully recommend it to Gong Cheng.

……

"Master, I suggest you try this..." Hirai Momo, nestled in the van returning to her dormitory, cheerfully recommended her favorite dishes. Hirai Momo vouched for them, saying they were absolutely delicious! In private, when chatting with Miyako, she still preferred to call him Master.

It sounds so familiar and unique!
Putting down her phone, Hirai Momo glanced at the night view of Mapo Ward outside the studio, while waiting for her teacher's reply. They had filmed a group advertisement today, and it was progressing quickly, so they didn't need to work overtime and could go home right now.

In the same car as her were Park Jihyo, Yoo Jeongyeon, Lim Nayeon, and Sana. Normally, TWICE's vans are two large commercial vehicles, enough to accommodate all nine members.

Hirai Momo glanced almost imperceptibly at Park Jihyo, who was sitting to the side holding her phone with an undisguised smile on her face, while her hands tapped rapidly on the privacy screen protector of her phone.

Although she couldn't see it, she knew without even thinking who the squad leader was chatting with...

Seriously... can't we talk faster... why are we dragging this out?
They're all getting impatient with themselves! The three-year dating ban is about to be lifted in a few months. They debuted in 2015, and it's been 2018 now, just a few months short. And the car that Park Jihyo has been preparing to buy these days, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, is also about to be delivered.

After the three-year dating ban was lifted, the members were able to drive themselves freely. In the past, they always had bodyguards and managers with them, which was a form of protection for the artists, as sasaeng fans and such were terrifying.

Hirai Momo thought for a moment, then opened her phone and sent a message to her friend, "Junko-chan, could you order some of Tarot's signature dishes and sake for their private room later?" She said to her friend in Japan with a smile; in fact, the Japanese restaurant was owned by her friend's parents.

Now that her childhood friend is managing the business, that's why she could confidently tell her master not to worry about privacy issues—they're all family! Hehe!

[Junko]: "The sake has already been delivered, but Momo-chan, there's more than just Tarot as a guest."

"Oh, those must be the other members of Bombardment Meteor." Hirai Momo shrugged dismissively, having just sent the message when she saw her friend's comment, "It's a woman..."

"Nani?"

[Junko]: "It looks familiar, let me think~"

"Yes, it's Irene, the woman who's always been rumored to be having an affair with Tarot."

Hirai Momo was taken aback. She found a picture of Irene on a search engine and sent it to her. "Is this the woman?"

[Junko]: "Yes, she looks better in person than in the photos~" Is it really a matter of her looking better in person than in the photos? Hirai Momo sadly closed her phone screen, sending a final message, "Keep an eye on them for me, whatever you do, don't let Irene take advantage of my master!!!"

She felt like she had shot herself in the foot. She had found the restaurant for her master, but Bae Joo-hyun suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
It feels like I've been bullied...

Why are there always people trying to seduce Master?

"You have to stay calm, Master!" Thinking to herself, Hirai Momo sent a message to her beloved master, saying some trivial things, then she proactively revealed, "Master, the owner of the Japanese restaurant is my friend, and she wants to take a picture with you later (hehe~)."

Based on her understanding of her master, he was either very innocent or...

It was hidden very well...

If he were truly innocent, no matter how much Bae Joo-hyun tried to seduce him, his master would remain unmoved. After all, didn't he have a better figure than Bae Joo-hyun?

If he hides well, then his master will not be seduced by Bae Joo-hyun right under his nose!

……

"Okay." Gong Cheng glanced at the message from his beloved disciple and instantly became alert. No wonder!

My beloved student confidently assured me that the place was very private and we wouldn't be disturbed...

Don't stay here for long!

I glanced at the dishes the waiter brought over, followed by a young and beautiful girl in a pencil skirt, with big, wavy hair and vibrant red hair. Judging from her makeup and clothing style, she didn't quite look like a typical Japanese woman. "I'm Junko..."

After introducing himself, Miyako got up from the tatami mat and took a group photo with his beloved student's friend...

"..."

After the private room was quiet again, Gong Cheng looked at Pei Zhuxuan, who was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. She had bright eyes and white teeth, long straight black hair, and although she was petite, she had a mature and sophisticated look. She smiled brightly and said, "How come you have fans everywhere you go..."

