The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 294 "In My Blood" - Hagi Makoto is having a tough time! (Seeking monthly votes)

"..."

Under the sweltering heat, an ambiguous atmosphere lingered in the master bedroom.

Both Miyako and Hirai Momo were in a hurry. One wanted to get some rest as he had to go sea fishing at 5 a.m. the next morning, while the other was eager to get back to the villa to avoid being discovered by the other members, since it was just an excuse for a night run.

She believed that one had to develop their skills before climbing the ladder; she had long admired Oppa's looks and physique. Plus, Oppa had stood up for her. Hirai Momo liked her mentor very much, but she had always thought of him as shy, bashful, and innocent.

Damn it! Now I realize he was just a heartless bastard!

Hirai Momo's eyes flickered, but the scene from the bar long ago resurfaced in her mind, where she told her mentor that it would be dangerous for a handsome guy like her to be without a female companion...

But right now, it's clearly Oppa who's in the most danger!
What is Gong Cheng doing?
Hirai Momo swallowed hard, looking very nervous.

She nudged Gong Cheng's chest and looked up: "Oppa, do you like me?"

Hirai Momo bit her lip, her face a mixture of lust and desire, and asked with a soft hum, slightly raising her neck from the pillow.

"like."

Gong Cheng raised his head and blinked earnestly.

……

Hirai Momo bit her lip, and her eyes, which usually appeared innocent and naive in front of the camera, were now glistening with moisture.

"..."

After catching his breath, Gong Cheng suddenly sat up, looking annoyed. He was biting his lip, seemingly in even more pain than he was!
what's the situation!
Hirai Momo's eyes were confused.

"Mianne, Momo-chan, I was wrong..."

Gong Cheng took a deep breath, his eyes trembling slightly as he looked at her, as if he had made up his mind to tell his beloved disciple a shocking secret, but the expression on his face was full of guilt and sadness.
"actually, I……"

"We can't do this..."

The Best Actor award at the Baeksang Arts Awards was evident in his tone of voice and subtle facial expressions. Gong Cheng thought that if his teacher truly valued his expressive eyes, using them in this situation would surely result in him angrily berating him.
"Momo-chan, I like you, but I'm dating a girl..."

Gong Cheng had pretended to be confused for a long time, but now he's started again, all in order to suddenly realize the truth and tell his beloved disciple.

He's just playing dumb! The main reason is that Miyako knows perfectly well that his beloved student has long suspected his feelings for her. If they were really dating, he'd be afraid his student would immediately expose it to the women around him! It's better to expose it himself first!
From now on, let's keep our relationship secret, no flirting.

"...So we can't do this..."

Gong Cheng bit his lip, looking guilty and sad. His eyes avoided hers, as if he didn't dare to look into his beloved disciple's eyes, afraid of hurting her. But he was also very sad!
He moved his body, but since he hadn't come out yet, he took another stroll.

"..."

"How about we leave it at that?"

Gong Cheng gazed at her pale, raised hand, steeled himself, closed his eyes, and quickly and sincerely spoke his heart.
"I like you, Momo-chan. I don't want to lie to myself, so I got carried away, and this is what happened! I could have kept it from you and continued to do something, but I didn't want to..."

"I want to date you, but I can't lie to you."

The slap didn't land; instead, it landed on Gong Cheng's shoulder, the nails digging into his skin, causing him pain. But Gong Cheng didn't utter a sound; everything he said came from the bottom of his heart!
After what happened with Chaeyoung, he suddenly realized that besides being moderate and pretending to be confused, he couldn't afford to escalate his own problems any further. He had to make things clear in advance, because some problems are better exposed sooner rather than later.

That's why he said that the idea of ​​a prodigal son returning home doesn't exist; it's just a matter of upgrading one's methods of committing crimes!

But Gong Cheng is different. He can honestly tell heaven and earth that he really likes Momo-chan and wants to be with her, as do the other girls!

"Then why aren't you coming out?!"... "You come out just because I told you to?"

"But...we..."

Gong Cheng looked at her with a guilty conscience. He couldn't say he was acting or anything, but he really felt guilty! He couldn't help but condemn his conscience in his heart, and then put it in.

Hirai Momo sniffed, and Kyoto Ramo also shed tears at that moment. "Oppa, I'm glad you can be honest with me about these things, but I like you too. We've already done this, it's already happened, hasn't it?"

"I don't mean to blame you..."

She had always known that her master was no good. It really was true what they say: the more charming someone is, the more dangerous they are. But thinking about it carefully, her master hadn't done anything wrong! He liked her, and she liked him too. Perhaps, he liked someone else as well?
"But shouldn't one always see things through to the end?"

"Like now, aren't you being a bit too irresponsible, Oppa? What about the future? Will you be faithful to me from beginning to end?"

With misty eyes, Hirai Momo bit her lip and softly retorted, "I really am late! There's no time to wash!"

But she also wanted to become her master's wife! Otherwise, she wouldn't have known her master had a girlfriend and would have come to see him at night, making her seem like a bad woman! Foolish woman! But she just liked him and wanted to fight for it!
But I never expected that Oppa would reveal such a thing at this time!
Originally, Hirai Momo planned to start dating him naturally after tonight. She thought the boy in front of her would hide the fact that he was dating someone else, so she was willing to pretend to be oblivious for a while before taking the initiative to tell the other members that they were dating...