"The airport, the subway station, the hotel—there are posters everywhere, it's so enviable..." She took a small bite of salmon slice, "...I'm so jealous..."

"Aren't you envious?" Gong Cheng opened a can of Coke for her and handed it to her. Women in Daegu rarely drink alcohol, and it seemed that Coke would make her more drunk than alcohol. "I'm envious of you. Being too popular isn't a good thing either; there are many things you want to do that you can't do."

Hearing this, Bae Joo-hyun glanced at him in surprise. In her memory, there was nothing he wouldn't dare to do. In her line of sight, Gong Cheng stirred the ramen in his bowl. He was wearing a simple white short-sleeved shirt and had a full head of silver hair. He was tall and broad-shouldered, sitting cross-legged opposite her. Compared to when they first met in 16, he was indeed much gentler and more composed...

"For example? What kind of thing..."

"Like holding your hand and walking down the street." Gong Cheng raised his cheek and smiled easily, his serious and affectionate eyes making Bae Joo-hyun squeeze her Coke. "Ani, just kidding, that's impossible."

He lowered his head, looking somewhat dejected, blew on the noodles he'd scooped up with his chopsticks, took a bite—it tasted pretty good. But the noodles themselves were a story in themselves! He was about to star in "Parasite," so he needed some rehabilitation.

"Why is it impossible?" Bae Joo-hyun asked directly, taking a sip of cola to moisten her throat. Although she had never been in a relationship and seemed unapproachable to outsiders, she believed there was nothing to be ashamed of when it came to matters of love between men and women. Boldly expressing her thoughts was the right thing to do.

She only puts on an icy demeanor because she has no feelings for those suitors, but the members know that they are not the kind of people who keep people at arm's length...

Gong Cheng took a sip of sake. "Because holding hands isn't a one-person affair."

"How about we give it a try? I'll have a couple more drinks to bolster my courage, and we can take a walk around Tokyo tonight?"

He downed his drink, put down the glass, and chuckled as he watched the Daegu woman... Honestly, the fear of being seen by the media is nonsense when it comes to holding hands. Sana-chan, the big star, Chaeyoung—they've held hands on the streets of Seoul before...

It was just to scare the women in Daegu, but these kinds of things really do require mutual consent.

He doesn't rely on flaunting a single persona or spouting that stupid nonsense about not getting married, dating, or having relationships before a certain age...

The main problem is that the relationships between the various women are difficult to balance, which is what gives him the biggest headache.

“Sure.” Bae Joo-hyun took a sip of her cola and nodded with a smile.

Although she was a complete novice, the advantage of being five years older made her very calm. It was just holding hands. Putting aside her own schedule for the year, the boy sitting opposite her was incredibly busy.

What she said back home, that she would arrange the meeting according to her own schedule, was just a face-saving gesture. She flew all the way to Tokyo, not only for work, but also to make progress in her relationship with Gong Cheng.

Otherwise, why would I come here right after getting off the plane, taking a shower at the hotel, and then coming over?
Chatting with friends? Don't be ridiculous!

The most foolish woman is the one who hesitates...

"seriously?"

"Would I joke with you? You're a club-goer, why are you pretending to be so innocent? Show me what you've got, let me see what you've got." Bae Joo-hyun's gentle eyes curved into a smile, a hint of exasperation in her tone. She then removed the hair tie from her wrist and tied up her long, black hair, which had fallen over her shoulders, into a low ponytail, making her look younger…

Gong Cheng took a bite of the egg in his ramen, smiled, swallowed it, and said, "Tch, clubbing isn't a capital offense. I've changed my mind, I'm not holding hands anymore."

"It's okay if you change your mind. Just eat properly. Anyway, it's better not to hold hands, so you won't take advantage of me." Bae Joo-hyun ignored his attempts to push her away, picked up a piece of sashimi, dipped it in the sauce, and took a bite with a smile.

Flirting is fine, holding hands or something, take it slow, she's been solo for so long, there's no rush.

But at least, she believes there has been significant progress, and progress has been very smooth...

She doesn't like the fast-paced, superficial relationships common in the entertainment industry.

Bae Joo-hyun changed the subject, picked up her Coke and took a sip, "Do you have a puppy? I saw it on your Instagram, it's so cute."