Regardless of who Oppa's girlfriend is, the deed is done, so let's confront each other! Let's see who Oppa chooses, or whether that "teacher's wife" will forgive him. That "teacher's wife" will surely leave heartbroken knowing that Oppa is two-timing her, right? But she won't leave!
In any case, it seems like my chances of winning are extremely high, right?
That was Hirai Momo's original plan, but it was interrupted by Miyako's sudden and sincere confession.

"meeting!"

Gong Cheng spoke firmly, but then raised his eyelids to look at his beloved disciple.
"But I need time, Momo-chan. To be honest, I don't know what the future holds, and I'm not sure. But right now, I really like you, Momo-chan..."

"I don't want you to find out later that I was dating someone and even being with you. I can't do something as despicable as that!" (Roar)
"So just now I suddenly realized, I was scared, I hesitated, afraid that if you knew about this in the future, you would..."

"What do you know?" Hirai Momo raised the back of her hand to wipe away her tears. Her master's words were sincere and heartfelt.

"I'm afraid you'll leave me..."

Gong Cheng gave a wry smile, covered Hirai Momo with the blanket, got out of bed and turned on the bedside lamp.

He picked up the beer from the bedside table, took a sip, glanced at Hirai Momo with bright yet melancholic eyes, and sincerely said again, "Mian ya..."

"I was so selfish..."

"...Well, it's not too late to turn back now. I'm sorry, Momo-chan..."

He turned around and sat on the edge of the bed, feigning nonchalance. Gong Cheng felt that he would be even more melancholy if he had a cigarette at this moment, like a scavenger who had experienced many hardships.
He didn't look at Hirai Momo's eyes and expression behind him; he had always been a passive person.

The choice is left to her.

"Oppa, if you really care about me, if you really like me."

"Please don't say such hurtful things. I'm already in your arms, what's done is done. Can we really pretend nothing happened and go back to how things were before with just a casual 'Mianhee' from you?"

Hirai Momo gritted her teeth and huddled under the covers, looking at Miyako's profile, his eyes filled with sadness, which made Momo feel a lump in her throat. "Didn't I say that one should finish what one starts?"

"But our future is uncertain..." Gong Cheng began, hesitant to speak.
"I like her the same way I like you..."

He added some ingredients.

Hearing her master mention "her," Hirai Momo felt even more choked up. She naturally knew that "her" was the female relative Miyako had mentioned, but she didn't have time to care who she was right now! "Then why didn't Oppa be with me in the first place?"

"She arrived early, and at first, I didn't know you liked me too..." Gong Cheng stated a painful truth, then scratched his head in self-reproach.

"Perhaps I was too slow to realize Momo-chan's feelings sooner..."

Hirai Momo felt a pang in her heart!
Yes! I'm too late! I had such a good hand, how did it all turn out like this...?

She really wanted to persuade her master to stay, but she didn't know how to bring it up...

Love is something that can make your IQ soar or plummet. For a moment, Hirai Momo felt she had absolutely no good way to keep her oppa. So stupid! Think of something! She'd already gone this far; how could she possibly give up?!
He likes me, I like him, and he's joined us! I welcome him too!

"Momo-chan, can you wait for me?" Gong Cheng suddenly turned his head and looked at her sincerely. He probably knew his beloved disciple's feelings, so he thought he would press his advantage. If he were to ask his beloved disciple, who was about to become a concubine, to ask for help, he would be too pathetic.
"Give me some time. I don't know what you think of me right now, but I want to try and see if I can handle your relationship with her. Can you give me a chance, Momo-chan...?"

"Like you said, I want to see this through to the end, and for us to continue together..."

In his heart, he silently added "us" (in parentheses) to the list: Big Star, Little Dog, Little Tiger, Little Penguin, Little Pab, and Daegu Girl! He wished everyone well, saying, "I hope we're all happy together! Isn't it wonderful for the whole family to be happy?"
"I…"

Hirai Momo really wanted to say yes, but she felt it was too forward; she had already been proactive enough!

"But then I'll look like the third party, Oppa..."

“Oh, no, that’s not how it is…” Gong Cheng said bitterly.

Momo-chan, actually you're Xiao Wu...

Hirai Momo blinked her thick, dark eyelashes, almost unable to cry anymore. But then she thought, what was there to cry about? Didn't she already know that Oppa was an unfaithful woman?

It was expected that he couldn't stand being alone and would date other girls, but what he didn't expect was that she would hold the same weight in his heart as he did!

She was eager to meet this opponent!
But the current situation is clearly not about asking "who is the fake teacher's wife?"

"Momo-chan, your eyelashes are so long, can I count them?"

Gong Cheng suddenly looked at Hirai Momo, smiling brightly yet sadly, and asked for the excuse he had used when his beloved student came tonight. However, she was the one who took the initiative then, but now it was him...

"Will Oppa still pretend to be confused in the future?" Hirai Momo understood what he meant. After thinking for a while, a smile appeared in her dark eyes. Her face, which looked like an AI model, raised her chin.

"I won't do that to you anymore..."

"Why?" Hirai Momo blinked curiously.

"Because I tried to pretend to be confused to hide the fact that I like you, but I found that my foolish behavior could not hide my restless heart and the pounding heart when I saw you..."

Gong Cheng smiled and delivered an impromptu love quote, all in a very literary style!

Hirai Momo didn't say anything, but her blushing eyes and brows spoke volumes.

"So, in the end, I couldn't control myself and all of this happened. I suddenly realized I couldn't deceive you, but now I'm conflicted. Maybe I should be more careful, continue to deceive you, and possess you, since you're lying in my arms, so close..."

"But if I deceive you, we'll become unreachable again... It's like an arithmetic problem; no matter how I try, I can't get the optimal solution, and I'll regret and hesitate every time I write a single stroke..."

Gong Cheng's sweet nothings flowed more and more smoothly, coming out in a clear and melodious voice. He embellished and refined his conflicted inner feelings, making them sound refined, light and airy, yet as heavy as a thousand pounds as they struck Hirai Momo.

Hirai Momo's breathing became more and more rapid as she listened, and the blush on her cheeks was truly worthy of being called a Kyoto peach!

That's so well said, like a poet.

Oppa felt guilty for not deceiving himself, but he knew perfectly well that he had come to see him tonight. Suddenly, he felt his senses growing stronger...

Oppa, it wasn't you who was wrong, nor was it me, it was...
"Oppa, I got sand in my eye, can you blow it out for me?"

Hirai Momo sat up, the blanket slipping down from her collarbone. She blinked her long eyelashes, her face flushed crimson—a lame excuse, really. But the breath Oppa was blowing in her ear was undeniably ticklish.

It makes your heart itch~
"Whoo~"

Gong Cheng pretended to lean closer and gently blew on it twice. Their eyes met, and Hirai Momo's trembling eyes narrowed. "You've finished what you started, Oppa!"

Just as she trembled with anticipation.

Gong Cheng lowered his head and kissed her, "Saranghae~ Momo-chan~ It couldn't be more real."

Saranghae, I love you, Ara-wooyo~ That's so corny!
But girls just love this kind of outfit!

Even the boys are no exception. Sana Minatozaki, Nayeon Lim, Chaeyoung Son, and Miyeon Cho sometimes directly tell Makoto Miyamoto, "Oppa, saranghae ah~" or confess in broken Chinese...

……

Five o'clock in the morning...

Gong Cheng turned off his phone alarm, groggily got out of bed, stared blankly for a while, feeling incredibly sleepy.

Momo-chan left very early last night, mainly because Yoo Jeongyeon called to ask where Hirai Momo had gone...

Otherwise, it would probably have dragged on until midnight, but that's the problem—we wouldn't have had enough fun!
Although Hirai Momo initially felt a little unwell, she gradually became more and more immersed in the experience. Her beloved student was enjoying herself and feeling comfortable, but she herself wasn't quite at ease yet. In the end, her beloved student patted her bottom, changed her clothes, and left, but she herself couldn't fall asleep.

But he couldn't very well call out to the big star and the little dog, since he had told them earlier to get some rest early tonight, and he was worried he wouldn't be able to get up in the morning. But he just couldn't fall asleep, and his mind raced until 3 a.m. before he finally drifted off to sleep...

However, thinking of his beloved disciple, Gong Cheng smiled and said, "No rush!"
……

After washing up in the bathroom, Gong Cheng yawned and changed into some casual clothes. He then took out a thin jacket from his suitcase and put it on. At this time of day, with the strong winds at sea, he needed to wear something thicker.

He casually picked up a brown fisherman's hat, grabbed his bag, went downstairs, and walked out of the courtyard. As for May, after deciding to go deep-sea fishing yesterday, he left her to TWICE. Luckily, they didn't have anything to do today; they were filming their group variety show, and May could make an appearance as a mascot...

At this moment, either Kim Dae-woo and Cha Gun-ho are already awake and driving at the door, or they are still preparing equipment in the guesthouse.

The guesthouse the two of them run is on a street corner, and it's a bit smaller than his.

Breathing in the morning air, Gong Cheng sniffed and strolled to the door of the guesthouse where the two of them were staying. The lights in the courtyard were on. He knocked on the door, guessing that the two of them were already up and getting ready.

The courtyard gate creaked open...

Che Qianhao smiled brightly, "I thought you were going to stay in bed a little longer. Let's get going..."

"Oh, don't even mention it..."

"I didn't get enough rest..."

Gong Cheng waved his hand and went inside, sitting wearily on a stone bench. Jin Dayu, wearing slippers, had a cigarette in his mouth and was rubbing his cheeks sleepily.

"..."

Half an hour later, the three drove to a nearby pier and boarded a boat to go out to sea.

The salty sea breeze swept over him. Gong Cheng sat absentmindedly in the cabin, feeling drowsy. He hadn't expected his beloved disciple to be hairless too. The little white tiger was so cute!
"..."

After taking a nap in the cabin, the boat owner stopped the boat in a certain area of ​​the sea, gave the group a heads-up, and explained why the nearby waters were so clear.

When Gong Chengyi boarded the ship, he recognized "Tarot." He was joking; in this country, everyone knew the singer…

As agreed upon upon boarding, Gong Cheng took the pen, signed his name, and took a photo with the boss. Afterward, he stepped out of the cabin. The sea breeze that rushed towards him ruffled the stray hairs on his forehead. The originally gloomy sky was now bright and clear under the sunlight. On the azure sea, flocks of seagulls circled from time to time, emitting clear cries...

"Want to have a competition, bro?"

Gong Cheng picked up the stick and glanced excitedly at Che Qianhao and Jin Dayu. His drowsiness had subsided after dozing off for a while.

Seeing Gong Cheng's cheerful smile, the two couldn't help but laugh as well, nodding in unison. "Sure, how about the one who brought the least cargo treats everyone to dinner back on shore?" Che Qianhao suggested with a smile, as his working environment was quite good!
Gong Cheng would often joke with them and give them perks, making their interactions much more relaxed, unlike the tense or superficial relationships between other agents and artists.