"Actually, it's not that cute. How about I take you to see it when we go back to Seoul? It can do backflips, you know." Gong Cheng thought of the puppy in May, so tiny, and suddenly felt a bit attached to it. But Lieutenant Kim and the crew took good care of it, so he was still at ease.

Bae Joo-hyun picked up a piece of fried pork cutlet, rolled her eyes, and said, "Come on, how could such a small dog do a backflip? You're just bragging."

"Who knows?" Gong Cheng said with a grin. "How long do you plan to stay in Tokyo? If you debut in Japan in the summer, it's mid-May now, which is quite a long time, isn't it?"

When Bae Joo-hyun brought up this topic, she nodded with a hint of pride. Perhaps it was because Gong Cheng had been calling her "Joo-kwan" (a derogatory term for a woman who picks her toes) for so long, but now, thinking about how busy she had been this year, she felt a little smug and happy. "Pretty much. I have to shoot a music video and do autograph sessions here. I'll also be going back to Seoul many times in between, but the overall work period here won't end until the end of next month, or the beginning of July."

"That's great. You can hang out with Seulgi and the others around Tokyo, instead of just sitting around in Seoul all day." Gong Cheng realized he'd misspoke and chuckled sheepishly. "Anyway, it's good to relax a bit. Do you need me to recommend some places to visit?"

“Or you can just come to our concert. I’ll have Daewoo get some tickets for Red Velvet tomorrow. We can also invite Seulgi tonight so we can all get together. It feels like it’s been so long since I’ve seen Seulgi and Wendy.”

The two chatted casually, both feeling relaxed.

"Okay, then we'll come cheer you on tomorrow! Aigoo, Tokyo has fallen? Is it really that dramatic?"

Bae Joo-hyun burst into laughter, no need for any pretense or affected smile. She had seen him in all sorts of states—cold, radiant, unconscious, and helpless—so she could show him her true self without any reservations. "Wendy and Seulgi almost died laughing after seeing the headlines in the Japanese media, you know?"

"You guys are really something now..."

……

At 10 p.m., Gong Cheng and Bae Joo-hyun walked out of the building together. After learning that the hotel Bae Joo-hyun and her friends had booked was in Shinjuku, the two decided to walk there.

Under the dim streetlights, two figures, one tall and one short, walked side by side on the sidewalk.

Tokyo's roads are relatively more orderly than Seoul's, but both inevitably have more narrow lanes and alleyways. The two followed the navigation and headed towards a quieter place.

Gong Cheng suddenly took Bae Joo-hyun's hand; it was small, soft, and warm...

Bae Joo-hyun didn't struggle or resist. A shy blush flashed across her cheeks, which were shrouded in the darkness, and her fair neck inevitably felt hot. "Weren't you going to back out?"

"Do I look like an idiot to you?" Gong Cheng shook his arm without changing his expression. He glanced at their tightly clasped hands in the night. "Zhu Xuan, you've gotten warmer..." He smiled, a smug laugh...

"I'm just a little hot, and could you please use honorifics with me?"

"Anger?"

"Oh well, whatever, call me whatever you want." Bae Joo-hyun found the way she was addressed as "Noona" rather jarring and disliked it, feeling it made her sound older.

……

After walking all the way to the hotel, Bae Joo-hyun felt that things had gone very well for the day, but seeing Gong Cheng's travel-worn figure, she couldn't help but say, "Why don't we go up and sit for a while?"

"What, you can do a backflip?" Gong Cheng joked, but he kept walking straight into the hotel without any intention of refusing or being polite.

The two arrived at Bae Joo-hyun's room one after the other.

Bae Joo-hyun took out a Coke from the hotel's small freezer, then glanced at the beer, "You'd better not drink alcohol, have a Coke with me instead."

Gong Cheng nodded and looked around the hotel room. It wasn't big, with a double bed, a private bathroom, and a sofa near the balcony. Red Velvet hadn't been popular since their debut, so there was no need to squeeze into a double bed or anything like that.

Then, he saw a trendy lace bra on the white bedding. It was white, like a camellia, and easily blended into the color of the bedding if you didn't look closely. The sheer material had a subtle sheen, and the pearl white lace along the edges undulated in waves. Two small bows hung from the shoulder straps...