So when they saw Gong Cheng's genuine smile and relaxed expression, his two bodyguards, who were always by his side, couldn't help but feel happy as well.

A celebrity and wealthy person known throughout the country, like the ship's owner, recognized Tarot upon meeting him. The owner's joy, excitement, and enthusiasm were genuine, but most of the citizens overlooked the fact that he was just a 22-year-old young man...

"OK..."

Gong Cheng smiled casually, his upright figure standing in a spacious spot by the ship's railing. He straightened his coat, revealing his well-defined forearms, and took the fishing rod handed to him by a crew member...

The sea breeze gently rocked the boat. Gong Cheng squinted, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin, the scent of sea breeze and sunshine lingering in his nostrils. He sat quietly on the small stool, his fishing rod calm and still...

However, he wasn't in a hurry. He picked up his phone and filmed a video of the sea surface, intending to send it to TWICE's group chat, but the signal was not very good.

Kim Dae-woo, who was standing to the side, handed the fishing rod in his hand to the crew member and professionally picked up a professional camera, taking photos of Gong Cheng every now and then. They were all candid shots!

This kid spent ages taking pictures of the blue sky and white clouds, why didn't he take a couple of pictures of his handsome face?

Until the crew member shouted, "A fish has taken the bait..."

Kim Dayu hurriedly ran back to take the fishing rod, laughing loudly, "Looks like I've won the lottery!"

"Aigoo, you're really something, bro..." Gong Cheng responded perfunctorily, then complained helplessly, "I already said it's a publicly funded trip, what's there to film? You're really dedicated, I think you're destined to be a workaholic. Bro, can't you learn from Qian Hao and be a little more composed..."

"Ha ha……"

Che Qianhao chuckled a few times...

……

Around 11 a.m., Gong Cheng returned to the shore, carrying his morning's catch of fish, and immediately felt refreshed!

They drove back to TWICE's villa, where a dozen or so staff members were busy setting up cameras, while the members sat on the sofa in the living room on the first floor, chatting about fun things that happened in the group.

In May, the dog was rolling and jumping around in the yard, and Gong Cheng squatted down to pet his beloved dog. Then he heard the laughter of TWICE's manager next to him, "Xiao Cheng, do you want to appear on camera for an episode?"

"I'm sure the fans will be very excited."

"don't want……"

Gong Cheng refused decisively, "I finally get a break, I'm not going to work..."

As he spoke, he yawned, suddenly feeling a bit sleepy from the sun, since he hadn't slept well last night. Standing up, Gong Cheng turned his head and asked curiously, "Nuna, do they have a cooking program where they cook for themselves?"

He blinked. If he remembered correctly, he had overheard the members talking last night about how they had to cook for themselves for today's group variety show. Sigh, not many of these people are good at cooking, but they're alright at making desserts.

"Um, are you interested?"

The manager asked with a smile, then joked, "I heard Jeongyeon and Nayeon mention that you're a great chef!"

"Oh my god, what chefs? It's just that none of them are normal..." Gong Cheng thought his cooking skills were alright, but not good enough for a state banquet. That would be too exaggerated. At most, he could cook a little bit of everything, and the food wouldn't kill anyone, but it would suit everyone's taste.

While refuting him, he put the bucket on the ground and pointed, "Take this to them for cooking. They caught it all early this morning, it's fresh..." Before he could finish, Gong Cheng's eyelids drooped, and he prepared to leave, so as not to affect TWICE's work. He'd rather go back and get some sleep...

But the moment he lifted his eyelids, he saw his beloved student sitting on the sofa behind the French windows, looking at him with a tender gaze.

Miyako knew that it was definitely not his manager, Nona, who was beside him. When Momo noticed that he had returned, he wasn't in a hurry to leave. Instead, he chuckled and raised his chin, then took a few steps back, picked up his phone, chose an angle, and pointed the camera at Hirai Momo's face, which was flushed in the sunlight...

Sitting on the sofa, her posture was quite upright, with her hands neatly placed on her knees. However, if you looked closely, you could see some slight abrasions on Hirai Momo's pink knees under her bodycon skirt. Her beautiful face under her medium-short hair, with her lips slightly pursed, had the charm of a cherry blossom woman. But when she put on a serious face, she had a faint sense of mechanical AI.

"Click..."

Gong Cheng pressed the shutter button and glanced at the photo. Due to the distance and the zoomed-in lens, the image was a bit blurry. He should have brought a camera with him.

However, using the cameras of the surrounding staff is not appropriate.

He sent the photo to Hirai Momo privately, his lips pursed with a hint of excitement, "Even the blurry pixels can't hide your beautiful Momo-chan~" As soon as the message was sent, Miyako regretted it a little, raised his hand, and lightly slapped himself on the lips. Was it too cheesy?
The main issue is that I just got married to my beloved student last night, so I can't just turn around and leave so casually today, right? That would be too much! I need to at least make sure the emotional impact is there, so that Hirai Momo knows that she has feelings for me...

In our view, behind the floor-to-ceiling window, Hirai Momo sat upright on the sofa, picked up her phone, glanced at Miyako's message, and instantly blushed, lowering her head. Her fair fingers, behind the members' backs, quickly tapped on the screen, "Oppa, you're up so early for sea fishing, go back and rest (kiss)."

"Still calling me Oppa?"

Gong Cheng squatted on the lawn, looked up at Hirai Momo whose eyes met his, and replied in the chat box.

Very good. My beloved student has begun to gradually adapt to her new role and knows how to care for me as her mother!
Seeing that his beloved disciple hadn't replied yet, Gong Cheng pressed his advantage and typed again, "But I really need to go back and catch up on my sleep later. Not only did I not get a good rest last night, but also... (sighs!)"

He glanced at Hirai Momo's knee, which was slightly bruised, and deliberately pulled his beloved student's thoughts back to last night to reinforce the memory—these were all wonderful memories!

"Private Marseille..."

"I didn't satisfy my master..."

Hirai Momo bit her lip, a hint of lust flickering in her eyes beneath her black hair. She quickly replied, then closed her phone, looking up at the camera with a smile, but her eyes darted away, avoiding any further glances at her… boyfriend…

"What's wrong, Momo-chan?"

Sana Minatozaki's bright eyes were full of doubt. She moved closer to her friend and, unable to resist, reached out and touched her friend's burning cheek. "Are you sick?" she asked with concern. The others' gazes happened to fall on Makoto Miyamoto, who was standing on the lawn not far from the French windows, yawning...

Seeing the members' gazes, Gong Cheng waved with a smile, but didn't go over to disturb their recording. Instead, he playfully scratched May's chin as she leaned closer and gently patted her forehead, saying, "Daddy keeps his word!"

"I'll find you two more beautiful moms. We already have one, so there's no rush for the next one..."

"Can you stick close to your Chaeyoung mommy these next few days?"

Gong Cheng spoke softly, then plopped down on the lawn and hugged May into his arms, letting the puppy rub against his cheek. He then raised his hand and pointed to Son Chae-young, who was sitting next to Mina behind the French windows, as if hoping that May would lock onto her target!

"Wang Wang Wang!"

Little May, with her neck stiffened, let out two cries!

"My beloved dog!"

"Having me is your good fortune!"

Gong Cheng was very satisfied, affectionately nuzzling his head against its puppy face, and smiled brightly...

...“Ring ring ring~”

Gong Cheng kept his eyes tightly shut as his phone vibrated on the bedside table... He fumbled for the phone, swiped to unlock it, and Zhou Ziyu's slightly helpless voice immediately came through the receiver: "Brother, are you still sleeping? The sun has already set..."

He hummed in agreement. In the dimly lit room, the blackout curtains completely blocked out the evening light, with only the light from the phone screen illuminating the messy folds on the sheets.

"We're off work, come over for dinner, brother..."

Gong Cheng sat up, rubbed his temples, and said in a voice still tinged with drowsiness, "Arasso, let's go over there later."

Listening to Chou Tzu-yu's instructions, he hung up the phone after a short while, his bare feet touching the cool floor as he slowly walked to the window. He hooked his fingers on the curtain cord and pulled, the rustling of the fabric releasing a burst of light as the sunset suddenly flooded in…

Gong Cheng picked up the water from the bedside table, took a sip, and then turned to go to the bathroom to wash up.

Looking at his handsome face in the mirror, he realized he had slept for four or five hours and looked much better. He wondered how he should act pitiful when he went over for dinner.
He's good at playing dumb, but he's not very experienced at playing the victim...

He had to pity the little tiger, and he also had to pity the little penguin. And his beloved student, even after last night's heartfelt confession, Miyako was still a little uneasy. Although Hirai Momo didn't say anything about insisting on going public, the two of them were now definitely dating...

It was just a secret affair.

Or perhaps last night, my beloved student couldn't resist the temptation and, in a moment of lust, followed my roundabout plan? Now that he's had his fun, he's still not giving up and is planning to go public?
Gong Cheng didn't understand any of this; after all, he wasn't a mind reader like the women in their stomachs!
But when you're playing the victim, you have to make it spread out over a wide area, not just target one person...

"..."

……

As dusk fell, the twilight blanketed Jeju Island, and the faintly visible stars lay lonely in the sky...

Gong Cheng arrived at TWICE's courtyard. The lawn was noisy. Although there were far fewer people present than during the filming at noon, the noise was much louder.

The cameras, staff, and even their agents were all removed.

Only the TWICE members remained, each making a ruckus in the yard, with the dogs occasionally barking loudly in May...

"Oh dear, is it going to be another call for me to cook?"

Gong Cheng smelled for a long time but there was no smell of cooking smoke. Instead, there were all sorts of women's fragrances. But now was not the time to talk about such things. He stood in front of Yu Dingyan with a helpless expression and pouted.
"When did I become like this in your heart?"

Yu Dingyan was feeding May her dinner when she caught sight of long, straight legs in jeans. She looked up at Gong Cheng's annoyed expression, then asked him with a hurt look, before quickly explaining, "We ordered takeout, it'll be here soon..."

"I just cooked for the group variety show at noon, so no one wants to cook for dinner!"

“Jeongyeon, I was already hurt when you gave me a brand new set of tableware when we moved dorms…”

Gong Cheng shrugged and sat down next to her. Looking at the other members who were joking around, Son Chaeyoung glanced at him and greeted him with a smile, "Oppa, you're here?"

"Yes~" Gong Cheng responded cheerfully, very enthusiastically. The little tiger was sitting on a beach chair, holding a guitar and strumming the strings.

May, who was in Yu Dingyan's arms, had just finished eating. The moment she saw Gong Cheng, she jumped onto the lawn and ran towards Son Chaeyoung, shaking her head.
Nayeon Lim and Sana Minato also came over. Momo Hirai naturally sat down next to Makoto Miyamoto, her fair arms, clad in short sleeves, making subtle physical contact with her beloved teacher.