"..." Bae Joo-hyun had just opened her Coke can when she turned around and saw Gong Cheng's gaze. Following his gaze, she realized that the underwear she had changed out of after getting off the plane and taking a shower at the hotel was still lying on the bed. "You're not allowed to look!"

She quickly grabbed the cola and ran over, shoved the bra under the covers, and plopped down on the blankets, her face flushed with embarrassment and awkwardness...

There has been significant progress, but much faster than she anticipated…

"The style..." Gong Cheng was about to say that the style was quite nice, but then he stopped himself. No, that would be too frivolous. He was a respectable person, but he couldn't blame himself; the item was right there, he just had better eyesight. "Oh, really, I didn't see anything..."

As he spoke, he sat down on the sofa on the balcony.

After calming herself down, Bae Joo-hyun walked over and asked, "Are you going to America again in a few days?"

"Okay, in three days, I'll have to go after the first stop, Tokyo Dome. Time's tight." Gong Cheng said, lying on the sofa. The Billboard Music Awards are starting in a few days; it'll be a fruitful time. Taylor will be there too. He's almost finished with that collaboration track…

He slyly shifted his position, and taking advantage of Bae Joo-hyun's momentary lapse in attention, lay down on her lap, grinning as he looked up at the astonished Daegu woman. "Noona, you've already held my hand, you have to take responsibility for me..."

"I..." Bae Joo-hyun's fair cheeks flushed red again.

How come it is like this…

What do you mean I'm responsible for you? Didn't you lead me by the hand? That's completely upside down!
Gong Cheng blinked, looking at the face that was called "divine beauty." It was because of this face that someone had sent him a "death threat letter" last year. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile, raising his finger to point at Bae Joo-hyun's forehead, where some lint had settled.

"Noona, there's something dirty in your hair. Let me take it off for you."

"Dirty stuff?" In the ambiguous situation, Bae Joo-hyun tightened her throat. She was very conscious of her image, so she quickly raised her slender white hand and ruffled her hair a couple of times.

"Still..."

Hearing Gong Cheng's words, Bae Joo-hyun had no choice but to lower her head slightly, inevitably meeting his beautiful eyes. His bright pupils were very serious, and he raised his hand to precisely pluck a small tuft of hair from his forehead, as if it had just been blown by the wind on the road.

"Thank you," she said, blushing.

"Tch~ We're in this situation already, Joo-hyun, isn't it appropriate for you to say thank you?" Gong Cheng scoffed speechlessly. The thigh beneath his head was soft and warm, making him feel sleepy as soon as he lay down. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bae Joo-hyun's pink lips, moist and glistening, as if they were still damp with a can of cola...

He shamelessly reached out and grabbed the wrist of the woman who had been holding his hand but hadn't made any other gesture. "Noona, my mouth is so dry..."

"I'll go get the lip balm?" Bae Joo-hyun asked, feigning ignorance, her heart pounding beneath her flustered face! She seriously doubted whether Gong Cheng could hear her heartbeat, which was why he was so brazen!

Nightclub freak! What a jerk!

"I want cola flavor..." Gong Cheng blinked again, but Bae Joo-hyun found it very smug, as if he had the victory in his grasp, especially his next words, which were even more smug, "Hey, noona, you don't want to take responsibility for me, do you?"

Despite Bae Joo-hyun's excellent directness, she's still quite timid. Listening to Gong Cheng's shameless words, she thought of her friend Kim Ji-soo's bible: "Hesitation leads to defeat."

"One minute you're calling me 'Noona,' the next you're calling me 'Juhyeonna.' I bet you'll only call me 'Noona' when you want to take advantage of me!"

While complaining about the club-goer's tactics in her arms, Bae Joo-hyun's fingertips unconsciously tightened around the fabric on the other person's shoulder. She took a deep breath, the blush rising from the tips of her ears spreading across her fair earlobes, her heart pounding in her chest.

She steeled her heart, and it began to race...

I really don't have time to mess around with you, you brat!

Her bent-over body and drooping eyelashes trembled, and her moist lips slowly slid down until they met the high, arched noses of her two divine faces.

Gong Cheng felt a dampness on the corner of his lips. He opened his eyes and looked at Bae Joo-hyun, who seemed flustered and desperate. The solo girl's technique was really bad, and her mouth was tightly shut…

At this point, there is a very good solution...

A large, slightly cool hand skillfully roamed along the edge of Bae Joo-hyun's white, tight-fitting T-shirt! A flurry of movements!
Bae Joo-hyun tensed up immediately, opened her teeth, and snorted.

The city gates were breached, and Gong Cheng was instructing Zhu Xuan on kissing techniques mouth-to-mouth, his nimble fingers quickly unbuttoning her undergarments...

Moist and soft!

Bae Joo-hyun was trembling all over...

Suddenly clench your teeth...

"Ah...hiss~" Gong Cheng pursed his lips in pain, the smell of blood filling the air and dissipating the aroma of the cola bubbles.

Bae Joo-hyun quickly cupped Gong Cheng's face in her hands, her face flushed, "Are you alright, Mia-nae? I..."

"It's nothing." Gong Cheng gasped, feeling the skin on his lip where he'd been bitten, but thankfully, it wasn't a big deal. Daegu women were wonderful, he liked them very much... In love, what was a little pain...?

Bae Joo-hyun was about to reach for a tissue to wipe the blood from his mouth when she realized that half of her underwear was showing under her white T-shirt...

She stood there awkwardly, then turned away, tucking her hands inside her clothes, adjusting herself...

"Is it really okay?"

Bae Joo-hyun turned her head and asked with some concern. She had mustered up a lot of courage for the kiss, but she never expected that this brat would take off her bra so easily!

"It's alright, Noona has a sweet tongue." Gong Cheng licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, smiled brightly, and then leaned closer to ask, "Noona, things have come to this, don't you have anything to say to me?"

As he was talking, his phone, which was on the table, rang; it was the sound of a incoming message.

"What did you say?" Bae Joo-hyun's blush had not yet faded.

Gong Cheng ignored the message on his phone. "Shouldn't you take responsibility for me? Say something about starting a relationship. I'm ready to say yes!"

He felt rather aggrieved; had he been taken advantage of without doing anything...?

"Bang!" Upon hearing this, Bae Joo-hyun frowned gently and punched Gong Cheng in the chest with her clenched fist. "Have some shame!"

But then she sighed, turned to face Gong Cheng, and said seriously, "Can you give me some time? We're moving too fast, so fast that I'm worried. We're together today, and it could be over tomorrow, do you understand?"

"Drip..."

Gong Cheng's phone beeped again, but he ignored it, staring intently at Pei Zhuxuan's unyielding expression. Suddenly, he smiled and said, "Fine, you know I'm not someone who does things casually. I'll listen to you."

"..." Bae Joo-hyun's face twitched upon hearing this.

"Okay, I admit the reputation of the King of Jiangnan Dance isn't all that great. So let's start slowly and not end it." Gong Cheng touched his nose guiltily. Indeed, he had quite a few scandals.

It's all Yoona and Taeyeon's fault! They're just trying to piggyback on my fame every day!
If they actually turn their fake relationship into a real one day, let's see if you guys will still be able to take advantage of me!

Bae Joo-hyun's eyes curved into a smile. She was pleased with Gong Cheng's words, and with a slightly shy smile, she said, "Okay..."

Then, glancing at Gong Cheng's phone screen that had lit up again, she pointed and said, "Why don't you go back to the hotel first? After all, there's a concert tomorrow..."

"Then see you tomorrow?" Gong Cheng nodded, stopping just in time, and stood up, pointing to his bitten lip. "It still hurts a bit, what should I do?"

"What do you propose?"

"That's good." Gong Cheng hugged Pei Zhuxuan, lowered his head and kissed her lips. It was an impending moment; waiting a little longer wouldn't have mattered, but it wouldn't have stopped him from kissing her...

Everyone has a bottom line, but what he's best at is breaking other people's bottom lines...

"..."

Bae Joo-hyun watched him turn around, wave, smile, and leave the room. Just as he was gone, the sound of the door closing rang out.

She quickly picked up her phone, sat on the edge of the bed, opened a search engine, and typed in "kissing tips".

……

(End of this chapter)