Afraid of being exposed, Gong Cheng didn't refuse his beloved student's skin-to-skin contact, but instead wore a good brother's expression and ruffled Yu Dingyan's hair, deliberately acting as if he was very close to everyone. Physical contact is normal!
He was afraid that his wives would notice something amiss!
"Aigu, are you sick in the head?"

"Don't touch my hair, are you bored?"

Yu Dingyan couldn't stand it anymore and turned his head away, his youthful face glaring at Gong Cheng, before giving him an elbow.

Aren't we good brothers?

Gong Cheng asked, clearly hurt, and then dodged her iron elbow, accidentally brushing against his beloved disciple beside him.

"Brothers?"

"I wonder who said that when I gave him a set of kitchen utensils, we had already broken off all ties..." Yu Dingyan said sarcastically, his lips twitching.

"..."

While the two were bickering, Tzuyu, Dahyun, and Mina walked over carrying large and small bags of takeout. Gong Cheng quickly got up to help unpack the ordered dinner and set it on the outdoor table.

Yoo Jeongyeon and Park Jihyo somehow managed to get their hands on two bags of alcohol, a motley collection including various soft drinks. "Come on, bro, let's have a drink!"

The members of the "Medical Integrity Alliance" twitched involuntarily when they saw the bags full of liquor. They wanted to say something to persuade the drinkers to stop, but they didn't know how to phrase it...

"Have a little less drinking, you guys are acting a bit too intimidating." Gong Cheng's lips twitched as he watched Yoo Jeongyeon and Park Jihyo take out bottles of alcohol. There aren't many TWICE members who can hold their liquor well, and Yoo Jeongyeon and Park Jihyo are among them...

The rest, like Tofu and Minami, don't drink much.

"Are you afraid?"

Yoo Jeongyeon asked provocatively, and Park Jihyo added fuel to the fire, "Aigoo, Oppa, this is the first time I've seen you back down?"

"Oh, there are nine of you women and I'm just a little boy. What if I drink too much?" Gong Cheng said with a shameless smile as he sat down in the chair. "You know I'm not that kind of person..."

"I'm not afraid of not being able to outdrink you, I'm afraid of what you might do to me..."

He got more and more excited as he talked, blinking his eyes and looking like an innocent young man.

These words shocked Hirai Momo, Lim Nayeon, Minatozaki Sana, Mani Mina, Kim Dahyun, Chou Tzuyu, and Son Chaeyoung!

Even Yoo Jeongyeon and Park Jihyo scoffed speechlessly, muttering, "Get out of here!" But as they spoke, they steadily filled the glass in front of Gong Cheng with the wine bottle they were holding…

“Brother is right…”

Zhou Ziyu forced herself to speak in a low voice, instantly attracting the attention of Yu Jung-yeon and the others.

"No way, Tzuyu, do you really think unnie would have feelings for this kind of rumored celebrity?" Yu Jeongyeon felt betrayed and pointed at Gong Cheng with exaggerated gestures. Although this guy was very handsome, the two of them didn't really click and had always been very close friends!

"Ani, what I mean is, everyone should drink less, we have to go back to Seoul tomorrow..."

Chou Tzu-yu forced a smile. She didn't know why she had to be the first to speak up. Out of the corner of her eye, Mina and Chaeyoung were looking at her with surprise. On the one hand, her brother should have given up drinking because of his illness!
On the other hand, Jeongyeon unnie, don't you have any ideas? Sana unnie does have ideas!

"This is what friendship is all about..."

Gong Cheng raised his eyelids with a touched expression and looked at his good sister! She's much more reliable than Yu Dingyan! But his hands didn't stop moving. He picked up a wine glass and drank it down with Park Jihyo and the others.

"I……"

Chou Tzu-yu opened her mouth, her short face showing a hint of helplessness, as if she wanted to say something more, but Mina next to her tugged at her wrist, and she looked at her in confusion.

Mina's cool and aloof face showed an indescribable helplessness. She raised her chin and looked at Sana Minatozaki sitting opposite her.

Maknae, why is your mind so written all over your face?
Are you being watched?

"..."

After a few rounds of drinks, Gong Cheng, munching on his pizza, would occasionally share a drink with the big star Yu Dingyan and her friends, listening to them gossip about things in the entertainment industry, or talk about their ambitions, like holding a concert at Nissan or something like that…

"Would you like to sing a song to liven things up?"

Yoo Jeongyeon leaned over, raising an eyebrow beneath her short hair with a cool and confident air. "He's the hottest global superstar right now, the queen of pop..." she said exaggeratedly, then winked at the other members. Lim Nayeon, enjoying her drink, grinned and joined in the teasing...

The lively atmosphere is great; the members get along very well with their male relatives—no, wait! with their brother-in-laws. She really likes it!
Kim Dahyun fiddled with the camera, recording, and chuckled, "Yeah, oppa, come sing a song! It's been so long since I've heard you live..."

Sana Minatozaki's bright eyes were also quite expectant. Following Jeongyeon's words, she praised her boyfriend, "Yes, the Billboard chart king, a champion harvester!"

"Oh my god, this sounds like a compliment to kill someone!"

Gong Cheng took a sip of his drink, let out a long sigh, and glanced at the enthusiastic members at the table. Lieutenant Jin was leisurely strolling around the table with a handheld camera. "Without instruments, we can't sing..."

Son Chaeyoung chuckled as she put May down, ran to the side and handed her a guitar, humming in her sweet, childlike voice, "Oppa's too popular, is he acting like a big shot? You used to be willing to sing whatever I wanted..."

There seems to be a hidden meaning in what he said...

"Master, hold on!" Hirai Momo first said earnestly, making her stance clear. Then, she lowered her head, bit her wine glass, immediately tilted her head back, and drank a glass of wine. But the almost drooling look in her eyes made Miyako both excited and nervous...

"Could you dance for me?"

"This song isn't unsingable," Gong Cheng said, his face lighting up.

"Haven't you seen it before? You just sleep all day in our practice room, don't you?"

Yu Dingyan asked in response, speechless.

"That's different..."

"What are you saying? It's like you've never heard me sing through headphones before?"

Gong Cheng retorted. He had drunk a little wine and looked at the members' flushed faces, which made him look like a tyrant. But it was not bad. Now he finally understood why so many people wanted to be emperors in ancient times!
"You sing first, then we'll dance..."

……

Gong Cheng took a sip of wine, prepared himself, and knew it was time to play the victim!
He held his guitar, tuned it, then picked up his phone and looked up, "Wait a minute, I'm going to the restroom, I'll sing when I get back..."

"Axi..."

"Oppa, I'm all ready to cheer you on..."

"..."

Gong Cheng quickly went to the bathroom, picked up his phone and opened Son Chaeyoung's chat window. "Chaeyoung, I wrote a song for you, remember to listen to it..." After that, he opened Mina and Momo Hirai's chat windows and sent similar messages.

He originally planned to send it to the big star and Sana Minatozaki, but after thinking about it, he decided against it.

This song is too sad, and what about Little Tiger, Little Penguin, and Kyoto Spicy Peach? These three know his secret, or at least have some vague guesses. Singing it to them might help them better understand their helplessness.
As for the big star and the puppy, let's all stay out of the spotlight and focus on making the most of our lives!

Singing this to Zhao Meiyan would be quite fitting, considering she's a paparazzi... But since it's a live performance and she's not here, I'll share it with her after the song is released.
"..."

After washing his face, Gong Cheng brushed aside the damp stray hairs from his forehead and walked out of the villa onto the lawn.

He moved a high stool, deliberately placing it a little further away from the dining table, but then he heard Tzuyu's voice, "Oppa, it's better to put the stool here, there's light..." She was holding Dahyun's camera in one hand, recording, and pointed to a street lamp in the courtyard with the other...

On the sun-drenched ground was a bluestone path with lawns on both sides, not too far from the dining table, only two or three meters away.

"it is good……"

Gong Cheng nodded, picked up the beer on the table, took a swig, and tried to suppress his sadness.

I am so hard...

What song is it?

Mina turned around curiously, raising her voice slightly as she asked from a distance. Her fair arms, clad in a crop top, were draped over the back of the chair as she looked expectantly at Makoto Miyamoto sitting under the streetlight. "Makoto-chan has always been very talented..."

“In My Blood~”

“In my blood…” Gong Cheng chuckled as he uttered the song title, but seeing the members’ puzzled faces, he casually plucked a guitar string, his deep gaze fixed on Son Chaeyoung, “A new song, it will be included in the new album…”

"It hasn't been released yet; it was written recently."

Sun Caiying sat on the chair with May in her arms, glanced at her husband, and then lowered her head again.

Gong Cheng was not discouraged. He looked at Hirai Momo with deep affection and helplessness and smiled brightly.

Hirai Momo still doesn't understand what's going on with Ai-sensei's gaze.

Why is it so bright yet so sad?
The next second, Gong Cheng plucked the strings. His tall figure, with his long legs slightly bent, one foot on the bottom of the bar stool and the other on the grass, gazed at the camera recording in Ziyu's hand, his gentle smile fluttering slightly...

A faint sadness and the gentle sound of guitar strings drifted out.

"Help me~ It feels like the walls around me are collapsing..."

Without warning, the first note of the guitar strings was plucked, and Gong Cheng's slightly hoarse voice, like a whisper in the dead of night, rang out.

Sometimes I want to give up.

"But I can't~"

The delicate and sensitive lyrics echoed softly in the courtyard under the night sky. Gong Cheng hummed the lyrics, slowly closing his blinking eyes.

"I'm overwhelmed~ I feel extremely insecure~ Please give me something~"

This song is written for my girlfriends, but also for myself. The high-pressure schedule and being under the spotlight inevitably cause anxiety and make me feel overwhelmed by pressure. As my singing career has developed rapidly like a rocket, the enormous pressure has followed me like a shadow...

"A little wine to get slightly tipsy—you'll feel even better!"

"Bringing your loved one home will feel even better."

"...Everything will gradually get better..."

Just like the immense public opinion and pressure she faced when she debuted in 16, Gong Cheng still managed to become a huge star. So she treats her female fans the same way, just like the title of this song, "In My Blood," in my blood... there is no such thing as giving up.

Does it ever?

The song, filled with a sense of bewilderment, carried a hint of questioning.

"There is no medicine that can cure me."

"Someone please help me!"

I was trembling all over.

The bittersweet song seemed to instantly pull everyone present into Gong Cheng's inner world. He opened his eyes, staring at the slightly shaky camera lens in Zhou Ziyu's hand, his sad and melancholic eyes slowly sweeping over the women present...

Sometimes I want to give up.

"But I can't..."

Perhaps due to the alcohol, Gong Cheng, aside from feigning pitifulness, became slightly more temperamental. His slender fingers plucked the strings faster, his cheeks lifted, and his voice became hoarse and abrupt.

"Giving up isn't in my blood."

"In my blood..."

Right, all right!

Mina and Chaeyoung involuntarily stood up, staring intently at the streetlights. Their sorrowful and weary eyes, and their hoarse singing voices, filled with confusion, unease, and a near-collapse, permeated the hearts of the group...

"A little wine to get slightly tipsy~ will make you feel better~" "No medicine can cure me~" "Who can help me~" These lyrics perfectly describe Makoto's worsening condition, don't they?

"Checking my phone again—it makes me anxious."

"I'm afraid of being alone again, I hate this feeling..." Gong Cheng suddenly lowered the pitch, as if he was speaking softly, gently tapping the rim drum of the guitar to create a rhythm, his eyes, which were smiling yet brimming with tears, were fixed on Hirai Momo.

My beloved student!
Master is having such a hard time... Please don't make things worse.
Hirai Momokotsu was deeply shaken, still processing the news she had just received. Her master said this song was written for her? And last night, when her master confessed, she had told herself that she was afraid of being deceived, or of losing herself after the confession…

"I'm trying to relax... I can't breathe..."

The lyrics, which sounded like a confession of loneliness and fear, left the audience somewhat silent. Tzuyu stood in front of Gong Cheng, her body trembling slightly, and she could barely hold the camera in her hand. She could clearly see the tears in her brother's eyes, whether in her own eyes or in the electronic glasses in her hand!

Kim Da-hyun was the only one who was initially moved by what she heard, but she quickly came to her senses!
Haji Cheng, are you playing the victim again?
But weren't these song and lyrics a little too perfect for the trap she'd dug herself? Thinking of this, she couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat as she stared at the Great General!
Either the general has mind-reading abilities! Or what?
Oh no! Handsome guy, you haven't really been cursed by me and gone mad, have you?!
I need somebody now~

"Right now, I need someone~"

"Come and get me out of here..."

Gong Cheng's hurried and slightly trembling singing voice made Mina's heart skip a beat. What a coincidence!

After he closed his eyes and sang two lines earnestly, when he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Mina's gaze meeting his!

"Right now, I need someone~"

As the song drew to a close, Mina saw Miyako smile brightly, but the loneliness and sorrow in his eyes were undeniable...

The lyrics are like a heavy hammer blow...

"Giving up isn't in my blood."

The hoarse voice carried struggle and unease...

"Right now, I need someone~"

Mina took a deep breath, her heart trembling. She longed to run over immediately, cup Makoto's face in her hands, and tell him, "Makoto-chan, I understand you~"

"Every cause has its effect, and the person you need is me! I will rescue you!"

Son Chaeyoung's eyes darted between conflicted emotions as she looked at her father's still-smiling face, though her singing was filled with pain. Could it be that her father's unfaithful nature was related to his illness? Mina unnie had previously mentioned his childhood trauma...

She couldn't understand it either, but it was very serious...

"..."

Gong Cheng got up from the bar stool, put the guitar aside, and felt that he was being a bit temperamental tonight.

However, he had no experience with playing the victim and didn't know how effective it would be.
But as they sang, their true feelings were revealed!

Women! Can you understand me?
"Clap clap clap clap..."

Yu Dingyan led the applause, "Well sung!"

"Brother, didn't you say that you stopped crying when you were seven?"

Chou Tzu-yu timidly approached Gong Cheng, wanting to offer comfort and care, but unsure how to begin...

"Yup!"

Did I shed tears?

Gong Cheng, hands in his pockets, casually lowered his head, leaned close to his younger sister's face, blinked, tilted his head, and chuckled as he looked at her. "Look closely, is it? You must be mistaken~"

That's a bit of an exaggeration, actually; otherwise, how would you film crying scenes? Actors still need to maintain their professionalism...

But I just enjoy teasing my little sister...

Zhou Ziyu reached out and gently wiped his eye with her fair fingers. There were no traces of tears, but the tears she had shed earlier couldn't be faked! She was certain of it!
"Buzzing..."

Gong Cheng walked to the dining table, picked up a beer, took a sip, then took out his vibrating phone and walked to the side. He saw a message from his beloved student: "Oppa, I'll give you time, but you have to see it through, okay? I'm waiting for you..."

"Okay, Momo-chan, I love you~" Miyako replied with a light hum.
"Why is this song so sad?"

At the dinner table, Lim Nayeon closed her bunny teeth and asked her male relative a question that made her feel a little depressed and uncomfortable.

The father's weariness and unease could be felt in his singing...

Sana Minatozaki, standing to the side, stared at Makoto Miyamoto with a face full of questions...

"well enough?"

"It's not actually that sad, it's all in the past..."

Gong Cheng spoke casually, but his expression was one of sadness. He was going to play the victim, so he might as well play the victim to the end.
After a while, Gong Cheng couldn't hold back anymore and turned to drink with Yu Dingyan again. "Hey, can you stop cheating all the time, Yu Dingyan? Are you drinking or drinking with your T-shirt? You're leaking all the wine..."

Haji Cheng, you bastard! Still trying to act tough?!

Mina's cool face, her brows twitching slightly as she watched this scene, a plan to "save Private Makoto Miyamoto" surfaced in her mind...

"Drink less, Oppa..."

"Okay?"

Under the lonely starry sky, in the courtyard of the villa, Son Chae-young sat down next to Gong Cheng with May in her arms. Her platinum hair was tied into a low ponytail. She reached out her little hand to pat his back and whispered in her sweet voice.

This was the first time she had spoken these words to her boyfriend since that night. She had harbored resentment in the past, and even now she still did...

(End of this chapter)